Statewide Summary
Counties with VAD Programs: 90
VAD Counties with Enhanced VAD Programs: 31
Farms Enrolled in the VAD Program Statewide: 11,638
Acres of Farmland and Working Forests Enrolled in the VAD Program Statewide: 819,629
Farms Enrolled in the Enhanced VAD Program Statewide: 862
Acres of Farmland and Working Forests Enrolled in the Enhanced VAD Program Statewide: 56,859
Total Farms Enrolled in the VAD and EVAD Program Statewide: 12,500
Total Acres of Farmland and Working Forests Enrolled in the VAD and EVAD Program Statewide: 876,488
Statistics are generated from county reports. Last updated 10-12-2020.
Counties with NCDA&CS Approved and County Endorsed Farmland Protection Plans: 63
Counties with Farmland Protection Plans Under Development: 4
Farmland Protection Plans:
- Contain a list and description of existing agricultural activity in the county;
- Contain a list of existing challenges to continued family farming in the county;
- Contain a list of opportunities for maintaining or enhancing small, family-owned farms and the local agricultural economy;
- Describe how the county plans to maintain a viable agricultural community and use farmland preservation tools, including:
- Agricultural economic development;
- Farm diversification and marketing assistance;
- Agricultural technical assistance;
- Farm infrastructure financing;
- Farmland purchasing assistance;
- Linking with younger farmers;
- Estate planning;
- Donation of agricultural conservation easements;
- Entering into Voluntary Agricultural Districts;
- Contain a schedule for implementing the plan and identification of possible funding sources for the long-term support of the plan.
Counties with Cost of Community Services Studies: 20
In North Carolina, for every $1.00 of revenue generated by agricultural lands, the cost of community services provided is $0.53.
In North Carolina, for every $1.00 of community services provided, the revenue generated by agricultural lands is $1.90.
In all 20 counties analyzed, agricultural lands use less tax dollars than they generate. Working lands in North Carolina are net providers of local tax dollars, rather than net users.
Downloadable Maps
Voluntary Agricultural Districts - PDF
Voluntary Agricultural Districts - PNG
Voluntary Agricultural Districts by Administrative Entity - PDF
Voluntary Agricultural Districts by Administrative Entity - PNG
Farmland Protection Plans - PDF
Farmland Protection Plans - PNG
