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For Immediate Release
September 13, 2007


Catawba Lands Conservancy and NC Cooperative Extension Office in Union County partner to present Preserving Agriculutre & Forestry: Choice or Chance on Thursday, September 20 from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Union County Agricultural Center. Light refreshments will be served.

This free information session is geared towards landowners who would like to learn more about permanently conserving their land. Topics will include conservation easements, current tax incentives, and federal, state, and local programs available to help interested landowners protect their land. Speakers will include representatives from the American Farmland Trust, Catawba Lands Conservancy, NC Cooperative Extension Service, and NCSU.

To register, call (704) 283-3801.

North Carolina is losing more prime farmland to development than any other state except Texas and Ohio. This staggering growth is changing the face of our local communities, and once land is developed, there is no turning back.

Landowners can protect their land while enjoying significant income tax benefits. Current federal income tax deductions allow landowners to offset 50% of their income, and qualifying farmers or ranchers to offset 100% of their income by granting a conservation easement on their land to protect it from development. Such a conservation easement ensures that today’s working farms will remain working farms for future generations.

These enhanced conservation tax incentives will expire on December 31, 2007, at which point the old limitations will apply. Those attending will learn more details on these and other enhanced conservation tax incentives, including the North Carolina income tax credits, before they disappear.

Click on www.catawbalands.org for more information.

Catawba Lands Conservancy is a regional land trust that permanently protects land, water and wildlife habitat to enhance your quality of life. The Conservancy protects more than 6,812 acres in Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Union counties and is one of 24 land trusts serving North Carolina that collectively have conserved more than 255,000 acres.