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<br />The Board considered a resolution to approve the purchase of and acceptance by <br />Orange County of an agricultural conservation easement far the Milton Latta and Sons Dairy <br />Farm and authorizing the Chair and the Clerk to sign, subject to final review by staff and County <br />Attorney. <br />Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil said that in regional and <br />national media in the last week or so, there has been coverage of a new report by USDA <br />entitled, "The Loss of Farms Report." This report indicated that North Carolina, Tennessee, and <br />Florida are now leading the nation in the disappearance of farmland, with the loss of over 1,000 <br />agricultural operations in 2005. He said that Orange County has been working diligently with <br />the Lands Legacy Program, partnership with the Soil and Water District, and USDA to try and <br />mitigate that with the acquisition of conservation easements to help keep active farmland in <br />operation. He noted that this is a 138-acre farm in Little River Watershed. <br />Rich Shaw gave a PawerPoint presentation of pictures of the farm. He said that the <br />Latta's have expressed interest in having a primary residence on this property in the future, and <br />this location will be designated. The funding partners for the purchase of this property will be <br />Orange County and the Federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program by the USDA. This <br />will be the ninth farm with a conservation easement through the Lands Legacy Program. The <br />purchase price for the easement is $600,000. <br />The County Commissioners expressed their gratitude to the Latta's. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to <br />adapt the resolution approving the acceptance by Orange County of the conservation easement <br />and authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the conservation easement agreement, subject to <br />final review by staff and County Attorney, with a closing and recordation of the document <br />expected to occur on or about May 31, 2007. <br />RESOLUTION <br />Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between <br />Orange County and Milton Latta & Sons Dairy Farm <br />WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation of farmland in the <br />County; and <br />WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and way of life <br />in the County; and <br />WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation <br />easements on prime or threatened farmland within water supply watersheds; and <br />WHEREAS, Milton Latta & Sons Dairy Farm includes approximately 138 acres in the Little River <br />protected watershed, consists of a majority of prime soils, and is located in an agricultural <br />community with good access to farm markets; and <br />