Open enrollment deadline for Madison County agricultural districts is Oct. 31 2018

County officials say agricultural districts play a vital role in protecting agricultural land in Madison County. Farmland accounts for close to 45 percent of Madison County’s entire area.

The State Department of Agriculture and Markets describes the purpose of agricultural districting as being the encouraged use of farmland for agricultural production. ‘The Program is based on a combination of landowner incentives and protections, all of which are designed to forestall the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses. Included in these benefits are preferential real property tax treatments e.g. agricultural assessment and special benefit assessment and protections against overly restrictive local laws, government funded acquisition or construction projects, and private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices.’

October has been designated as Madison County’s open enrollment period during which properties may be added to an existing agricultural district.

Contact Madison County Planning Department by calling 315.366.2377 and ask for a survey form. You can also stop in at the Planning Department in Wampsville Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to pick up the survey form or print a form from the County website at madisoncounty.ny.gov/358/Agriculture.

Each survey form requires the tax parcel ID number and acreage of the property. A description of the land must be included with the request. All requests for inclusion into an agricultural district must be postmarked by Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2018.

By martha

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