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that generally have few limitations, support the widest range of uses, and carry the least risk of environmental damage, Class II soils have some limitations that reduce the range of potential crops or require moderate conservation practices. Class III soils have greater limitations on range of potential crops, require special conservation measures, or both, According to the Soil Survey, the following associations predominate in the agricultural areas of the county: (List and describe)14 Class I and II soils are considered to be "prime" agricultural soils - those soils whose characteristics make them most suited to agricultural uses, Approximately acres, or % of active and inactive agricultural lands in the county are on prime agricultural soils. The largest concentration of these soils is located in Township. There are also significant concentrations of these soils in_ and Townships, ARTICLE IV: CHALLENGES TO AGRICULTURE IN COUNTY Surveys of County farmers and other owners of farmland identified some of the strengths of county agriculture as well as its challenges. IS While the agricultural industry remains an important part of County's economy, both farmers and farmland owners believe that (list challenges, ego Taxes, low commodity prices, environmental regulations, development pressures, complaints from neighbors, vandalism and trespassing) are having a significant impact on the future of agriculture within the county, To help address the challenges facing agriculture, County farmers and farmland owners are interested in participating in a variety of local and state programs, (Describe goals and programs identified by farmers in the survey), Following are some of the specific challenges farmers identified in the survey: 16 A. Falling Prices and Low Profitability. Low commodity prices, coupled with rising costs of production, have resulted in low profitability and inadequate farm income for farmers across North Carolina. This affects the farmer's cash flow, receivables, return on investment, and incentive and ability to invest in continued operations, thus making the farmer's hold on his or her business untenable, County farmers have identified low prices a well as the high costs of taxes, labor, regulatory compliance requirements and utility expenses as factors affecting their bottom line. B. Aging Farm Operators. In North Carolina, the average age of a farm operator is 55.17 In _ County, the average age of a farm operator is , or, on average, _ _ years older than the general public, The number of North Carolina farmers older 4 \-\ - 3