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I <br />3. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United <br />States Department of Agriculture as 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, fiber, forage, timber, forestry <br />products, horticultural crops and oil seed crops; <br />b. Have good soil qualities; <br />C. Are favorable for all major crops common to the county where the land is <br />located; <br />d. Have a favorable growing season; and <br />e. Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average <br />of eight out of ten years; <br />OR at least two - thirds of the land has been actively used in agricultural, horticultural <br />or forestry operations as defined by N.C.G.S. §105 -277.2 (1, 2, 3) during each of the <br />five previous years, measured from the date on which the determination must be <br />made as to whether the land in question qualifies; <br />4. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service defined erosion - control practices that are addressed <br />to said highly - erodible land; and <br />5. Be the subject of a non - binding conservation agreement, as defined in N.C.G.S. §121- <br />35, between the County and the owner that prohibits non -farm use or development of <br />such land for a period of at least ten years, except for the creation of not more than <br />three lots that meet applicable County zoning and subdivision regulations. <br />On November 28, 2012, the Agricultural Preservation Board reviewed the findings of the staff <br />assessments and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the certification for the five <br />farms and 1,103.57 acres of farmland and its inclusion in the Voluntary Agricultural District <br />program. The farms are described briefly below: <br />Brief Farm Descriptions: <br />1) Owners of the William L. Rogers farm have submitted an application to enroll six (6) parcels <br />of their farm totaling 386.56 acres located in the Carr Community on Corbett Ridge Road and <br />Highway 49 as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) program (Cedar <br />Grove District). The farm is very diverse; including poultry and beef cattle operations, and the <br />cropland is used to grow soybeans, grain crops, and hay /grass. The farm also includes <br />pastures and managed forestry/woodland acres. The William L. and Yvonne P. Rogers Farm <br />have been evaluated against each of the VAD certification requirement standards and meets or <br />exceeds all of the measures above. <br />2) Owners of the Linwood "LJ" J. Rogers farm have submitted an application to enroll four (4) <br />parcels of their farm totaling 376.46 acres located in the Carr Community on Corbett Ridge <br />Road and Highway 49 as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) <br />program (Cedar Grove District). The farm is very diverse, and the cropland is used to grow <br />soybeans, grain crops, tobacco and hay /grass. The farm also includes pastures and managed <br />forestry/woodland acres. The Linwood "LI J. and Nancy R. Rogers Farm has been evaluated <br />