CHENANGO COUNTY – An effort to combine Chenango’s six agricultural districts into just three districts made progress this month with the passage of a county proposal to form a new ag district that encompasses six townships.
The county Board of Supervisors unanimously favored the resolution which groups the towns of Lincklaen, Otselic, Pitcher, Pharsalia, German and McDonough in the newly established Agricultural District number 2a. Action is part of New York State Agriculture and Market law which requires the county to review its ag districts every eight years.
The purpose of an ag district is to protect farmers from nearby homeowners who might have grievances about routine farm operations, including smells, sounds and manure on the roads.
“This helps farmers in the case someone complains about their farm,” said county planner Shane Butler at a meeting of the county Ag, Buildings and Grounds Committee in August. “This way, New York State Ag and Markets can help settle a dispute. Ag and Markets will make sure farmers are doing solid ag practices and fight for them.”
Other benefits of an agriculture district include eligibility for an agricultural assessment for farmers that are operating in an ag district. Moreover, it allows fire protection or ambulance districts for which a special ad valorem tax is made, to pass a resolution authorizing ag assessments to be used for the benefit of assessment or special ad valorem levy.
Of the land contained within an agricultural district, more than 50 percent should be used for some kind of agricultural purpose, as per NY Ag and Markets law.
Ag District number 2a is the second of the three proposed ag districts in Chenango County. The first district, Agricultural District number 1a, was reviewed, finalized and accepted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in 2012. A final map of District 2a is being sent to NYS Ag and Markets for review and approval.