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12 <br /> NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION: Agricultural Preservation Board <br /> Report Period: January 2024 — December 2024 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS <br /> ANNUAL REPORT/WORK PLAN FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> Board/Commission Name: Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) <br /> Person to address the BOCC at work session- if applicable- and contact information: <br /> Michael Hughes, Chair: (919) 270-6462 or mmh mmhpe.com <br /> Primary County Staff Contact: <br /> Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff support <br /> How many times per month does this board/commission meet, including any special <br /> meetings and sub-committee meetings? <br /> Once every other month, on the third Wednesdays of January, March, May, July, September <br /> and November. <br /> Brief Statement of Board/Commission's Assigned Charge and <br /> Responsibilities. <br /> The Agricultural Preservation Board's mission is "to encourage the voluntary preservation of <br /> farmland from non-farm development, recognizing the importance of agriculture to the <br /> economic and cultural life of the county." <br /> The Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) serves as the County's advisory board for <br /> agricultural issues and administers the Voluntary Farmland Protection Program. The APB <br /> advises the Board of Commissioners on agricultural development and farmland preservation, <br /> sustainable agriculture, emerging trends in agriculture, and other initiatives to help ensure <br /> that farming continues to be a viable activity here. The APB makes recommendations on <br /> proposed Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD) and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts <br /> (EVAD). The APB is responsible for preparing and updating the Countywide Agricultural <br /> Development and Farmland Protection Plan, and the implementation of the agricultural <br /> sections of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan, Natural and Cultural Systems Element <br /> (in conjunction with other agricultural agencies). <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> • In 2024, the APB reviewed and recommended approval for 4 additional farms as <br /> Voluntary Agricultural District and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District farms, <br /> adding 145 acres to these programs after being approved by the BOCC. This <br /> increased the total enrollment in both programs to 17,578 acres on 155 farms <br /> throughout the County (14,864 in VAD and 2,714 in EVAD). <br /> • The APB's Farmland Preservation Subcommittee has completed a two-year project to <br /> assess the state of farming and farmland preservation in the county. The sub- <br /> committee has prepared a draft of a new Agricultural Viability and Farmland <br /> Stewardship Plan for Orange County, to update and enhance our existing 2009 plan. <br /> 1 <br />