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1. Consist of the minimum number of contiguous acres to participate in the present -use- <br />value taxation program (20 acres for forestry, 10 for agriculture and 5 for horticulture); <br />2. Be participating in the farm present- use -value taxation program established by <br />N.C.G.S. §105 -277.2 through §105- 277.7, or is otherwise determined by the county to <br />meet all the qualifications of this program set forth in G.S. 105 - 277.3; <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 May 15, 2013 the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) reviewed the <br />findings of the staff assessments for the attached applications for the VAD program. All farm <br />applications were reviewed and verified to have met or exceeded the minimum criteria for <br />certification into the program. The Agricultural Preservation Board voted unanimously to <br />recommend approval of the certification for the seven farms and 1,052 acres of farmland and <br />their inclusion in the Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District program. The <br />certification documentation is on file in the DEAPR /Soil and Water Conservation District office. <br />The farms are described briefly below. <br />Brief Farm Descriptions: <br />1) The owner of the Norman Walker Farm has submitted an application to enroll three (3) <br />parcels of land totaling 244.11 acres, located in the Caldwell Community on Norman Road, <br />Kiger Road, and Guess Road, as qualifying farmland for the Voluntary Agricultural District <br />(VAD) program (Caldwell Agricultural District). The farm operation is comprised of hay land, <br />pasture, livestock, and managed forestry/woodland acres. The Norman Walker Farm has been <br />