Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program
What is the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program?
The purpose of the Voluntary Preservation Program is to encourage the voluntary preservation and protection of farmland from non-farm development. This is in recognition of the importance of agriculture to the economic and social life of the county.
The General Assembly of the State of North Carolina authorized counties to undertake a series of programs to encourage the preservation of farmland. This statutory authority is found in Chapter 106, Article 61 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
The Watauga County Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance was adopted by the Watauga County Board of Commissioners the second day of October, 2000.
The ordinance provided for the creation of an Agricultural Advisory Board to administer this program. This Board is composed of five county residents appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Four of the Board members were selected from a list of names submitted to the County Commissioners of persons actively engaged in farming. The fifth member shall have a special interest, experience or education in agriculture and/or rural land preservation. The Agricultural Advisory Board will review and approve applications for qualifying farmland as well as establish voluntary agricultural districts.
What are the qualifications to become a member of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program?
The farm must be participating in the farm PRESENT-USE-VALUE taxation program. The primary qualifications for this taxation program are as follows:
- Individually owned agricultural land, consisting of at least ten (10) acres, that has produced an average annual income of one thousand dollars ($1000) over a three-year period, or
- Individually owned horticultural land, consisting of at least five (5) acres, producing an average income of one thousand dollars ($1000) per year, or
- Individually owned forest land consisting of at 20 acres that are in actual production and not included in a farm unit.
An agricultural district will consist of at least 25 acres of qualifying farmland, individually or separately owned, which are located within one mile of each other. Participating landowners will sign an agreement to sustain, encourage, and promote agriculture. The land must be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as appropriate for this Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program.
What will joining the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program do for me?
Members of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program will have increased protection from nuisance suits and other negative impacts on participating farms. As part of the Program, public hearings will be required on proposed condemnation by state of local public agencies. Landowners in certified districts will not be required to connect to water and/or sewer systems nor to be assessed water and sewer charges until that property is connected to such services.
A notice informing the public of the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program will be posted in the Register of Deeds office and the public access area of the Watauga County Tax Office. Information identifying approved Districts will be provided to the Register of Deeds, Watauga Soil and Water, Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, Watauga County Planning and Inspections and Tax Department.
What restrictions will be placed on my farm if I join the program?
The Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program members will be subject to a conservation agreement between the County and the landowner that prohibits non-farm use or development of that land for a period of at least 10 years. The conservation agreement, however, will allow the development of up to three lots on participating farms included in the District.
What happens if I want to remove all or part of my land from the program?
A landowner in the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program may remove all or a portion of his/her land from the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program by giving written notice to the Agricultural Advisory Board. If a portion ot the land is removed from the program, the remaining land must meet the program conditions and qualifications for the farm to continue in the program.
Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program
Agricultural Advisory Board
Kelly Coffey, Chair
295-3771
Andrew Ellis
|964-0977
Kristy Heckler
964-7747
Jennifer Miller
297-3213
Joe McNeil
297-2722
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Watauga Soil and Water Conservation District
971 West King Street
Boone, NC 28607
Telephone #: 264-3850
Cooperative Extension Service
971 West King Street
Boone, NC 28607
Telephone #: 264-3061
USDA Farm Service Agency [FSA]
971 West King Street
Boone, NC 28607
Telephone #: 264-3850 Ext. 2
Application for Farmland Preservation Program
Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance