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" N . C . Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services " AD"� <br /> T" <br /> N . C . ADFP Trust Fund <br /> xr <br /> Conservation Easement Monitoring Policy and Guidelines <br /> I . Purpose <br /> The N . C . Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) Trust Fund, administered by the <br /> Farmland Preservation Division of the N . C . Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services , provides <br /> grants for agricultural conservation easements on family farms throughout the state of North Carolina. <br /> The ADFP Trust Fund will "hold grantees accountable for the expenditure of State funds by performing <br /> monitoring and oversight functions , " in accordance with Administrative Code 09 NCAC 03M " Uniform <br /> Administration of State Grants " and Subsection . 0400 , pursuant to N . C . G . S . 143C - 6 - 22 & 23 . The ADFP <br /> Trust Fund will work with the grantee to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of ' the <br /> easement. Monitoring is necessary to make certain the easements are maintained while ensuring a <br /> productive relationship between the funding source (ADFP Trust Fund) , grantee (counties or private <br /> nonprofit conservation organizations , according to N . C . G. S . 106 - 744) , and landowner. <br /> II . Definition of Agricultural Conservation Easements <br /> According to N . C . G . S . 106 - 744, an " agricultural conservation easement" means a negative easement in <br /> gross restricting residential, commercial , and industrial development of land for the purpose of <br /> maintaining its agricultural production capability. Agricultural conservation easements may be perpetual <br /> or term - limited in duration . The agricultural conservation easement may permit the creation of not more <br /> than three lots that meet applicable county zoning and subdivision regulations , provided it is allowed in <br /> the original recorded easement. <br /> III . Involved Parties <br /> The ADFP Trust Fund , administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture, is the funding source for <br /> purchasing conservation easements . The ADFP Trust Fund has full -time staff administratively located in <br /> Raleigh , North Carolina. Part-time field staff members are located remotely throughout the state . The <br /> ADFP Trust Fund Document Specialist is the monitoring program manager, unless otherwise designated <br /> by the Farmland Preservation Division Director. Field staff members will conduct on site monitoring, <br /> unless otherwise directed by the Document Specialist. <br /> The ADFP Trust Fund Advisory Committee is administratively located within the N . C . Department of <br /> Agriculture and Consumer Services . The Advisory Committee will advise the Commissioner on the <br /> prioritization and allocation of funds , the development of criteria for awarding funds , guidelines for <br /> monitoring easements and projects , program planning, and other areas where monies from the ADFP <br /> Trust Fund can be used to promote the growth and development of family farms in North Carolina . <br /> Grantees are counties or private nonprofit conservation organizations . Grantees are the first point of <br /> contact for monitoring conservation easements and discussing potential violations of contracts and /or <br /> recorded easements . Grantees are required to monitor the easement at least once a year and <br /> complete annual monitoring reports for the length of the term of the easement. <br /> Landowners will work with grantees to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of conservation <br /> easements and will be notified of site visits by the grantee . <br /> Approved 09120 <br />