NS Conservation Easement - Latta Dairy Farm

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Latta Conservation Easement Draft #3 (March 12, 2007) 13 • necessity of a Conservation Plan, and the prohibition on activities that are described in this Conservation Easement. It is understood that notice of this Conservation Easement will be included in any instrument recorded that subdivides, partitions or otherwise divides parcels. 9. Conservation Practices As required by Section 1238 I of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, the Grantors, their heirs, successors, or assigns, shall conduct all agricultural operations on the Property in a manner consistent with a Conservation Plan prepared in consultation with NRCS and approved by the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District. This Conservation Plan shall be developed using the standards and specifications of the MRCS Field Office Technical Guide and 7 CFR Part 12 that are in effect on the date of execution of this Conservation Easement. The Grantors may, however, develop and implement a Conservation Plan that proposes a higher level of conservation and is consistent with the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide standards and specifications. NRCS shall have the right to enter upon the Property, with advance notice to the Grantors, in order to monitor compliance with the Conservation Plan. In the event of noncompliance with the Conservation Plan, NRCS shall work with the Grantors to explore methods of compliance and give the Grantors a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed twelve months, to take corrective action. If the Grantors do not comply with the Conservation Plan, MRCS will inform Grantee of the Grantors' non-compliance. Grantee shall • take all reasonable steps (including efforts at securing voluntary compliance and, if necessary, appropriate legal action) to secure compliance with the Conservation Plan following written notification from NRCS that (a) there is a substantial, ongoing event or circumstance of non- compliance with the Conservation Plan, (b) NRCS has worked with the Grantors to correct such noncompliance, and (c) Grantors have exhausted their appeal rights under applicable MRCS regulations. If the NRCS standards and specifications for highly erodible land are revised after the date of this Grant based on an Act of Congress, MRCS will work cooperatively with the Grantors to develop and implement a revised Conservation Plan. The provisions of this section apply to the highly erodible land conservation requirements of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and are-not intended to affect any other natural resources conservation requirements to which the Grantors may be or may become subject. 10. Forest Management Trees may be removed, cut and otherwise managed to control insects and disease, to prevent personal injury and property damage, to remove non-native species, for pasture restoration, for firewood and other non-commercial uses, including construction of permitted improvements and fences on the Property, so long as done in accordance with the Conservation Plan referenced in Paragraph 9 of this Conservation Easement and in accordance with a forest management plan prepared by a professional licensed forester approved by Grantee, such • approval to not be unreasonably withheld, that is consistent with the above referenced Conservation Plan. Page 8 of 18