North Carolina ranks second in the nation for farmland loss. That is not a statistic we want here in Haywood County, but we are seeing our farmland become overly developed all the time. Not only is this a loss to the beauty of our rural county, but it is an immediate threat to our ability to produce the food we need to feed our families.
Farming as a viable option
The county needs to ensure that farming is a viable business option by making farming profitable. The county should invest farming by helping support and grow the market for local producers through dedicated community space that targets farm production and sales.
Protect Farmland
The county needs to protect farmland, working with state and local governments to increase voluntary agricultural district enrollment by decreasing the required acreage, and increasing the benefit to land-owners. The county should also explore the creation of true agricultural districts that limit overdevelopment and protect food production spaces.
Funding to Farm Supports
Instead of cutting their funding, the county should be supporting the government agencies that support farms and food production.
Hart for Haywood County Commissioner 