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Putnam County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board

Agricultural District Information

Putnam County has designated the month of April as the annual period during which landowners may request tax parcel inclusion into our Agricultural District.

During this process, parcels of land may be added; no tax parcels can be removed. The only time that tax parcels may be removed is during the NYS required programmatic eight-year review of the entire agricultural district. The Putnam County Agricultural District was created in 2003 and went through an eight-year review in 2011 and again in 2019. The next review is scheduled for April 2027.

What is an Agricultural District?

An agricultural district is land that pursuant to AML Sec. 303-b is certified to consist of predominantly of "viable agricultural land" as defined in subdivision seven of section three hundred one of this article and the inclusion of such land would serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the district.

AML Sec 301(7) states, “Viable agricultural land" means land highly suitable for a farm operation as defined in this section.

AML 303-b(4)(c) defines “Land used in support of a farm operation” or “land used in agricultural production”, as: “constituting a portion of a parcel, as identified on the assessment roll, which also contains land qualified for an agricultural assessment. Such land shall include land used for agricultural amusements which are produced from crops grown or produced on the farm, provided that such crops are harvested and marketed in the same manner as other crops produced on such farm. Such agricultural amusements shall include, but not be limited to, so-called "corn mazes" or "hay bale mazes".”

Agricultural District Annual Enrollment Process and Procedures

Agricultural District Annual Enrollment Process and Procedures:

Putnam County has an annual enrollment period for viable farmland to be considered for inclusion into the Putnam County Agricultural District #1.  During the month of April, landowners can petition to have their viable farmland enrolled into the County Agricultural District by filling out the Putnam County Annual Enrollment Form and submitting it to the Putnam County Legislature.  The submitted form(s) will then be reviewed by the Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (PCAFPB) and Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District during the month of May.  As part of the review process a farm visit will also occur during the month of May.  The PCAFPB by AML Article 25AA is charged with determining whether the land to be included in the agricultural district consists predominantly of “viable agricultural land” as defined in §301. – 7 of AML Article 25AA and the inclusion of such land would serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the agricultural district.  Once the PCAFPB has completed their review, the entire board will vote and then provide their recommendations to the County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee.

The county legislature’s Physical Services Committee reviews the PCAFPB’s recommendations and moves their decision to the full Legislative Board (landowners are encouraged to attend this meeting in case there are concerns or questions regarding the tax parcels). Prior to the full Legislature Board vote a public hearing is held (again landowners are encouraged to attend in case there are concerns or questions).

After the full Legislature Board votes on either to adopt or reject the inclusion of land parcels that petitioned to be included in Putnam Agricultural District #1, a letter, maps, and county resolution is then sent to the Commissioner of the NYS Agriculture and Markets for certification.  Once certified by NYS Agriculture and Markets, the tax parcels immediately become part of the County Agricultural District #1.

NYS Agriculture and Markets required programmatic eight-year review requires the county to contact all property owners within the agricultural district letting them know they need to re-petition to be in the agricultural district.  Each landowner needs to fill out the Putnam County Annual Enrollment Form and follow the procedures listed above otherwise they will no longer be in the agricultural district. You must do that even if you haven’t been in the agricultural district for the entire 8 years.

Agricultural District Time Line

How long will the process take?

New York State has AML, Article 25-AA outlined a process that will take 180 days from the beginning of the 30-day submission period (April). With the enrollment window beginning April 1st, the completion of the entire process is anticipated to be October 1st, but will be dependent on Board meeting and public hearing dates.

How will landowners be informed throughout the process?

  • If anything is missing from your enrollment packet or if the PCAFPB requires additional information, it will contact the landowner by email.
  • The landowner will be contacted by email to set up a farm visit during the month of May.
  • Landowners will be contacted by email of the PCAFPB’s recommendation and date for the County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee Meeting date to allow landowners to attend. (Landowners can also check on the County website at https://putnamcountyny.gov/legi/legislative-calendar/ to see the date of meetings as well)
  • Landowners will be notified by email of the County Legislature’s decision for inclusion or rejection.
  • Landowners will be notified by letter after the County has received certification form NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Can Putnam County’s Agricultural District change?

Putnam County’s Agricultural District was created in 2003 as a county-wide district. The agricultural district was re-certified in 2011 and again in 2019. The next scheduled state required programmatic review will be in 2027. At that time parcels wishing to remain in the agricultural district must re-apply. A reminder will be sent out to Putnam County Agricultural District members. During the NYS eight – year review is the only time that parcels can be removed from the agricultural district.

Timeline as outlined in NYS Agricultural District Law Article 25-AA:

Day Action
1 to 30 Open period for Annual Enrollment to petition for inclusion into the Putnam County Agricultural District #1. Landowners send in completed Annual Enrollment Forms to the Putnam County Legislature.

 
31 to 61 All requests are reviewed by the Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (PCAFPB).  Site visits to each farm occur prior to the PCAFPB’s recommendations are submitted to the Putnam County Legislature. The PCAFPB then notifies landowners of their recommendations.

 
62 to 150 The Putnam County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee reviews and discussed the submitted Enrollment Forms and the PCAFPB’s recommendations.  The Committee then sends their decision onto the full Legislature.  A Public Hearing is held and the Full Legislature Board either adopts, rejects, or amends the PCAFPB’s recommendations.  After adoption, the Legislature will submit their resolution, the PCAFPB report, the Tax Parcel ID numbers, and maps to the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  The PCAFPB notifies landowners of the Legislature’s Physical Services Committee’s decision.

 
151 to 180 The Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets may certify the new parcels and on that day these parcels become part of Putnam County’s Agricultural District #1.

 
181 to 211 PCAFPB will notify landowners of their inclusion into the Putnam County Agricultural District #1.

NYS Agriculture and Markets Law – Agricultural Districts Law Article 25AA

Important Contact information:

  • Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board
    C/o Putnam County Soil and Water
    Conservation District
    842 Fair Street
    Carmel, NY 10512
    Phone: (845)878-6331
    www.putnamcountyny.com/keepputnamfarming
  • NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
    10B Airline Drive
    Albany, NY 12235
    Phone: (518) 457-4626
    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News

Putnam County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Board Public Meeting

“Please note, a Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board public meeting has been scheduled for Thursday April 10, 2025 at 11AM at the Putnam County Planning Department conference room, 841 Fair Street, Carmel, NY.  Agenda will be forthcoming.“