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5 <br /> 7. Study additional methods of farmland preservation and make recommendations to the Orange County Board <br /> of Commissioners;and <br /> 8. Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Section V-APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFYING FARMLAND AND VOLUNTARY <br /> AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS <br /> A. PURPOSE <br /> The purpose of voluntary agricultural districts is to increase identity and pride in the agricultural community and its <br /> way of life,and to increase protection from nuisance suits and other negative impacts on property-managed farms. <br /> B. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT <br /> 1. An agricultural district shall initially consist of <br /> a. At least 80 contiguous acres(rounded to the nearest whole acre)of certified qualifying farmland;or <br /> (Amended 9122192 and 5124193) <br /> b. At least two or more certified qualifying farms,contiguous to each other,which will create a district <br /> of not less than 80 acres(rounded to the nearest whole acre). <br /> (Amended 9122192 and 5124193) <br /> In addition,small tracts or lots,when surrounded by or adjacent to certified qualifying farms,may be added <br /> to and thereby included in an existing or proposed voluntary agricultural district. <br /> (Amended 2122193) <br /> 2. The owners of the qualifying farmland must execute an agreement with Orange County to sustain agriculture <br /> in the District. <br /> 3. Qualifying farmland may be added to existing districts upon execution by the owner of an agreement to <br /> sustain agriculture. <br /> 4. In the event that one or more participants in the District withdraw and the acreage in the District becomes <br /> less than the minimum acreage required or results in the remaining land being non-contiguous, a voluntary <br /> agricultural district will continue to exist so long as there is one qualifying farm. <br /> C. CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFYING FARMLAND <br /> 1. To secure certification as qualifying farmland,a farm must: <br /> a. Be participating in the farm present use-value taxation program established by the N.C.General <br /> Statutes, Sections 105-277.2 through 105-277.7,or is otherwise determined by the County to meet <br /> all the qualifications of this program set forth in the N.C.General Statutes,Sections 105-277.3. <br /> b. Be certified by the Seil GeeseEvafien Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United <br /> States Department of Agriculture as being a farm on which at least two-thirds of the land is <br /> composed of soils that: <br /> (1) Are best suited for providing food,seed,fiber,forage,timber,and oil seed crops; <br /> Ing <br /> (2) Have good soil qualities; <br /> (3) Are favorable for all major crops common to Orange County; <br /> (4) Have a favorable growing season;and <br />