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6 <br /> <br />the Orange County Farmland Preservation Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural <br />District programs. <br />Gail Hughes, Soil Conservationist, made the following PowerPoint presentation: <br /> <br />Orange County Voluntary <br />Farmland Preservation Program <br />Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary <br />Agricultural District Program <br />Orange County Board of Commissions Meeting <br />December 4, 2017 <br /> <br />Orange County VAD/EVAD Program <br />Benefits of Agricultural Districts <br /> <br /> Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) is a 10 year commitment for farm to be in active <br />farm production, but the landowner can withdraw from the VAD at any time, for any <br />reason, with a 30 day notification to the Agri. Preservation Board. <br /> Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) is an irrevocable 10 year <br />commitment to be in active farm production, therefore the “enhanced” qualifies farm for <br />up to 90% cost share rates and a priority for state and federal grants funds. <br /> <br /> Benefits include: (listing a few) <br /> Makes public more aware of the local agricultural and its vital role in the economics of <br />the county; <br /> Recorded notice of agricultural district property is recorded at County Land Records <br />office; <br /> Land search on all properties within a ½ mile radius has notification of the agricultural <br />status, therefore, the agricultural landowner has increased protection from nuisance <br />lawsuits. <br /> Agricultural Preservation Board can request public hearings for proposed condemnation <br />of VAD land and utility assessments may be suspended or waived on EVAD land if not <br />connected to the utility. <br /> Farm may receive up to 25% of gross sales from the sale of non-farm products and still <br />maintain its zoning exemption as a bona fide farm. (EVAD only) <br /> VAD District signs are placed on farms, for public to know location of VAD/EVAD farms <br /> <br /> <br />Yvonne Crabtree and Gary Crabtree -Crabtree Farm <br />• VAD – 156.51 acres – Cedar Grove Agricultural District; 2 parcels of land <br />• Grain and hay crops, pastureland, beef cattle, <br />• Managed woodland <br /> <br />Mike and Shelia Hall, and Howard Hall – Hall Farm, Inc. <br />• VAD – 156.35 acres – Caldwell Agricultural District; 3 parcels of land <br />• Tobacco, soybeans, grain crops, hay land <br />• Managed woodland <br /> <br />Ken Dawson and Elizabeth Outlaw- Maple Spring Gardens <br />• VAD – 80.04 acres- Cedar Grove Agricultural District; 2 parcels of land <br />• Fruit and vegetable crops, herbs, and flowers