Agenda - 05-07-2013 - 4b; VAD - Green, Ward, Pope, Walters

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2 3. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 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; C. 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 at least two - thirds of the land has 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; 4. 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 5. Be the subject of a non - binding conservation agreement, as defined in N.C.G.S. §121- 35, between the County and the owner 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. On March 20, 2013 the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board reviewed the findings of the staff assessments. All farm applications were reviewed and verified to have met or exceeded the minimum criteria for certification into the program. The Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the certification for the four farms and 642.8 acres of farmland and their inclusion in the Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District program. The certification documentation is on file in the DEAPR /Soil and Water Conservation District office. The farms are described briefly below: Brief Farm Descriptions: 1) Owners of the Allan and Christine Green farm have submitted an application to enroll one (1) parcel of their farm totaling 12.28 acres located on Dairyland Road and Orange Grove Road as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) program (Cane Creek - Buckhorn District). The farm is very diverse with a primary focus on beef cattle and organically grown market produce. The Allan and Christine Green Farm has been evaluated against each of the VAD certification requirement standards and meets or exceeds all of the measures above. 2) Owners of the Randall and Susan Ward farm have submitted an application to enroll one (1) parcel of their farm totaling 156.8 acres located in the Caldwell Community on New Sharon Church Road, as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) program (Caldwell District). The farm is comprised of hay land and managed forestry/woodland acres. The Randall and Susan Ward Farm has been evaluated against each of the VAD certification requirement standards and meets or exceeds all of the measures above.