Wake County awarded $10 million for farmland preservation

The Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District has been awarded approximately $10 million in state funding to protect working farms and support agricultural growth. This funding is part of a $51.2 million investment from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, which distributed grants to projects across 44 counties.

Wake County will receive $7.9 million allocated across 12 specific projects. Additionally, the Soil and Water Conservation District received a $2 million Local Agricultural Growth Zone Award. These funds are intended to permanently protect more than 600 acres of farmland in the region.

Since the start of 2024, Wake County has already permanently protected 407 acres across seven farms. The county currently has 26 additional preservation projects in progress, which are expected to protect more than 1,200 additional acres in the coming years. Agriculture in Wake County contributes $9.8 billion in economic activity and supports over 109,000 jobs.