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2 <br /> 3. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United <br /> States Department of Agriculture as being a farm on which at least two-thirds of the <br /> land is composed of soils that: <br /> a. Are best suited for providing food, seed, fiber, forage, timber, forestry <br /> products, horticultural crops and oil seed crops; <br /> b. Have good soil qualities; <br /> c. Are favorable for all major crops common to the county where the land is <br /> located; <br /> d. Have a favorable growing season; and <br /> e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average <br /> of eight out of ten years; <br /> OR at least two-thirds of the land has been actively used in agricultural, horticultural <br /> or forestry operations as defined by N.C.G.S. §105-277.2 (1, 2, 3) during each of the <br /> five previous years, measured from the date on which the determination must be <br /> made as to whether the land in question qualifies; <br /> 4. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Natural <br /> Resources Conservation Service defined erosion-control practices that are addressed <br /> to said highly-erodible land; and <br /> 5. Be the subject of a non-binding conservation agreement, as defined in N.C.G.S. §121- <br /> 35, between the County and the owner that prohibits non-farm use or development of <br /> such land for a period of at least ten years, except for the creation of not more than <br /> three lots that meet applicable County zoning and subdivision regulations. <br /> The Parker farm has been evaluated against each of these standards and meets all of the <br /> measures above. <br /> On May 16, 2012 the Agricultural Preservation Board reviewed the findings of the staff <br /> assessment and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the certification of the 293 acres <br /> of farmland and its inclusion in the Voluntary Agricultural District program (Caldwell Agricultural <br /> District). <br /> To be formally designated as part of a voluntary agricultural district, the Board of <br /> Commissioners must approve that the farm meets the certification requirements as per the <br /> APB's findings. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. Voluntary agricultural <br /> districts are non-monetary and non-binding conservation agreements. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board certify the 293 acres of <br /> the Parker farm as denoted in the attached documentation as qualifying farmland, and <br /> designate it as a Voluntary Agricultural District farm within the Caldwell Agricultural District. <br />