|
The Pilgrim Resource Conservation & Development Area Council, Inc. Assisting locally elected officials, civic leaders and community organizations to plan and implement projects for natural resource conservation and community development.
Home About Us Meet the Board of Directors Services What's New Contact Us |
|
|
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONS What is an Agricultural Commission? Agricultural Commissions Questions and Answers Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions Pilgrim RC&D has been working to establish and support agricultural commissions in southeastern Massachusetts and throughout the Commonwealth since 1997. Each Massachusetts town is unique, with its own economic, geographic, political, cultural and even agricultural identity. Farmers have multiple interests in their community; they are businesses, taxpayers, landowners and residents concerned about the economic, environmental and fiscal well being of their community. Because their interests span the work of many town boards and commissions, it is often difficult for farmers to be substantively engaged in all the issues that potentially affect them.[1] As a result Massachusetts municipalities have created formal town agricultural commissions (AgComs) to provide farmer input into town policies that impact local agriculture and to help develop initiatives that will keep farming in the community viable.[2] AgComs began in southeastern Massachusetts and are now taking root throughout the Commonwealth and yielding results. Five years ago AgComs existed in only a handful of Massachusetts communities. Today, 130 AgComs have organized. That represents nearly one-third of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts. AgComs are also beginning to organize in the adjacent states of Connecticut and New Hampshire. The success of this agricultural commission organizing movement is due in large part to the Pilgrim RC&D Council and their ability to plan and work with diverse partners toward a common goal, for the good of the community. By establishing an AgCom through a Town Meeting vote, a town goes on record as supportive of retaining farming as a viable business in town. An AgCom is a standing committee of town government, created through a vote of Town Meeting, whose members are appointed by the governing body of the town. The AgCom represents the farming community, provides visibility and a strong voice for agriculture, encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and works to protect, revitalize and sustain agricultural businesses and farmland. AgComs are advisory commissions. The size and make-up of AgComs vary from town to town, but most have five to seven members who are farmers involved in farming and farm related businesses. An AgCom may also include designated positions for members of other town boards with related interests such as the planning board, conservation commission, board of health and board of selectmen. Many AgComs involve key municipal officials like town planners, selectmen, conservation agents so they may remain up to date on commission activities and serve as effective links between the AgCom and other government entities. AgComs provide a valuable voice for agriculture in town affairs. While their functions may vary from town to town, most AgComs are established to help identify issues of concern to farmers, to raise public awareness of the benefits of local farms and working lands, and to identify ways in which towns can support the business and land use needs of farming. An AgCom can help to see that the needs of agriculture are considered and integrated into town policy and regulations. They can facilitate the resolution of farmer neighbor conflicts, sponsor farmers’ markets and town celebrations of agriculture, and serve as a clearing house for information on regional, state and federal agricultural service programs. AgComs also collaborate with other town boards. Good communication ensures that boards and commissions inform one another about their purpose and activities.[3] Dartmouth was the first community to organize an AgCom in the late 1980’s. The AgCom was organized as an outcome of Open Space survey results. The people in town overwhelmingly stated that retaining agriculture, agricultural businesses and farmland were of the highest importance. After reviewing the results of the survey, the Board of Selectman decided to form an Agricultural Commission and charged the commission with the responsibilities of providing a voice and visibility for agriculture in town hall and in the community, protecting farmland and working to retain viable farm businesses. An agricultural commission warrant article was passed at town meeting and the first AgCom was organized in southeastern Massachusetts.
Today the Pilgrim RC&D Council and Coordinator provide AgCom organization support assistance to farmers, interested residents, and municipalities within the region and throughout the Commonwealth. Pilgrim RC&D assists by helping to organize AgCom informational meetings and local AgCom steering committees. Steering committees are provided guidance on preparing AgCom warrant articles for town meeting and developing public education strategies. Upon passage of the AgCom article at town meeting and appointment of members, the RC&D Coordinator facilitates sessions at which AgComs develop priorities, goals, action strategies and a Work Plan.
To improve communication among AgComs and their members, Pilgrim RC&D has written grant proposals and received grant funding to:
Pilgrim RC&D has also assisted individual AgComs with grant writing and grant management for conducting agricultural inventories, creating educational brochures, developing farmers’ markets, holding agricultural fairs, and launching their own websites. Pilgrim RC&D works closely with Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, American Farmland Trust, MA grower organizations, conservation districts, land trusts, NRCS, Berkshire Pioneer and Patriot RC&D Councils, AgCom members, interested individuals and farmers to help organize and support AgComs throughout Massachusetts. [1] Planning for Agriculture: a Guide for Connecticut Municipalities, American Farmland Trust, 2008, p.13. [2] Ibid, p.13. [3] Ibid, p. 14.
|
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SERVICE PROVIDER AND EMPLOYERSend mail to
kbraasch@pilgrimrcd.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
