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14 <br />n <br />ORANGE COUNTY VOLUNTARY - FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM ORDINANCE <br />Section V — _APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFYING <br />FARMLANDAND VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS <br />A. PURPOSE <br />The purpose of voluntary agricultural districts is to increase <br />identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of <br />life, and to increase protection from nuisance suits and other <br />negative impacts on properly- managed farms. <br />B. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT <br />1. An agricultural district shall initially consist of: <br />a. At least 155 contiguous acres of certified qualifying <br />farmland; or <br />b. At least two or more certified qualifying farms, <br />contiguous to each other, which will create a district of <br />not less than 155 acres. <br />2. The owners of the qualifying farmland must execute an <br />agreement with orange County to sustain agriculture in the <br />District. <br />3. Qualifying farmland may be added to existing districts upon <br />execution by the owner of an agreement to sustain agriculture. <br />4. In the event that one or more participants in the District <br />withdraw and the acreage in the District becomes less <br />than the minimum acreage required or results in the remaining <br />land being non - contiguous, a voluntary agricultural district <br />will continue to exist so long as there is one qualifying <br />farm. <br />C. CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFYING FARMLAND <br />1. To secure certification as qualifying farmland, a farm must: <br />a. Be participating in the farm present use -value taxation <br />program established by the N.C. General Statutes, <br />Sections 105 -277.2 through 105 - 277.7, or is otherwise <br />determined by the County to meet all the qualifications <br />of this program set forth in the N.C. General Statutes, <br />Sections 105 - 277.3. <br />b. Be certified by the Soil Conservation Service of the <br />United States Department of Agriculture as being a farm <br />on which at least two - thirds of the land is composed of <br />soils that: <br />(1) Are best suited for providing food, seed, fiber, <br />