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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A2369
- Ordered to third reading cal.1816
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to agriculture and farmland protection programs
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Didi Barrett
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4158
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to agriculture and farmland protection programs
Purpose or general idea of bill
Would include efforts to support transfer of farmland to beginning farmers as part of local government farmland protection programs.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill would amend sections 324 and 324-a of the Agriculture and Markets Law by amending county and municipal farmland protection provisions to encourage efforts to support transfer of farmland to new owners, especially beginning farmers.
Justification
The most recent federal census of agriculture in 2007 found that the average age of farmers in NYS is about 56, up from 50 in the early 1980s. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has set a goal of recruiting 100,000 new farmers across the country to replace those that are retiring or leaving.
Young people are increasingly interested in farming and are looking for land they can farm. Many local governments, both counties and some municipalities, are interested in preserving farms and keeping land in production. These governments are authorized under State law to develop farmland protection plans. Often the focus of these plans is on the land itself, identifying prime farmland and properties for purchase of development rights. This bill would encourage local government to also include planning efforts to support the transfer of farmland to young and beginning farmers as part of the farmland protection program and also as part of the comprehensive plan developed by counties and municipalities.
Prior legislative history
2014: Passed Assembly.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.