Rutherford County director outlines farmland-preservation steps, pilot grant and November easement workshop

Rutherford County Director Brandon Higgins updated the Board of Commissioners on the county’s farmland-preservation plan and next steps to keep farmland profitable and intact.

Higgins said county agricultural GDP is roughly $95,000,000 and described the local farm profile—heavy contributions from broiler/chicken production and a preponderance of family farms. He reviewed tools the county is promoting: voluntary agricultural districts (VAD) to highlight agricultural parcels, conservation easements that allow owners to sell development rights, and a pilot grant application aimed at supporting family‑farm transition planning and trust formation.

Higgins said trust setup costs can be significant—"close to $10,000 just to get to some sort of trust in place"—and described plans to use grant funds to lower per‑farm costs by bundling legal bids and supporting several farms during the pilot. He also announced a Nov. 1 Working Lands Trust presentation and workshop on permanent easements and how selling development rights might yield payments to farm owners.

Higgins recommended continued education, increased outreach to bring more permanent easements into the county program, and consideration of a dedicated ag economic-development position to coordinate agencies and recruit processing or greenhouse operations. Commissioners thanked Higgins and noted the November workshop as a near-term outreach step.

The board did not take formal action on policy changes during the meeting; staff will continue implementing outreach and pursue grant opportunities.