Agricultural Commission Roundtable Meeting Notes - July 20, 2025

AgCom Roundtable Meeting held in Westport

An enthusiastic group of members of municipal Agricultural Commissions gathered at the Westport Fairgrounds on July 20, 2025 to discuss AgCom-related issues in their towns. Mostly Southeastern MA farmers, but also some from as far afield as the Pioneer Valley, shared their experiences, ideas, and struggles. The guiding question was: How can Agricultural Commissions be more effective advocates for local farms, farmers and farmland?  The discussion focused on some of the new rights and powers of AgComs regarding farmland protection, such as their ability to aquire and lease farmland and create Agricultural Funds. Other topics included AgComs’ exercising the Right of First Refusal on Chapter 61A lands, farmer surveys, local agricultural profiles, local farmland protection plans, and idle farmland, including APR land, and AgComs’ role in finding new farmers.

AgCom Roundtable Meetings will continue to be held in each region of the state in the coming year. The schedule so far: Oct. 4, Cape Cod & Southeastern MA: The Patch, Falmouth  (a farm recently acquired by Farming Falmouth); Co-sponsored by MDAR and the Cape Cod Compact of Conservation Trusts. Oct. 18, Middlesex County: Prescott Community Center in Groton; Co-sponsored by MDAR and Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, 1^st Middlesex. Nov. 1, Berkshire County: Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield; Co-sponsored by MDAR and Berkshire Grown. Contact Pete Westover or Sarah Gardner, AgCom Support, for details.

Meeting Notes:

• The importance of notifications to the AgCom of a Chapter 61A First Refusal situation. Such notification is not always required by local towns, but should be instituted where possible.
• Duxbury’s successful acquisition of farmland with CPA funds and subsequent 10-year lease to a local farmer. For more information, Jeff and Priscilla Chandler of the Duxbury AgCom can be reached at [e-mail].
• Providing money to an Agricultural Fund from the Community Preservation Act (CPA). Chapter 40, Section 8L, authorizes AgComs to establish Agricultural Funds that they have authority to spend from. The Town Treasurer can set up such a fund, and money for such a fund can come from the CPA, a town warrant article vote, grants, donations, or other sources. It can be used for any purpose within the legal purview of the Ag Commission.
• The usefulness of surveys of farmers and farm landowners within the town. We discussed the survey that Whately sent out, with 100% farmer participation, that provided information about total farm acreage within the town, farm products, an estimate of total dollar sales, number of farm workers, how products are marketed, how old the farmer population is, and farmer interest in land protection, estate planning, federal or state programs, issues with neighbors, or conservation planning.
• How to address idle APR land if the APR document does not include an obligation to farm. AgComs can help find farmers who may want to lease land that falls out of production. Land For Good is one of the organizations that can assist with the lease process.
• The possibility of contracting to obtain Cost of Community Services studies. Some towns have not accepted COCS studies by American Farmland Trust in the belief that such studies would be biased in favor of farmland. Conway School of Landscape Design might be able to do such studies. Typically, the cost to a town of residential housing is roughly $1.25 for every dollar received in taxation, whereas the cost of farmland is more like $0.80 for every dollar received.
• Hatfield is going through a farm planning process to be ready to protect vulnerable farmland.
• East Bridgewater is hoping to encourage the few farmers left in town to go through succession planning, possibly with help from Land For Good.
• The Marshfield Fair is looking for more vegetables and animals.
• Conservation Restrictions (CRs) on farmable land should allow for the construction of farm buildings like greenhouses. AgComs can help structure the CR so it allows for such farm-related activities.
• Some AgComs have arranged for Town payments for the town Conservation Administrator to provide staff assistance to the AgCom.
• CPA funds can be used for two purposes simultaneously – low-income housing (possibly for farm housing) and land protection.
• Rhode Island: Little Compton and Block Island have Ag Conservancy Trusts, but there are not yet any AgComs.
• Westport has a brochure called “Living Next to a Farm.” For information, make contact with Ray Raposa at [e-mail].  
• AgComs should do whatever possible to make sure the Board of Health has set reasonable regulations governing farm issues. Boards of Health should include farmers as members.
• The Town of Duxbury owns cranberry bogs that it keeps in production.
• In Duxbury, farmers know that they should contact AgCom member Jeff Chandler for help with various farm issues. Other towns should also make it clear who is the person to contact.
• Towns should be ready to search for farmers to take on idle farmland.
• Priscilla Chandler is the former Animal Control Officer for the Town of Duxbury, and noted the challenges of some animal welfare advocates who have served on AgComs, whose perspectives have challenged generally accepted farm practices.
• Hatfield has established a somewhat lower water rate for farms to be measured by ag meters. For more information, contact John Pease, [e-mail].
• Dwight Sipler has replaced the old MAAC website with a new one: “Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions,” www.massagcom.org.
• MDAR AgCom Support Website
• Thanks to Sue Guiducci of the Dartmouth Agricultural Commission for her work organizing this event.

Upcoming Agricultural Commission Roundtable Events:

• Oct. 4 - Cape Cod & Southeastern MA: The Patch, Falmouth  (a farm recently acquired by Farming Falmouth). Co-sponsored by MDAR and the Cape Cod Compact of Conservation Trusts.
• Oct. 18 - Middlesex County: Prescott Community Center in Groton. Co-sponsored by MDAR and Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, 1^st Middlesex.
• Nov. 1 - Berkshire County: Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield. Co-sponsored by MDAR and Berkshire Grown.
• Nov. 14 - TBA

Contact: MDAR’s Agricultural Commission Support Team

• Pete Westover: [e-mail]
• Sarah Gardner: [e-mail]