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Overview <br />1. Provide a background on the ownership and use of the easement property. This should relate the <br />farm to the region, economy and history. (200 words or less) <br />Michael and Dan Barrier inherited the land they now own and farm from their father, C. Lipe Barrier, <br />a former Cabarrus Soil & Water Conservation District board member. Their grandfather, Cleveland <br />Barrier, began the family farm which may be Century Farm eligible when their late aunt's estate <br />is settled The farm included a dairy until the late 1980's. Michael, and Dan's son Landon, manage <br />the cattle and row crop operations while Dan manages a firewood business on the farm. The <br />Barrier's lease cropland in addition to the land they own <br />2. Explain any threats of conversion to the easement site. This should focus on actions that may occur <br />within the next 5 years. (this may include such items as condemnation, loss of supply and market <br />infrastructure, inheritance/ estate issues, etc.) (200 words or less) <br />The Barrier Brothers are located between the towns of Locust, Midland and Mt. Pleasant, which <br />annexed aggressively over the past two decades. The unincorporated land surrounding the towns <br />where the Barrier Brother farm is located is zoned "Agricultural Open." New annexation laws <br />passed by the 2011 NC General Assembly may limit residential development in the near future, <br />though a number of approved subdivision preliminary plats exist A prominent real estate investor <br />has also bought up several farms in the Mt. Pleasant area. The Barrier's farm operation is located <br />near Southern States and John Deere dealerships. Their profitability is enhanced by the fact <br />they own their own grain storage bins and shop. <br />3. Describe any conservation or environmental practices which have been implemented on the <br />property. (200 words or less) <br />Barrier Brothers were early adopters of no -till conservation farming two and a half decades ago. <br />Michael was also an early participant in the state agricultural cost share program's 5 -year crop <br />sod -based rotation incentive practice on the tract proposed for a conservation easement where <br />he lives. He currently practices conservation tillage on this tract. <br />Page 8 of 20 Easement ADDIRtion <br />tac ment number 1 <br />F4 -M Page 126 <br />