7. a. To accomplish the expenditure provisions required pursuant to section 38 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C. 13:8C-38), and advance the preservation of important agricultural resources of the State, the State Agriculture Development Committee shall solicit, at least annually, applications for sale to the committee of development easements on farmland and fee simple interests in farmland. The committee shall utilize appropriate farmland resource data and information available to effectively identify and target farmland resources eligible for inclusion in the farmland preservation program.

b. The committee shall request, at least annually, the opinion of the respective county agriculture development boards regarding farmland that, in the opinion of each board, is appropriate and suitable for targeting and acquisition under the State development easement and fee simple acquisition programs in order to further and effectuate the goals and objectives of the respective county farmland preservation program.

c. The committee shall utilize the priority system, ranking criteria, and funding policies established by the committee pursuant to the “Agriculture Retention and Development Act,” P.L.1983, c.32 (C. 4:1C-11 et seq.) to identify, process, and preserve eligible farms through the farmland preservation program.

L.2005,c.178,s.7.