Farmers can apply to add land to county’s Ag District during June
Photo by Tom Rivers: An apple orchard on Riches Corners Road in Albion is in bloom in this photo taken Saturday from Mount Albion Cemetery.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
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. It allows a once-a-year opportunity for a property owner to request that the County Legislature add parcel(s) to Orleans County Consolidated Agricultural District No. 1 (District C-1).
The next eight-year anniversary review — the only time parcels can be both added and removed — will not occur until 2024. Presently, there are over 116,700 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.
Requests for inclusion in agricultural district will be reviewed, 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.
To enroll, owners must complete and sign and a “Letter of Intent for Annual Enrollment” form. Enrollment forms are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development. (Click here for more information.)
Completed and signed forms should be sent by June 30th to:
Thomas Lampo, Planner
Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
14016 Route 31 West
Albion, NY 14411-9382
Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that an owner’s property will be added to Agricultural District No. 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify land for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment. For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact the local town assessor.
