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Farm Bureau urges Bedford County to commit $50,000 annually for farmland preservation
Summary
Paul Crooks of the Bedford County Farm Bureau read a resolution asking commissioners to contribute $50,000 a year to revive a local agricultural preservation program, citing farmer interest and the need for county administration to access existing state funds.
Paul Crooks, representing the Bedford County Farm Bureau, urged the Bedford County Commissioners at their Nov. 18 meeting to fund a local farmland preservation program, reading a resolution that “strongly recommends that the Bedford County commissioners should contribute $50,000 annually” to revive the program. Crooks said more than 50 Farm Bureau members supported the resolution and argued the funding would help families keep land in production.
Commissioners and staff raised questions about administration and financing. Unidentified Speaker 5 noted the county previously eliminated a dedicated farmland preservation staff position over a decade ago and asked how the county would cover administration costs, saying the law limits use of state matching funds for administrative expenses. Paul Crooks replied that the state can contribute about $150,000 a year but that the county must use the allocation or the state will reassign it to another county.
Commissioners suggested follow-up discussions with the Farm Bureau to explore options and constraints. Unidentified Speaker 2 invited Farm Bureau representatives to a Farm Bureau meeting to talk through specifics; Crooks said his group meets on the third Tuesday of each month and welcomes commissioners.
No formal county funding commitment was made at the meeting; the request was presented as a resolution from the Farm Bureau and commissioners agreed to discuss options for funding and staffing at a later time.
