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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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