What's happening
This bill aims to improve access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers by facilitating land transfers and sharing farmland availability information.
Why it matters
Encourages the transfer of farmland from existing owners to new and beginning farmers, addressing generational renewal and helping younger or first-time farmers access land more easily.
Requires state agencies to consider and advise on policies—such as tax and financial assistance—that specifically target the challenges faced by beginning farmers, potentially shaping more supportive state programs.
Mandates biennial reporting to the governor and legislature on efforts to improve land access for new farmers, increasing governmental accountability and transparency in this area.
Creates a system for publicly sharing information about both public and private farmland available for purchase or lease, making it easier for aspiring farmers to find viable land and connect with landowners, and requiring state agencies to actively identify and list such land.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help New Farmers Get Land
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Vetoed memo.167
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.420
- Substituted for A5060
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.451
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Open Farmland for New Farmers
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4900
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the public lands law, in relation to access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-f to read as follows:
2-f. Aid in efforts supporting the successful transfer of viable agricultural land from existing owners to new owners and operators, especially beginning farmers.
§ 2. Subdivision 5 of section 309 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 79 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
5. The advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner and other state agency heads on state government plans, policies and programs affecting farming and the agricultural industry of this state including, but not limited to, advice regarding tax, financial assistance and other policies and programs that could address the needs of beginning farmers and issues related to transfer of ownership of farms. Concerned state agencies shall be encouraged to establish a working relationship with the council and shall fully cooperate with the council in any requests it shall make.
§ 3. Subdivision 6 of section 323 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 150 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
6. reporting biennially to the governor and the legislature regarding the activities of the commissioner, including efforts to enhance access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers, the types of technical assistance rendered to county agricultural and farmland
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08824-01-7
S. 4900 2
protection boards, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts and not-for-profit conservation organizations, and the need to protect the state's agricultural economy and land resources.
§ 4. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 329-a to read as follows:
§ 329-a. Farmland availability information. 1. The department may collect and compile information about public land that is viable for farming and is available for purchase or lease for farming and make available such information, including contact information for the office of general services, other state agencies, municipalities, and other governmental entities offering such land, on its internet website. The department shall provide guidance and assistance to the office of general services, other state agencies, municipalities and other governmental organizations that request such assistance, in identifying land that is viable for farming.
2. The department may also make available similar information about private land available for purchase or lease for farming, including contact information for the owners of such land.
§ 5. Section 2 of the public lands law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3-a. Land viable for farming; identification. The commissioner of general services is authorized and directed to consult, as part of the state-owned real property management program, with the department of agriculture and markets to identify land that may be viable for farming and may be made available for purchase or lease for farming and make that information available to the department of agriculture and markets to be disseminated to the public.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law and the public lands law, in relation to access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers
Purpose
To direct the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to enhance access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers and would direct the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to work with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to develop an inventory of state-owned real property that may be viable for farming.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 16 of the agriculture and markets law by adding new subdivision 2-e. Subdivision 2-e provides aid in efforts supporting the successful transfer of viable agricultural land from existing owners to new owners and operators, especially beginning farmers.
Read the full memo (676 words)
Section 2 amends subdivision 5 of section 309 of the agriculture and markets law to require the Agriculture Advisory Council to provide guidance regarding tax, financial assistance, and other policies and programs that might address the needs of new farmers to the Commissioner and State agencies.
Section 3 amends subdivision 6 of section 323 of the agriculture and markets law to require the Commissioner to report to the Governor and the Legislature on efforts to enhance access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers.
Section 4 amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 329-a, that requires the Department to collect and compile information about both public and private lands available for purchase or leasing for farming, and make such information available on its internet website.
Section 5 amends § 2 of the public lands law by adding two new subdivisions 2-a and 2-b. Subdivision 2-a directs the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to work with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to develop an inventory of available land for farming. Subdivision 2-b requiring the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the effective date on issues related to selling state lands for farming.
Section 6 amends § 2 of the public lands law by adding a new subdivision 3-a directing the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to work with other state agencies to identify land that may be viable for farming.
Section 7 is the effective date.
Justification
The most recent federal census of agriculture in 2007 found that the average age of farmers in New York State is about 56, up from 50 in the early 1980s. In light of that statistic, 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. Farming is a difficult business; several factors, such as the complex process of transferring ownership of farms and prohibitive capital costs, contribute to the aging of the farm population and present barriers to younger farmers gaining access to land. There is increasing interest by young people hoping to find viable land they can farm. Trends in the marketplace such as the recent growth in Greek yogurt and other dairy processors, and increased demand for locally grown foods and beverages from consumers, foodservice businesses and institutions, highlight the importance of assisting new farmers starting out.
This bill would emphasize assistance for new and beginning farmers in existing state law. For example, it would require the State's Agriculture Advisory Council to provide advice to State agencies regarding tax, financial assistance and other policies and programs that could address the needs of beginning farmers and the issues they face related to the transfer of ownership of farms. It would also encourage the identification of properties owned by the State that are viable for farming and could be sold or leased for farming. This bill will also promote information among those interested in purchasing or leasing those properties.
Legislative history
2016: S.7011-A/A.9536 2015: S.1824/A.1571 2013-2014: S.5377-A/A.7002-B
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.