Two Voluntary Ag District workshops to be held in March

The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund will assist in hosting workshops for local governments interested in protecting their communities' agricultural lands.

The Voluntary Agricultural District workshops are for agricultural advisory board members, county representatives, program staff, farmers and anyone responsible for, or interested in, developing and administering voluntary and enhanced voluntary agricultural plans.

Workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Following are dates and locations:

• March 6 - Catawba Agricultural Center, Newton
• March 22 - Cowee School, Franklin

Topics covered at the workshops include state and federal program incentives for participation, farmland protection plan development, working with the N.C. Department of Transportation and updates on hot-button issues, such as voluntary agricultural district programs, the farm bill, estate tax changes and more.

There are 84 counties with active VADS. For more information, or to register for the free workshops, go to www.ncadfp.org/vadprogram.htm.