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11 <br /> <br />to have met or exceeded the minimum criteria for certification into the program. The Agricultural <br />Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the certification for eight (8) <br />farms and their inclusion in the Voluntary and the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District <br />program. The certification documentation is on file in the DEAPR/Soil and Water Conservation <br />District office. <br /> <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 />June 5, 2018 <br /> <br />Orange County VAD/EVAD Program Benefits of Agricultural Districts <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 reason, <br />with a 30 day notification to the Agri. Preservation Board. <br /> Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) is an irrevocable 10 year commitment <br />to be in active farm production, therefore the “enhanced” qualifies farm for up to 90% cost <br />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 />Mary Sue Woods Johnson (Agreement Revocable Trust) <br />• VAD – 90.44 acres – Caldwell Agricultural District – 1 parcel of land <br />• Corn, grain, soybean, hay crops, and managed woodland <br />• Currently has additional parcels of land in the VAD program <br /> <br />Vaughn and Marcia Compton – Compton Farms <br />• VAD – 44.3 acres- Cedar Grove Agricultural District – 2 parcels of land <br />• Tobacco, grain, hay crops, and managed woodland. <br />• Currently has additional parcels of land in the VAD program <br /> <br />Diane A. Pope, Baynes Anderson, Cindy Anderson <br /> (Anderson family property)