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2. Contain a list of existing challenges to continued family farming in the county. <br />3. Contain a list of opportunities for maintaining or enhancing small, family -owned <br />farms and the local agricultural economy. <br />4. Describe how the county plans to maintain a viable agricultural community and <br />shall address farmland preservation tools, such as agricultural economic <br />development, including farm diversification and marketing assistance; other kinds <br />of agricultural technical assistance, such as farm infrastructure financing, farmland <br />purchasing, linking with younger farmers, and estate planning; the desirability and <br />feasibility of donating agricultural conservation easements, and entering into <br />voluntary agricultural districts. <br />5. Contain a schedule for implementing the plan and an identification of possible <br />funding sources for the long -term support of the plans <br />The statute suggests that such a countywide farmland protection plan may be formulated <br />with the assistance of an agricultural advisory board, which Cabarrus County appointed <br />as part of its Voluntary Agricultural District ordinance. That board, known as the <br />Cabarrus County Agricultural Advisory Board, will take the lead role in administering <br />this plan and reporting to the Board of County Commissioners on its progress . 6 <br />ARTICLE III: <br />OVERVIEW OF CABARRUS <br />COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY <br />A. Agricultural Production <br />Cabarrus County's family farms produce a diverse array of agricultural products. Dairy, <br />Beef, Poultry, Swine, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Small Grains, Hay, Fruits & Vegetables, <br />and Forestry. <br />3 <br />G -1 <br />Attachment number 1 <br />Page 200 <br />T iel <br />L O PS - 2(11 <br />production <br />Rank <br />Tobacco, Lbs. <br />Cotton, 480 Lb. Bales <br />470 <br />766 <br />750 <br />47 <br />Soybeans, Bu. <br />7,400 <br />39 <br />292,000 <br />47 <br />Corn, Bu. <br />2,650 <br />120 <br />318,000 <br />49 <br />Corn for Silage, Tons <br />600 <br />17 <br />10,000 <br />21 <br />Peanuts, Lbs. <br />Small Grains: <br />Wheat, Bu. <br />2,600 <br />63 <br />158,000 <br />45 <br />Barley, Bu. <br />450 <br />80 <br />36,000 <br />10 <br />Oats, Bu. <br />1000 <br />72 <br />72400 <br />4 <br />Sweetpotatoes, Cwt. <br />Irish Potatoes, Cwt. <br />All Hay, Tons <br />14,000 <br />1.95 <br />27,300 <br />21 <br />Sorghum, Bu. <br />3 <br />G -1 <br />Attachment number 1 <br />Page 200 <br />