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14 <br />the establishment and modification of agricultural <br />districts. The official designation of agricultural <br />districts is the responsibility of the Board of <br />Commissioners. <br />Section V of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program <br />Ordinance contains the requirements for inclusion in a <br />voluntary agricultural district. To be certified as <br />qualifying farmland, a farm must: <br />1. Be participating n the farm present use -value <br />taxation program established by the N.C. General <br />Statutes, Sections 105 -277.2 through 105 - 277.7, <br />or is otherwise determined by the County to meet <br />all the qualifications of this program set forth <br />in the N.C. General Statutes, Sections 105- 277.3. <br />2. Be certified by the Soil Conservation Service of <br />the United States Department of Agriculture as <br />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, <br />.fiber, forage, timber, and oil see crops; <br />b. Have good soil qualities; <br />c. Are favorable for all major crops common <br />to Orange County; <br />d. Have a favorable growing season; and <br />e. Receive the available moisture needed to <br />produce high yields for an average of <br />eight (8) out of ten (10) years; <br />OR be one on which at least two - thirds of the land has <br />been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or <br />forestry operations as defined in the N.C. General <br />Statutes, Section 105 -277.2 (1,2, and 3), during each <br />of the five (5).previous years, measured from the date <br />on which the determination must be made as to whether <br />the land in question qualifies. <br />3. Be managed, if'highly erodible land exists on the <br />farm, in accordance with the Soil Conservation Service <br />defined erosion - control practices as specified in the <br />1985 Food Security Act. <br />The Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Offices and <br />the Tax Supervisor have provided memoranda which indicate <br />that the Walters' property complies with the requirements. <br />In addition, the property is comprised of three separate <br />tracts, totaling 228.70 acres. Thus, the acreage <br />requirement of Section V.B.l.b is satisfied, since the <br />farm consists of two or more contiguous tracts containing <br />at least 155 acres. <br />