What's happening
This bill aims to improve access to viable farmland for new and beginning farmers by compiling and publicizing available land and supporting farm transfers.
Why it matters
Expands state support for farm transfers. by requiring agencies to actively aid in connecting retiring or exiting farm owners with new and beginning farmers, potentially easing generational transitions and keeping farmland productive.
Mandates statewide inventory and publicity of available farmland. , both public and private, making it easier for aspiring farmers to find land opportunities and for landowners to connect with interested new operators.
Strengthens inter-agency coordination. by directing the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Office of General Services to work together in identifying and publicizing viable farmland, aiming to maximize the use of underutilized or state-owned land for agriculture.
Increases government accountability. by requiring biennial reports to the governor and legislature on progress in enhancing farmland access, ensuring transparency and potentially prompting more robust policy responses if barriers persist.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help New Farmers Get Land
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7841
IN SENATE
March 1, 2018
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 or lease 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 the transfer or lease 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 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08824-03-8
S. 7841 2
§ 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 shall 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 shall 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 be made available for purchase or lease for farming and make such 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 Agricul- ture and Markets to enhance access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers and require 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-f. Subdivision 2-f provides aid in efforts supporting the successful transfer or lease of viable agricultural land from existing owners to new owners and operators, especially beginning farmers.
Read the full memo (780 words)
Section 2 amends subdivision 5 of section 309 of the agriculture and markets law to require the Agriculture Advisory Council to provide guid- ance regarding tax, financial assistance, and other policies and programs that might address the needs of new farmers, and issues related to transfer or lease of farms, 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 directs 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 a new subdivision 3-a directing the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to work with the Department of Agriculture and Markets to identify land that may be viable for farming, and make such information available for the Department of Agriculture and Markets to disseminate to the public.
Section 6 is the effective date.
Justification
The most recent federal census of agriculture in 2012 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 Agricul- ture set a goal in 2010 of recruiting 100,000 new farmers across the country to replace those that are retiring. Farming is a difficult busi- ness; 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 increased demand for locally grown foods and beverages from consumers, food service businesses and institutions, and the growing interest in farming as a career, spurred by school-based programs, high- light the importance of assisting and encouraging new farmers starting out.
This bill would require assistance for new and beginning farmers in existing state law. For example, it would direct 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 require 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. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, nearly 40% of farmland nationally is leased, rather than owned, by farmers. In light of this statistic, identifying and promoting viable farmland for lease is vital, in addition to identifying viable farmland for ownership. This bill accomplishes both objectives.
Other states already use similar practices to make state owned land accessible to new farmers. In Massachusetts, the state currently makes 645 acres of state-owned farmland available for five-year leases through state licensing. Massachusetts uses property beyond previously farmed land, including property at former state hospitals. New York State needs to join these other states that support their beginning farmers in acquiring viable farmland, so New York State's leading industry can grow. The Governor himself has recognized the value in returning vacant and unused government land for use as urban gardens, and has encouraged the department to oversee efforts to identify more state-owned land for this purpose.
Legislative history
New bill.
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.