OTHER-2025-005-Acceptance of the Agricultural Growth Zone Grant with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture

Browse Search

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