More Than 456 Acres Of Johnston County Farmland Slated For Preservation

JOHNSTON COUNTY — More than 456 acres of Johnston County farmland are slated for long-term protection following the award of approximately $2.7 million in state farmland preservation grants.

The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund awarded funding for four conservation easement projects through the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District.

The projects total 456.47 acres and received a combined $2,717,077.50.

The properties include 69.47 acres and 125.19 acres on Old Beulah Road, 99.95 acres on Crocker’s Nub Road, and 161.86-acres on Starline Road.

Farmland Protected From Development
Agricultural conservation easements are voluntary agreements that restrict future development while allowing land to remain in agricultural or forestry use.

The easements are intended to preserve working land even as development pressure increases around growing communities.

The Johnston County awards come from a statewide round of $51.2 million in farmland preservation grants covering projects in 44 counties.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said preserving working farms is necessary to maintain the land available for food and agricultural production.

The General Assembly provided $46.9 million in nonrecurring funding and another $2 million in recurring funding for the farmland preservation trust fund in the 2026-27 budget.

State officials described it as the largest single-year investment in the program’s history.

Local Governments Play Role
The state program provides grants to county governments and nonprofit conservation organizations for agricultural conservation easements and other farmland preservation efforts.

Farmers and landowners seeking funding must work through an eligible county government or conservation organization.

In Johnston County, the four newly funded projects are being handled through the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District.

State officials cautioned that the unusually high level of farmland preservation funding available this year is not guaranteed to continue in future grant cycles.