Agricultural Districts

2024 Agricultural District Inclusions

The Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) met on May 30, 2024 to make its recommendation to include 11 whole tax parcels, approximately 490 acres, in the New York State Certified Agricultural District Program.

The Ulster County Legislature passed Resolution 389 on July 16, 2024 recommending 11 parcels be included in a state certified agricultural district.

On August 20, 2024 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of New York certified inclusion of 11 parcels, officially making each a part of an agricultural district.

Applications came in for tax parcels in the Towns of Gardiner, Hurley, New Paltz, Olive, Plattekill, Rochester, Saugerties, Shawangunk, and Woodstock.

AFPB Report

AFPB Presentation

                    

General Information on the Agricultural District Program

Land is included into an agricultural district based on its viability for commercial agriculture and its importance to the region's agricultural economy.   

Inclusion into the Agricultural District Program affords tax parcels legal protections for activities considered agriculture by New York State Law. This can also include new and emerging agricultural practices depending on findings from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in consultation with Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service. 

Tax benefits can occur in a few ways.  Land already with an agricultural value assessment - that is land with a property tax break because a farm meets sales and size requirements - can have this assessment for five years and convert to a non-agricultural use without incurring a penalty, as opposed to having to reach the normal eight years. Also, land in agricultural production and in an agricultural district cannot have benefit assessments, special ad valorem levies, or other rates and fees for financing improvements such as water, sewer or non-farm drainage constructed on it, unless such changes were already imposed prior to the land being in an agricultural district.

Inclusion into the Agricultural District Program is designed to have its benefits over the life of a farm.  The Agricultural District Program helps farmers deal with potential legal issues with a neighbor or town.  The Agricultural District Program helps farmers going through site plan or special permit review, as towns need to give farmers more latitude with what they can request in their applications.  Prospective landowners can learn more about the Agricultural District Program on the following website: www.agriculture.ny.gov/ap/agservices/agdistricts.html.         

    Information on the Inclusion Process

2023 Agricultural District Inclusions

At the July 18, 2023 Ulster County Legislative Session, the County Legislature voted to pass the recommendation of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to include 19 tax parcels, approximately 418 acres, into all four of the County's agricultural districts.
2023 AFPB Recommendation to the Ulster County Legislature for Annual Agricultural District Inclusions
Ulster County Resolution 380-23 Adopting Inclusion into Agricultural District Lands by the AFPB

On August 31, 2023 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of New York certified inclusion of the 19 parcels, officially making each a part of the an agricultural district.
2023 Agricultural District Inclusion Certification Letter from the New York State Department of Agricultural and Markets 

2022 Agricultural District Inclusions

At the July 19, 2022 Ulster County Legislative Session, the County Legislature voted to pass the recommendation of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to include 16 tax parcels, approximately 463 acres, into all four of the County's agricultural districts.
2022 AFPB Recommendation to the Ulster County Legislature for Annual Agricultural District Inclusions
Ulster County Resolution 350-22 Adopting Inclusion into Agricultural District Lands by the AFPB

On September 1, 2022 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of New York certified inclusion of the 16 parcels, officially making each a part of the an agricultural district.
2022 Agricultural District Inclusion Certification Letter from the New York State Department of Agricultural and Markets 

2021 Agricultural District Inclusions

At the July 20, 2021 Ulster County Legislative Session, the County Legislature voted to pass the recommendation of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to include 7 tax parcels, approximately 84 acres, into two of the County's agricultural districts.
2021 AFPB Recommendation to the Ulster County Legislature for Annual Agricultural District Inclusions
Ulster County Resolution 307-21 Adopting Inclusion into Agricultural District Lands by the AFPB

On August 17, 2021 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of New York certified inclusion of the 7 parcels, officially making each a part of the an agricultural district.
2021 Agricultural District Inclusion Certification Letter from the New York State Department of Agricultural and Markets 

2020 Agricultural District Inclusions

At the September 15, 2020 Ulster County Legislative Session, the County Legislature voted to pass the recommendation of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to include 17 tax parcels, approximately 512 acres, into all four of the County's agricultural districts.
2020 AFPB Recommendation to the Ulster County Legislature for Annual Agricultural District Inclusions
Ulster County Resolution 307-20 Adopting Inclusion into Agricultural District Lands by the AFPB

On November 10, 2020 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of New York certified inclusion of the 17 parcels, officially making each a part of the an agricultural district.
2020 Agricultural District Inclusion Certification Letter from the New York State Department of Agricultural and Markets  

2019 Agricultural District Inclusions

At the July 16, 2019 Ulster County Legislative Session, the County Legislature voted to pass 5 of 7 parcels recommended by the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, approximately 33 acres, into two of the County's agricultural districts.
2019 AFPB Recommendation to the Ulster County Legislature for Annual Agricultural District Inclusions
Ulster County Resolution 298-19 Adopting Inclusion into Agricultural District Lands by the AFPB

On August 14, 2019 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of New York certified inclusion of the 5 parcels, officially making each a part of the an agricultural district.
2019 Agricultural District Inclusion Certification Letter from the New York State Department of Agricultural and Markets

Please contact Burt Samuelson of the Ulster County Planning Department with any questions at (845) 339-2490 or bsam[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us