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2 <br /> cost of the loss of farmland. Perhaps we can utilize the data for the cost of providing <br /> community services for farmland versus residential development. It has been consistently <br /> shown that it costs the county more to provide services to residential uses than for farming, <br /> on the order of$1.20 versus $.75 for farmland. Numbers like this will have more meaning <br /> when we present our arguments to promote farmland preservation. Ortosky noted that <br /> there are ways to direct development to incorporate farmland preservation through the <br /> planning process. For example, allowing a large farm parcel to be developed with a cluster <br /> of housing confined to a small area, with the rest of the farm remaining in agriculture. Right <br /> now, it is much harder and more expensive to do a cluster development than it is to <br /> subdivide into 10 acre lots. We should focus on directing our attention to preserving the <br /> best or prime farmland, the flattest land that has the best soils. <br /> c) Membership: Staff reported that there were two vacancies at present: one at-large <br /> position, which is easy to fill, while the other is a district position, for the Schley-Eno district <br /> position. Members discussed current applications that had been submitted online. There <br /> was a consensus that the group would like to see applicants with demonstrated active <br /> background and experience in farming that is relevant to the work of the board. Compton <br /> suggested Blake Thompson who farms in the White Cross community and is an officer of the <br /> Farm Bureau. Wagger moved to ask staff to generate some qualified applicants for <br /> consideration at the May meeting. <br /> 7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items: <br /> a. Staff report on VAD program: There wasn't a lot to report on VAD program right now, due <br /> to demands on staff following the recent retirements of Kenny and Todd. Soil and Water <br /> has been working on a program to help close lagoons and waste ponds on farms that closed <br /> during covid, with 90 percent cost share funding available, with several of these now <br /> underway. Soil and Water received some STRAP (stream restoration/clearance) funding <br /> from the state, with three currently underway. The county is now participating in the <br /> Beaver Management Assistance Program, which gives OC residents access to a beaver <br /> management expert, who can trap beavers and do partial dam removal; Chris Hirni is <br /> managing that program. Two new staff members have been hired to fill the vacancies <br /> created by the retirements; Bradsher Wilkins and David Latta will start in April. <br /> b. Ag Economic Development Update: Ortosky provided a brief overview of current activities. <br /> Another round of ag grants will be funded starting July 1. There have been over 100 grants <br /> awarded since the start of the program. They are planning to make the video production to <br /> highlight the successes of the various farms that received funding from the program. At the <br /> Breeze Farm, the endowment that was left by the Breeze family is now going to start to kick <br /> in, to be transferred to the NC State Foundation. Interest of around 25-30k per year will go <br /> to the Breeze Farm, which is a huge help. The Ag Summit was a success with at least 125 <br />