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is <br />forage, timber, and oil seed crops; <br />(2) Have good soil qualities; <br />(3) Are. favorable for,al1 major crops common to <br />Orange County; <br />(4) Have a favorable growing season; and <br />(5) Receive the available moisture needed to produce <br />high yields for an average of eight (8) out of ten <br />(10) years; <br />OR be one on which at least two - thirds of the land has <br />been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or <br />forestry operations as defined in the N.C. General <br />Statutes, Section 105 -277.2 (1,2, and 3), during each of <br />the five (5) previous years, measured from the date on <br />which the determination must be made as to whether the <br />land in question qualifies. <br />C. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, <br />in accordance with the Soil Conservation Service defined <br />erosion- control practices as specified in the 1985 Food <br />Security Act. <br />d. Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as provided <br />in Article 4 of Chapter 121 of the N.C. General Statutes, <br />between the Orange County and the owner of such land that <br />prohibits non -farm use or development of such land for a <br />period of at least ten (10) years, except for the <br />creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet <br />applicable Orange County zoning and subdivision <br />regulations. <br />D. APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES <br />A farmland owner may apply for either certification as qualifying <br />farmland or for_ qualifying farmland certification and designation <br />as a voluntary-agricultural district'. - For a farmland owner to <br />receive the benefits provided by this ordinance, the farm must be <br />certified as qualifying farmland by the Agricultural Districts <br />Advisory Board and designated as a voluntary agricultural district <br />by the Board of County Commissioners. <br />1. Applications for qualifying farmland certification and for <br />voluntary agricultural district designation shall be made to <br />the Orange County Planning Department on forms provided by <br />that department. <br />2. The Planning Department shall review each application for <br />completeness. When complete, the application shall be <br />forwarded to: <br />