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I 2. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) 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; o, 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 Have 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; 3. 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 4. Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as defined in N.C.G.S. § 121 -35, between the county and the owner of such land 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. ARTICLE VIII APPLICATION, APPROVAL, AND APPEAL PROCEDURE A. Application Procedure A landowner may apply to participate in the program by making application to the chairperson of the Advisory Board or a designated staff person. The application shall be on forms provided by the Advisory Board. The application to participate in a district may be filed with the certification for qualifying farmland. 2. A conservation agreement to sustain, encourage, and promote agriculture must be executed by the landowner and recorded with the Advisory Board. B. Approval Process Upon submission of the application to the Advisory Board, the Advisory Board shall meet within thirty (30) days to approve or disapprove the application. The chairperson shall notify the applicant by first class mail of approval or disapproval of participation in the district. 2. Upon receipt of an application, the chairperson will forward copies immediately to the following offices which shall be asked to provide comments, if any, to the Advisory Board prior to the date set 5