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loss of farmland of the past few years. We need to create a convincing survey of the county for the huge local markets we have and have a strong argument of the economic benefits for farm preservation. Our time is short and we need millions of dollars. Our overall goal should be how to prove and figure out how to get this done. Morrow suggested looking at ways to make farming profitable and that what we're talking about is ways to keep farmers farming. Use value taxation is important. We should try to extend the use category to further help farmers continue to farm — not just having it as one general tax break but prioritizing it. For example, if farming in a certain zone is more valuable to the public and to the farmers than farming in the middle of Hillsborough, you ought have a special category linking that special tax district to the size of the area that is preserved. For example if we had a voluntary agricultural district, that district ought to receive a higher priority for special use taxation category than one that is not. The tax incentives could be stratified so that the more land you have contiguous in an agricultural district, or the greater number of farms that are close to each other, the taxation decreases. That strategy would encourage farmers next door to each other to group together in a district to get a 7% rate instead of 10% tax rate. Walters added for another example, that the greatest concentration of farmers in tobacco and produce is in Cedar Grove, which also has the lowest rate of septic tank approval. So if they are leaving tobacco and want to stay on the farm, the poor (development) soils might encourage farmers to stay in agriculture compared to the other areas of the County where the soils are more likely to perc making it easier to develop with houses. Mandell asked if we have a map that shows suitable soils in the county. Warren noted that the Farm Service Agency as a working map of suitable soils. Morrow added that if you have an area of predominately good soils then that could be a priority area. Members discussed crop alternatives for tobacco farming. Morrow suggested an idea of tying the golden leaf foundation into the idea of an insurance program for tobacco farmers that want to divert to a different crop. Kleese noted that the Tobacco Trust Fund was set up to do this and you can apply as an organization to be a pass through -- taking money from the organization and giving it to the farmer to help them in transitions. Mandell said what she's is proposing is being there as a loop hole if they don't make it, like flood or crop insurance, not giving out money. Kleese said the Gold leaf program is more community oriented and the Tobacco Trust Fund is more direct to the farmer. Members discussed Land Link ideas. Mandell asked about the idea of purchase of development rights. Stancil added that discussions with a family in that general area about a purchase of development rights program and to date the differential in value of the development rights hasn't really been worth them pursuing it. It made more sense to wait and see if the land value will increase. Morrow added that we miss out on a lot of programs because the county in general is prosperous. When you look at Orange County it's just a small segment that's in that urban zone. I think we ought to suggest that the land use plan have a development zone along 1 -85 through Hillsborough, have a development guideline, a booklet or whatever to guide the planning board and citizens and land owners on development in that DRAFT