Assemblyman Bill Magee (D-Nelson) announced that legislation he sponsored limiting the cost of liability insurance for agricultural tourism businesses has been signed into law (Ch. 338 of 2017). The new law protects farms that diversify their income with pumpkin patches, apple orchards, hay rides, Christmas trees and other agritourism opportunities.
“New York State is ripe with agritourism,” Magee said. “The new law will create a more business-friendly environment for the small farm that wants to welcome families to pick pumpkins or apples, but has been restricted by high-priced insurance premiums.”
The law eases the financial burden on agritourism businesses by setting limits on liability risk for owners who take a reasonable level of care in preventing risks that can be associated with farmland, such as livestock, uneven ground and machinery. New York joins 26 other states with laws in place to limit liability exposure for agritourism.