No Farms, No Food

No local farms – no local food!

Action Alert:
Protect farm land and invest in local economic development
Agricultural Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund

North Carolina has the dubious distinction of being tied for first place in farm land loss among US states. We need to keep farms working in order to feed our state and meet consumer demands for locally produced foods.

Right now, the North Carolina House is making some very difficult decisions about what will be included in the state budget – this is a critical time to contact your NC House member to let them know that funding for farmland preservation and agricultural development is important to you.

Find contact information for your NC House member here:
www.ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html

Sample letter to your House member:

Dear Representative _______,

I’m writing to ask for your support for the Agricultural Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. As you make some very difficult budget decisions, consider that this trust fund is not just a way to preserve resources for the future – it is also an important economic development tool for our state’s small farmers. For example, in 2008 a project focusing on the 11 counties surrounding Ft. Bragg received grant funds to not only protect working farmland, but also to develop new markets and programs to keep landowners and farmers economically viable.

North Carolina leads the nation in farmland loss. The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund can help us reverse this tragic loss and ensure that our farmers will be able to meet our state’s needs for fresh, locally-grown foods, today and for the future.

[Please mention why this issue is important to you personally!]

Thank you for your work on behalf of our state’s future.

Sincerely,
Your full name and address

*If your Representative is Pricey Harrison, please thank her for sponsoring the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Legislation!

Kate DeMayo, Campaign Manager
NC Sustainable Food System Coalition
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
PO Box 488
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-2402
Fax: 919-542-7401
kate@carolinafarmstewards.org
www.carolinafarmstewards.org