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Agricultural Commissions

Massachusetts towns and cities have the authority to establish municipal agricultural commissions to “promote and develop the agricultural resources of the municipality.”
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Support for Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions

Through a partnership with Conservation Works, LLC, MDAR can provide support to Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions (AgComs) and municipalities interested in establishing an AgCom.

samples of Ag Comm signs

Massachusetts towns and cities have the authority to establish municipal agricultural commissions to “promote and develop the agricultural resources of the municipality.” Municipalities may also pass “Right to Farm” bylaws, to protect and encourage the growth and development of farm-related businesses by protecting farmers and farm operators against nuisance complaints. More than 150 municipalities in the Commonwealth have taken these steps to support agriculture in their communities.

Agricultural Commissions are non-regulatory, but have the ability to help set and promote an agenda that supports farming in their communities. State law gives them the authority to participate in relevant local board of health decision-making processes, and to hold land for the purpose of protecting it for agricultural use. They are an important voice for agriculture throughout the Commonwealth, and can participate in statewide efforts like the implementation of the Farmland Action Plan.

Pete Westover and Sarah Gardner of Conservation Works, with assistance from Cheryl Lekstrom, are working with MDAR to provide technical support for town Agricultural Commissions throughout the Commonwealth. They can be contacted at:

They are available to meet in person or online with any AgCom, to discuss current issues, plans, funding, Right to Farm Bylaws (RTF), or other matters related to farming in your town, or to support towns in establishing an AgCom or developing a RTF bylaw. They can also help connect local AgComs with resources available from a broad network of supportive stakeholder organizations. They are planning regional AgCom roundtables for fall 2025, and will be seeking opportunities to re-establish the AgCom Small Grant Program.

AgComs have been active in promoting local agriculture in many ways, and this project seeks to help them learn from each other whenever possible. Since the first AgComms were established in the late 1990’s, they have taken on a range of projects, including:

  • Acquiring (on behalf of the town) and leasing farmland to local farmers.
  • Establishing a procedure for responding to Chapter 61A release requests.
  • Supporting farmers markets.
  • Helping mediate farm and neighbor conflicts.
  • Assisting landowners with APR applications.
  • Educating other town boards about farm needs and practices.
  • Connecting farmers within the town and region.
  • Certifying soils of local importance.
  • Helping to establish school gardens.
  • Sharing grant information with farms.
  • Establishing farm succession plans with help from Land For Good.
  • Publishing farm guides for shoppers.
  • Holding farm potlucks and public discussion sessions.
  • Surveying farmers to assess the size of the local farm economy and particular farm issues and needs.
  • Farmland mapping.
  • Planning land protection in cooperation with Conservation Commissions.
  • Urging community support for buy local efforts.
  • Placing local Right to Farm signs on town roads.
  • Creating and managing AgCom pages on town websites.
  • Helping farmers navigate DEP regulatory issues.
  • Making connections with conservation land trusts.
  • Working with Indigenous tribes to get farmland into their stewardship.
  • Promoting agricultural grant programs such as the MDAR farm viability and other funding programs.
  • Conducting a livestock and poultry census.
  • Solar permitting.
  • Publishing brochures like “Raising Backyard Chickens.”
  • Establishing local brands, such as “Shelburne Grown.”
  • Promoting CSAs with subsidized shares for low-income buyers.

Resources

These resources support cities and towns with existing Agricultural Commissions as well as those seeking to form an Agricultural Commission. There are model Agricultural Commission warrant articles, a model Right to Farm bylaw, and guides for agricultural commissions to exercise the right of first refusal on Chapter 61 land to purchase or lease farmland. These are model bylaws and guidance only; each municipality should work with their farms and town planner and/or conservation agent and town counsel to develop their own bylaws and guidelines that fit their unique circumstances.

Updates

AgCom Technical Assistant Project Update June 2025

Agricultural Commission Roundtable Meetings

Roundtables are regional gatherings of local Agricultural Commission members and other local land use board members, farmers, and representatives of farm resource organizations, as well as others involved in agriculture, such as representatives of land trusts, farmers markets, food banks, and other food and agriculture-related organizations and agencies. 

The goal: To boost local and regional agricultural capacity by strengthening regional networks and assisting AgComs to be effective advocates for farms, farmers, and farmland.  The project emphasizes the role AgComs can play in implementing the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan, through local farmland protection.

Topics: Forming or reviving AgComs, Right to Farm, New Roles for Ag Coms: owning farmland & creating Agricultural Funds, exercising Right of First Refusal on Ch 61A lands, farmer surveys, town agricultural profiles, local farmland protection plans, land protection tools for municipalities, and other issues.

Who: The meetings will be convened by the AgCom Technical Assistance Team (Pete Westover & Sarah Gardner), who have been contracted by MDAR to support AgComs throughout the Commonwealth.

Agenda:

  • 10-10:10 Meet and greet; coffee and pastries
  • 10:10-10:30 Presentation: new rights and powers of Ag Commissions & success stories
  • 10:30-11:00 Ag-related updates from the region: Ag Commissioners, farmers, elected officials, land trusts, and others   
  • 11:00-11:45 Participant introductions and reporting on ag issues in their towns and organizations.
  • 11:45-12 noon: Wrap up; next steps.*

*Next Steps: Towns may request assistance in any AgCom related matter, including starting or revitalizing inactive AgComs, pursuing new activities, managing conflicts, or engaging in farmland protection.

MDAR AgCom Technical Assistance Project:

Sarah Gardner: sarahsperrygardner@gmail.com, 413-281-0478

Pete Westover: westover03@comcast.net, 413-695-4627

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDTABLES (more to come in 2026)

Oct. 18, 2025: Middlesex County
10am - noon
Location:  Prescott Community Center, 145 Main St., Groton, MA
Sponsors: MDAR, Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, 1st Middlesex
Sign up by October 11: Register here

Nov. 1, 2025: Berkshire County
10am - noon
Location: Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
Sponsors: MDAR, Berkshire Grown
Sign up by October 27: Register here

Nov. 15, 2025: Worcester County
10am - noon
Location: Stone Cow Brewery, 500 West Street, Barre, MA 00 West St. Barre, Massachusetts
Sponsors: MDAR, Mount Grace Land Trust, Central Mass Grown
Sign up by November 8: Register here

Notes from AgCom Roundtables

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