Agricultural Districts
"The purpose of agricultural districts is to encourage and promote the continued use of farmland for agricultural production. The Program is based on a combination of landowner incentives and protections, all of which are designed to forestall the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses. Properties in State-certified Agricultural Districts receive benefits including: protections against overly restrictive local laws, government funded acquisition or construction projects, and private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices." - (paraphrased from the NYS Ag and Markets website).
New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA authorizes the creation of local agricultural districts. Creation and changes to these agricultural districts begins with individual landowners. Landowners can make a request to be added to an agricultural district when the district comes up for review every eight years, or during the county's designated annual one-month 303-b process. The district and any requested additions or deletions are then subject to county review and adoption, and state certification.
As of January 1, 2022, Columbia County has 10 agricultural districts containing approximately 184,637 acres (Columbia County Agricultural Districts program) and 444 farms (US Census of Agriculture 2022).
Links to additional information:
Agricultural Districts Law Overview (NYSDAM)
