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2 <br /> 33 <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> • In 2018, reviewed and recommended approval for 16 additional farms as <br /> Voluntary Agricultural District and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District <br /> farms, adding 1,748 acres to these programs. This increased the total <br /> enrollment in both programs to 14,303 acres on 109 farms throughout the <br /> County, and increased acreage in all of the seven Agricultural Districts. <br /> • Hosted the third annual breakfast program/informational workshop for <br /> existing and prospective VAD/EVAD farm owners to encourage new <br /> participants and answer questions; nearly 100 attended at the Schley <br /> Grange Hall. <br /> • Starting in 2018, the APB fills a dedicated seat on the board of the Orange <br /> County Food Council, in recognition of the close ties between the two <br /> programs. <br /> • Promoted participation in the Century Farm Program by assisting farm <br /> owners with the enrollment process. <br /> • Assisted Economic Development in reviewing and evaluating new <br /> applications for the Ag Economic Development Grant Program; two <br /> members of the APB serve on the grant review committee <br /> • Continued installing new road signs to identify farms enrolled in the <br /> Voluntary Agricultural District programs, as well as to recognize <br /> participating farmers and increase program visibility <br /> • Implemented revisions to the County's Voluntary Farmland Protection <br /> Program Ordinance to conform to recent changes to NC General Statutes, <br /> including removal of the present-use tax value requirement. <br /> • Partnered with Animal Services to develop language to better define <br /> nuisance livestock for the proposed Unified Ordinance <br /> • Promoted the creation of an "Agriculture Investment Grant" program as <br /> one of the projects to be funded by revenue generated by the new one <br /> quarter ('/4) cent "Article 46" sales tax enacted in 2012 (5% of the annual <br /> revenue, or approximately $60,000) <br /> • Creation and approval of the Orange County Agricultural Development <br /> and Farmland Protection Plan (2007) <br /> List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored <br /> Annually. <br /> The APB is responsible for reviewing and approving applications from <br /> farmers seeking to participate in the VAD/EVAD program, every other <br /> month. Also, assists in the annual Agricultural Summit and helps organize <br /> a biennial/triennial meeting of all agricultural boards to discuss Ag issues. <br /> Describe this board/commission's activities/accomplishments in carrying <br /> out BOCC goal(s)/priorities, if applicable. <br /> • The APB promotes, reviews and recommends new Voluntary Agricultural <br /> Districts and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts that help protect <br /> farmland (Comp Plan, Natural and Cultural Systems Goal 2). <br />