BILL NUMBER:S769

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to including farm
land which includes agricultural amusements within provisions of law
relating to agricultural districts

PURPOSE:
To clarify that those portions of land used in support of a farm
operation which include corn and hay bale mazes are eligible for
the benefits of the agricultural districts law.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends paragraph c of subdivision 4 of section 301 of the Agriculture
and Markets Law to clarify that those portions of land used in
support of a farm operation which include corn and hay bale mazes are
eligible for the benefits of the agricultural districts law.

JUSTIFICATION:
This state is home to some 38,000 farms encompassing roughly 7.8
million acres of cropland, pasture and woodlands from Erie County to
Suffolk County. These farms produce nearly $3.1 billion annually in
direct economic output and probably double or triple that in indirect
economic benefits with the farming and food industry employing over
425,000 people. Given the enormous economic impact that agriculture
              

has on the economy of this state we must do everything we can to
ensure that our farmers survive.

Part of the way that farmers are surviving is by turning to, on a
small scale, on farm, agritourism related activities including corn
and hay bale mazes. The two main reasons are to generate additional
revenue that helps offset the declining milk and crop prices as well
as to bring people to the farm to learn about and enjoy the sights,
sounds and smells of agriculture. Both are important to our farmers,
our rural economy and our open spaces as we all share the important
goal of making sure our farmers can continue to produce the safe food
supply we have come to expect. This bill simply seeks to clarify in
statute that those portions of land used in support of a farm
operation but which contain a corn
maze or hay bale maze produced from crops grown on the farm are, in
fact, eligible for the agricultural assessment as provided in the
agricultural districts.

It is important to note that in drafting this bill it closely reflects
a previous opinion issued by the Office of Real Property Services
related to this very issue. While a small step, it will greatly
assist our farmers with preserving their farms and farmland for
generations to come.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2009-2010: S.2437/A.10902 Passed Senate
2007-2008: S.3714-B/A.7126-C Passed Senate
2006:      S.7572/A.9612-A Passed Senate

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:


None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.