30-day window starts to put land in ag district
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
Photo by Tom Rivers: Fruit trees at Watt Farms in Gaines are shown in bloom on May 9.
ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in certified agricultural districts during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law.
This annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property which is predominantly viable agricultural land. During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No. 1, which in 2016 became the sole agricultural district in the county as a result of a consolidation process.
This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during the eight-year, formal review process. The next eight-year anniversary review — the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed — will not occur for several more years. Presently, there are over 116,200 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.
Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 this month will be evaluated, in order by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Enrollment forms are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development both in-person and online by clicking here.
Completed forms should be sent by July 2nd to:
Sarah Gatti
Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
14016 Route 31 West
Albion NY 14411
Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that your property will be added to Agricultural District No. 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your property for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment. For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor.
