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16 <br /> N.C.Department of Agriculture& Consumer Services <br /> N.C. ADFP Trust Fund ff '4 . <br /> Local Agricultural Growth Zones (AGZ) =p <br /> _ Grantee Duties and Responsibilities <br /> The.purpose of the Local Agricultural Growth Zones (AGZ)program is to allow counties and <br /> conservation nonprofit organizations to enhance local investments in the acquisition of <br /> agricultural conservation easements by applying for matching funds from the state. <br /> Different regions in North Carolina have varying agricultural landscapes, land use pressures, and <br /> community needs. Local AGZs allow for strategic approaches to farmland preservation at the <br /> community level. <br /> I. Local AGZ grants fund agricultural conservation easement purchase funds and transactional and <br /> due diligence costs. Funds for individual agricultural conservation easement projects eligible <br /> under this grant contract are available on a rolling basis pending the approval of parcel(s), <br /> budget, and secured local funds. The Grantee is highly encouraged to determine the final <br /> easement purchase value through appraisal or tax card and secure local matching funds before <br /> submitting documentation for parcel and budget approval. <br /> 2. All parcels submitted for an agricultural conservation easement under this grant must meet the <br /> program eligibility requirements of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer <br /> Services (NCDA&CS)Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund <br /> (ADFPTF). All of the following property eligibility requirements must be met: <br /> • The property must be privately owned; <br /> • Located within the borders of the State of North Carolina; <br /> • In working lands use (agriculture,horticulture, forestry); <br /> i. For purposes of determining whether a property is in working lands use, <br /> any of the following is sufficient evidence that the property is in working <br /> lands use: <br /> 1. A farm sales tax exemption certificate issued by the Department of <br /> Revenue; <br /> 2. A copy of the property tax listing showing that the property is <br /> enrolled in present-use value; <br /> 3. A forest management plan dated within 10 years. <br /> • Minimum acreage requirements must follow the present-use value guidelines: <br /> i. Five acres for horticulture; <br /> ii. 10 acres for agriculture (row crops or pasture); <br /> iii. 20 acres for forestry; <br /> iv. 10 acres for a combination of working lands use. <br /> v. If there are existing easements that have removed the development rights <br /> from the property,those easement areas will be ineligible for the program <br /> and will not count towards the minimum acreage requirements. <br /> 3. To initiate funding from the Local AGZ grant for an agricultural conservation easement project, <br /> the Grantee must submit the AGZ Parcel Approval Form. Below are the requirements for the <br /> electronic AGZ Parcel Approval Form: <br /> • Title Prescreen <br />