# Agricultural Advisory Board Meeting | July 21, 2026

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Agricultural Advisory Board
**Date:** July 21, 2026 11:07 AM EDT (2026-07-21T11:07:49-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2992

## Summary

**Meeting Overview**
The Buncombe County Agricultural Advisory Board convened on July 21, 2026, to review program updates, process renewal applications, and discuss new conservation projects. The meeting focused on the status of the Agricultural Growth Zone (AGZ), state funding changes, and the upcoming schedule for farm site visits. Board members received detailed briefings from staff regarding easement progress, regulatory updates, and financial planning for future grant applications.

**Key Decisions**
The Board took formal action on three items during the meeting. A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda for July 21, 2026, which passed. Subsequently, the Board approved the minutes from the previous meeting held on June 16, 2026. The primary substantive decision involved the approval of five renewal applications for the enrollment program, covering approximately 200 acres. This motion was made by Mayor Mrakas and seconded by another member, and it passed, maintaining the total number of enrolled acres at 312. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was also approved.

**Discussion Highlights**
Staff provided extensive updates on the state of farmland preservation efforts. Speaker 2 highlighted positive developments in the state budget, noting an increase in funding for farmland preservation, including several million in non-recurring funds and an additional $2 million in recurring funds, bringing the total to $7 million. Additionally, the state conservation tax credit was extended through 2030. Speaker 4 provided a status report on various conservation easements, noting that the Community Farm Expansion project was recently closed. Regarding AGZ properties, including Cedar Hill, Slocum, and Wilson, surveys are drafted and environmental assessments are complete, though final appraisal values are still pending for most, with expectations of completion by early fall. Speaker 4 also explained a new state program requirement mandating that existing farm buildings be located within a designated "farmstead envelope" to allow for future rebuilding, clarifying this is a program change rather than a change in state law.

**Community Input and Feedback**
During the discussion, Speaker 2 provided feedback on the new project proposals, noting that they help connect protected lands and contribute to a stronger farming community. Regarding logistics, Speaker 2 expressed interest in attending scheduled farm visits and suggested moving a 1:00 PM visit on Thursday to 11:00 AM to allow attendees to visit multiple nearby properties in one morning. Speaker 4 responded to this suggestion by agreeing to move the time if it is feasible for the schedule.

**Follow-ups and Next Steps**
Staff outlined several actions to be taken in the coming weeks. Speaker 4 will schedule farm visits for August 5th and 6th, with attendees to be contacted via email. For the August meeting, Speaker 4 will return to the board with landowners present, providing transaction cost budget estimates and easement purchase estimates, at which point the Board will vote on these specific projects. Additionally, Speaker 4 intends to apply for three grants starting in August, including an AGZ grant renewal and a Farmland Protection Plan update. Once the Board votes in August, Speaker 4 plans to request final bond match amounts from the commissioners in September or October.

**Impact on Residents**
These discussions underscore Buncombe County’s active role in preserving agricultural land and supporting local farming operations. The approval of renewal applications and the expansion of the Agricultural Growth Zone directly impact the management and protection of 312 enrolled acres. The integration of the Cost of Community Services study into the Farmland Protection Plan update aims to demonstrate to taxpayers that agricultural and forestry uses are cost-effective, as they require fewer county services than residential or commercial developments while contributing to the local economy. The upcoming votes on new easement purchases in August will further determine how these resources are allocated to protect specific properties, such as the Reimer Davis, Sluder Branch, and Ruby Brown farms.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFn28Ef4Sik
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2029/segments

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFn28Ef4Sik)