LD 2086
pg. 6
Page 5 of 6 An Act to Preserve the State's Farm Economy and Heritage LD 2086 Title Page
Download Bill Text
LR 1338
Item 1

 
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.

 
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.

 
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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