Can anything, or anyone, slow the march of sprawl in Wake County?
Dale Threatt-Taylor, the long-time director of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, says it can be done.
According to Threatt-Taylor, Wake County h as more farm acreage than 58 of North Carolina counties. People who own farms or forest land can learn ways to preserve their
holdings at a January 24 workshop, from 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh.

“Landowners aren’t only

farmers. They may have inherited land owned by their family for generations, or purchased land but hired a farmer to operate the farm,” Dale Threatt-Taylor says.

People who come to the free

event will hear information from public and private professionals on estate planning, conservation easements, new agricultural markets, family farm planning, forest management and property taxes.

In one example of public policy affecting these properties, both farm

and forest land in Wake County may be eligible for property-tax deferment programs.
And under state law, counties can set up voluntary agricultural districts. Among other
things, that means owners of land under conservation can have city or county utility charges held in abeyance. Twenty counties including Wake have these districts.

In addition to Wake County government, sponsors of the educational

day include Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, Wake County Farm Bureau, Wake County Agribusiness Council, AgCarolina Farm Credit, North Carolina Forestry Association, Triangle L and Conservancy, and Wake County Government.

To get more information and register, call 919-250-1053.