Agenda - 01-24-2013 - 4f - Laserfiche WebLink

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I 3. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture as being a farm on which at least two - thirds of the land is composed of soils that: 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 at least two - thirds of the land has 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 non - binding conservation agreement, as defined in N.C.G.S. §121- 35, between the County and the owner 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. On November 28, 2012, the Agricultural Preservation Board reviewed the findings of the staff assessments and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the certification for the five farms and 1,103.57 acres of farmland and its inclusion in the Voluntary Agricultural District program. The farms are described briefly below: Brief Farm Descriptions: 1) Owners of the William L. Rogers farm have submitted an application to enroll six (6) parcels of their farm totaling 386.56 acres located in the Carr Community on Corbett Ridge Road and Highway 49 as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) program (Cedar Grove District). The farm is very diverse; including poultry and beef cattle operations, and the cropland is used to grow soybeans, grain crops, and hay /grass. The farm also includes pastures and managed forestry/woodland acres. The William L. and Yvonne P. Rogers Farm have been evaluated against each of the VAD certification requirement standards and meets or exceeds all of the measures above. 2) Owners of the Linwood "LJ" J. Rogers farm have submitted an application to enroll four (4) parcels of their farm totaling 376.46 acres located in the Carr Community on Corbett Ridge Road and Highway 49 as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) program (Cedar Grove District). The farm is very diverse, and the cropland is used to grow soybeans, grain crops, tobacco and hay /grass. The farm also includes pastures and managed forestry/woodland acres. The Linwood "LI J. and Nancy R. Rogers Farm has been evaluated