Partnership Spotlight: Land Trust

Building successful public land trust pairings to support farmer education in North Carolina

Triangle Land Conservancy/ Newbold Farms- Raleigh, NC

Project size- 20 acres

Wake County, NC

Type of operation:  Cattle

Objective 1: Providing grazing opportunity on land under a conservation easement

Step by step:

  • Winter 2018/2019: Farmer application process announced at TLC’s Williamson Preserve.
  • Spring 2019: Initial farm visit to evaluate property for most suitable areas to use.
  • Spring 2019: Fencing of pastures installed by contractor.
  • Summer 2019: Project team drafts user agreement between Newbold Family Farms and the Land Conservancy for one year with the option to lease additional acreage and the intent to develop a long-term agreement after that.
  • Summer 2019: Installed water lines and tanks. Soil tests completed.  MOU, insurance, and user agreement finalized (see sample User Agreement, see sample MOU for Use with Land Trusts)
  • Fall/Winter 2019: Hereford cattle move on site.
  • January 2021: Newbold Family Farm finalizes a 10 year user agreement.

Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) in NC partnered with NC Choices on the Beginning Farmer and Rancher grant.  Partnership included providing access to a portion of their farm, the Bailey & Sarah Williamson Preserve, in Wake County.  The Williamson Preserve is a 405 acre property under permanent easement that is owned and managed by Triangle Land Conservancy in eastern Wake County.  This property is managed with multiple goals including providing working areas for multiple farmers to operate, historical preservation, public access areas, and protecting water quality for the Neuse River watershed.  These goals provide some unique challenges that require consideration when developing plans for a working farm.

Beginning farmers, Jake and Catherine Newbold of Newbold Farms, have a small herd of registered Hereford cattle.  At the beginning of this project they were exploring the idea of direct marketing their beef to consumers but struggled to expand their herd largely due to land limitations.  As a result of participating in this program over the past three years, the Newbolds have gained access to more land and have more than doubled their herd size.

The project began with a series of farm visits with TLC by NCSU Extension specialists, NC Choices, and NC Cooperative Extension staff.  When working with a public land trust, we had to find suitable pastures and also consider how land adjacent to pastures would be used, such as public hiking trails and road access areas. We determined three fields totaling about 20 acres offered the best opportunity.  The next step was to estimate the kinds and amounts of infrastructure needed to support a successful grazing program.  TLC secured contractors to install permanent fencing on 12 of the 20 acres and to upgrade an existing well for watering cattle.  Due to budgetary constraints only the initial 12 acres were fenced.  The other areas were available to graze with temporary electric fencing until funds allowed for additional permanent fences.  Our team developed a grazing plan using USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) web soil survey to estimate the carrying capacity.  A freeze-proof watering tank with a gravel pad was installed to provide fresh water and protect the soil around it from damage.  There were several areas where public use access could encroach on the pasture so padlocks and chains were installed on gates and no trespassing signs were posted at frequent intervals.  Jake and Catherine have continued to make forage improvements by managing their grazing to control weeds and encourage favorable species.  By project end, Newbold Farms increased their beef herd and demonstrated they could successfully start marketing beef in their community thanks to the additional acreage and partnership with the TLC.

Path leading down middle of the photo. To the right is a fence with trees behind. To the left are tall grasses
Path leading down middle of the photo. To the left is a fence with trees behind. To the right are tall grasses
A fence and gate cutting across the middle of the photo. Behind the fence are tall grasses and trees. On the near side of the fence is cut grass
A fence and gate cutting across the middle of the photo. Behind the fence are tall grasses and trees. On the near side of the fence is cut grass
In the background is grey sky and a forest. In the foreground is short grass and taller grass, all brown
Two people trying to put harnesses on two large cows. They are all in a fenced in area with trees outside the fence
A compact loader in the middle ground coming towards the camera. In the middle ground there is a black tarp covering dirt and a bucket stuck in the middle of the tarp. The land is muddy dirt
A trailer in the background with trees. In the middle ground there is a black tarp covering dirt and a bucket stuck in the middle of the tarp. A metal pole is in the bucket. The land is muddy dirt
It is nighttime and a person is kneeling in the middle ground. In the middle ground there is a black tarp covering dirt and a bucket stuck in the middle of the tarp. A metal pole is in the bucket
It is nighttime and there is a hole in the dirt. Wet concrete surrounds the hole and a hole is in the hole
It is nighttime and there is a trailer in the background with trees and a fence. On the near side of the fence is dirt. A black tarp covers a square of the ground. A bucket is in the middle of the tarp and a pole is in the bucket
Landscape view of a grassy field and in the background are trees