What's happening
This bill lowers the minimum gross sales requirement from $50,000 to $20,000 for small farms to qualify for agricultural assessment.
Why it matters
Broadens access to tax relief for very small farms. By lowering the minimum gross sales threshold from $50,000 to $20,000 for farms on less than seven acres, more small-scale or start-up agricultural operations will qualify for agricultural assessment, potentially reducing their property tax burden.
Encourages agricultural entrepreneurship and diversification. The change provides new and aspiring farmers—who may not meet the higher sales threshold due to limited scale, niche crops, or early-stage production—a better chance to sustain and grow their businesses.
Supports rural economies and local food systems. Enabling more small farms and apiary operations (beekeeping) to stay financially viable can help maintain open space, support rural employment, and increase the availability of locally-produced food and agricultural products.
May shift local tax dynamics. As more properties become eligible for agricultural assessment, the tax base for some municipalities could narrow, potentially shifting the property tax burden to non-agricultural landowners or requiring adjustments in local budgeting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Farm Land Eligibility
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8525
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 19, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the determination of land used in agricultural production for purposes of agricultural districts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs f, h and k of subdivision 4 of section 301 of the agriculture and markets law, paragraph f as amended by chapter 445 of the laws of 2002, paragraph h as amended by chapter 587 of the laws of 2005 and paragraph k as added by chapter 341 of the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
f. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more, or land of less than seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of [fifty] twenty thousand dollars or more.
h. Land that is owned or rented by a farm operation in its first or second year of agricultural production, or, in the case of a commercial horse boarding operation in its first or second year of operation, that consists of (1) not less than seven acres used as a single operation for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an annual gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more; or (2) less than seven acres used as a single operation for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an annual gross sales value of [fifty] twenty thousand dollars or more; or (3) land situated under a structure within which crops, livestock or livestock products are produced, provided that such crops, livestock or livestock products have an annual gross sales value of (i) ten thousand dollars or more, if the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11587-01-7
A. 8525 2
farm operation uses seven or more acres in agricultural production, or (ii) fifty thousand dollars or more, if the farm operation uses less than seven acres in agricultural production; or (4) not less than seven acres used as a single operation to support a commercial horse boarding operation with annual gross receipts of ten thousand dollars or more.
k. Land used to support an apiary products operation which is owned by the operation and consists of (i) not less than seven acres nor more than ten acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more or (ii) less than seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of [fifty] twenty thousand dollars or more. The land used to support an apiary products operation shall include, but not be limited to, the land under a structure within which apiary products are produced, harvested and stored for sale; and a buffer area maintained by the operation between the operation and adjacent landowners. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, rented land associated with an apiary products operation is not eligible for an agricultural assessment based on this paragraph.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to real property assessments for taxes imposed on or after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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