Orange County NC Website
Tate Farm Conservation Easement Draft 94 BOCC <br />13 <br />9. Conservation Practices <br />As required by Section 1238 I of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, the <br />Grantors, their heirs, successors, or assigns, shall conduct all agricultural operations on the <br />Property in a manner consistent with a Conservation Plan prepared in consultation with NRCS <br />and approved by the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District. This Conservation <br />Plan shall be developed using the standards and specifications of the NRCS Field Office <br />Technical Guide and 7 CFR Part 12 that are in effect on the date of execution of this <br />Conservation Easement. The Grantors may, however, develop and implement a Conservation <br />Plan that proposes a higher level of conservation and is consistent with the NRCS Field Office <br />Technical Guide standards and specifications. MRCS shall have the right to enter upon the <br />Property, with advance notice to the Grantors, in order to monitor compliance with the <br />Conservation Plan. <br />In the event of noncompliance with the Conservation Plan, MRCS shall work with the <br />Grantors to explore methods of compliance and give the Grantors a reasonable amount of time, <br />not to exceed twelve months, to take corrective action. If the Grantors do not comply with the <br />Conservation Plan, NRCS will inform Grantee of the Grantors' non-compliance. Grantee shall <br />take all reasonable steps (including efforts at securing voluntary compliance and, if necessary, <br />appropriate legal action) to secure compliance with the Conservation Plan following written <br />notification from NRCS that (a) there is a substantial, ongoing event or circumstance of non- <br />compliance with the Conservation Plan, (b) NRCS has worked with the Grantors to correct such <br />noncompliance, and (c) Grantors have exhausted their appeal rights under applicable NRCS <br />regulations. <br />If the NRCS standards and specifications for highly erodible land are revised after the <br />date of this Grant based on an Act of Congress, NRCS will work cooperatively with the Grantors <br />to develop and implement a revised Conservation Plan. The provisions of this section apply to <br />the highly erodible land conservation requirements of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection <br />Program and are not intended to affect any other natural resources conservation requirements to <br />which the Grantors may be or may become subject. <br />10. Forest Management <br />Trees may be removed, cut and otherwise managed to control insects and disease, to <br />prevent personal injury and property damage, to remove non-native species, for.pasture <br />restoration, for firewood and other non-commercial uses, including construction of permitted <br />improvements and fences on the Property, so long as done in accordance with the Conservation <br />Plan referenced in Paragraph 9 of this Conservation Easement and in accordance with a <br />professional licensed forester prepared forest management plan that is consistent with the above <br />referenced Conservation Plan and that is approved by Grantee, which approval shall not be <br />unreasonably withheld. <br />Page 8 of 18