What's happening
This bill defines “agricultural custom operators” and includes them in certain agricultural protections and regulatory considerations under state law.
Why it matters
Clarifies legal protections for third-party service providers (custom operators) hired by farms. , such as those who plant, harvest, spread manure, or apply fertilizers/pesticides—potentially making it easier for farms to outsource essential tasks without regulatory uncertainty.
Extends the right to seek state intervention against restrictive local land use regulations. to agricultural custom operators, not just farm owners/operators—so custom operators can directly contest local rules that might hamper their work.
May lower operational barriers and costs for farms. by formally recognizing and protecting the role of custom operators, encouraging more specialized service providers in agriculture and fostering efficiency and flexibility in farm management.
Could influence local government decision-making. by ensuring that both farm operations and their contracted service providers are considered when drafting or enforcing agricultural regulations, potentially leading to more farm-friendly local policies.
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Define Farm Custom Operators
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
- 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.
Define Farm Custom Operators
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7294
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to agricultural custom operators
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 11 of section 301 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 35 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision 19 is added to read as follows:
11. "Farm operation" means the land and on-farm buildings, equipment, manure processing and handling facilities, and practices which contribute to the production, preparation and marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products as a commercial enterprise, including a "commercial horse boarding operation" as defined in subdivision thirteen of this section, a "timber operation" as defined in subdivision fourteen of this section, "compost, mulch or other biomass crops" as defined in subdivision seventeen of this section [and], "commercial equine operation" as defined in subdivision eighteen of this section and an "agricultural custom operator" as defined in subdivision nineteen of this section. Such farm operation may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land, which parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous to each other.
19. "Agricultural custom operator" means an operator whose services are hired by a farm operation to undertake an activity on the farm operation that is an essential activity of the farm operation. An agricultural custom operator's functions shall include, but not be limited to, the following: planting or harvesting crops, spreading manure, and applying pesticides or fertilizers.
§ 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 305-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 497 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09366-01-7
A. 7294 2
b. Upon the request of any municipality, farm owner or operator, or agricultural custom operator, the commissioner shall render an opinion to the appropriate local government officials, as to whether farm operations would be unreasonably restricted or regulated by proposed changes in local land use regulations, ordinances or local laws pertaining to agricultural practices and to the appropriate local land use enforcement officials administering local land use regulations, ordinances, or local laws or reviewing a permit pertaining to agricultural practices.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.