Agenda - 09-02-2010 - 4e - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 a. Are best suited for providing food, seed, fiber, forage, timber, forestry products, horticultural crops and oil seed crops; b. Have good soil qualities; c. Are favorable for all major crops common to the county where the land is located; d. Have a favorable growing season; and e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of eight out of ten years; OR Have been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined by N.C.G.S. §105-277.2 (1, 2, 3) during each of the five previous years, measured from the date on which the determination must be made as to whether the land in question qualifies; 4. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices that are addressed to said highly-erodible land; and 5. Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as defined in N.C.G.S. §121-35, between the County and the owner of such land that prohibits non-farm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten years, except for the creation of not more than three lots that meet applicable County zoning and subdivision regulations. The Thompson farm includes two tracts in Cedar Grove Township (TMBL# 2.28..11, 47.28 acres and TMBL#2.28..11 E, 10 acres). At 57 acres, the two tracts exceed the 20-acre minimum to participate in the Voluntary Ag District (VAD) program. The Orange Soil and Water Conservation/NRCS District Office and the County Tax Administration Office have provided memoranda (attached) which indicate that the farm complies with the certification requirements outlined in the VFPO (see Attachments #2 and #3). To be designated as part of a voluntary agricultural district, the Board of Commissioners must approve the application in accordance with documentation that the farm meets the certification requirements. Following BOCC approval, the property owner(s) sign a conservation agreement, as provided in the North Carolina General Statutes, between Orange County and the owner(s) that prohibits non-farm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten (10) years, except for the creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet applicable Orange County zoning and subdivision regulations. The property owner(s) may leave the program by providing a written request. The Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously to approve the certification of the Thompson Prawn Farm as qualifying farmland at its May 19, 2010 meeting (see Attachment #4). The Agricultural Preservation Board recommends the designation of Thompson's Prawn Farm totaling 57 acres as a certified qualifying farm in the Cedar Grove Voluntary Agricultural District. The addition of the Thompson Farm would increase the number of farms in the VAD program to 16 and the total number of acres to 2,905. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. Voluntary agricultural districts are non-monetary conservation agreements.