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consideration of the viability of the business plan, the degree of | threat to the continuation of agricultural use of the farm due to | factors such as the financial capacity and current farm management | practices of the applicant, development pressures in the area where | the farm is located and the degree to which the business plan would | accomplish broader objectives such as the protection of water | resources, wildlife habitat, open space and scenic and cultural | amenities. |
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| | If a farm is selected under this phase, the department will | provide investment support to help the farm implement the plan. | The farm must enter into a 5-year 2nd farmland protection | agreement in which the farm agrees to protect the farmland from | nonagricultural development. The 5-year period must run | consecutively with a first farmland protection agreement the farm | entered into under phase 1 of the program. The farm may withdraw | from the agreement if the farm repays the program for any outside | service reimbursement and any direct services provided the farm | by the program. |
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| | The duties of the department or the suitable organization the | department contracted to administer the program are to promote | the program to farms in the State, organize the review panel, | develop selection criteria for both phases of the program, | administer the disbursement of funds, execute and enforce | farmland protection agreements and make a yearly progress report | on the program to the Legislature. This bill appropriates | $1,000,000 to capitalize the program and the funds may not lapse | but must be carried forward. |
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