Johnston County Farm Marks Milestone 100th Conservation Easement In State-Federal Partnership

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – A Johnston County farm has become the 100th property permanently protected through a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, marking a significant milestone in the effort to preserve farmland across the state.

Officials from the two agencies, along with representatives from the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District, Johnston County officials and local landowners, gathered Wednesday morning at the Johnston County Agricultural Services Building in Smithfield to celebrate the recording of the conservation easement.

The easement, officially recorded July 15, permanently protects a farm on Swift Creek Road while allowing it to remain in private ownership and continue agricultural production. The agreement permanently restricts future non-agricultural development, helping ensure the land remains in farming for generations to come.

The Johnston County property represents the 100th jointly funded agricultural conservation easement completed through the partnership between NCDA&CS and USDA-NRCS.

The agencies first partnered in 2009 to preserve a 76-acre farm in Durham County. Since then, they have worked together to conserve 16,554 acres across 32 North Carolina counties.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the milestone demonstrates what can be accomplished through cooperation between state and federal agencies.

“This milestone reflects what can be accomplished when state and federal partners have a shared goal to protect farmland,” Troxler said. “For generations, these conserved farms will continue producing food and fiber, supporting our state’s rural communities and preserving our agricultural heritage.”

Troxler thanked USDA-NRCS for its long-standing partnership and continued investment in preserving North Carolina farmland.

Ken White, assistant chief for USDA-NRCS’ South Region, said protecting working farms remains a priority for the agency.

“A big mission of ours at NRCS is to keep working lands in working hands,” White said. “This milestone easement is the result of many partners and agencies sharing a vision and working together to protect working farms. We would not be here today without the families and the continued partnership between NCDA&CS, Johnston County and the NRCS.”

The conserved property is owned by a trust represented by trustee Ken Langston. During Wednesday’s ceremony, Langston thanked the Youngblood family of Youngblood Farms, which has farmed the Swift Creek Road property since 1982.

“During this application review and assessment process for farm conservation easements, I have talked with accountants, attorneys, surveyors, reviewers and numerous other parties — no one, no one has given me any indication that farmland preservation is a wasted effort or not an admirable, worthy governmental initiative,” Langston said.

Evan Davis, director of the NCDA&CS Farmland Preservation Division, said the program begins with landowners willing to make a long-term commitment to agriculture.

“Farmland preservation starts with the farmer, and we thank the Langston family and the hundreds of other farm families across the state that have participated in these programs over the years,” Davis said. “Without the farmer, there is no farmland preservation.”

Davis also recognized Johnston County and its local conservation partners for helping make the program successful.

“Thank you to our friends in Johnston County, and the many other counties, soil and water conservation districts, and land trusts that are essential in the delivery and long-term stewardship of this program,” he said. “And thank you to USDA, we are looking forward to the next 100 partnership projects.”

The milestone comes as North Carolina lawmakers approved a record $46.9 million investment in the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund as part of the 2026-27 state budget. State officials said it is the largest single-year investment in the program since it was established in 2006.

The trust fund supports farming, forestry and horticulture by purchasing agricultural conservation easements, helping family farms remain profitable and preserving land for the continued production of food, fiber and other agricultural products.

Since its creation, the program has invested approximately $118 million to permanently conserve more than 42,000 acres of North Carolina farm and forestland.