Lakeville agricultural commission weighs immediate haying of 40-acre Betty’s Neck field, discusses markets and membership

The Town of Lakeville Agricultural Commission discussed immediate options to harvest and manage a 40-acre parcel known as Betty’s Neck and reviewed several other routine items at its meeting on June 11.

John Powdaly, who sat at the table as a representative of the Board of Selectmen, told the commission the town-owned land had been farmed for years under an informal arrangement that produced an annual payment of $2,500. He said the prior contractor “chose not to do it this year at the last moment,” and asked the commission for help finding someone who could hay the property before the crop was lost. “I’m just interested in someone getting in there before it all turns to junk,” Powdaly said.

Powdaly described the parcel as roughly 40 acres, divided on paper into about 11 acres and 29 acres, and said it “visually looks good” though it has some bare spots from past ATV use. He estimated, using commonly cited local practice, roughly 80 bales per acre as an average yield and suggested a short-term first cutting while the town considers longer-term arrangements. He asked the commission to help identify farmers who would take a single cutting or to draft specifications for a longer-term license or contract that would require fertilizing, recordkeeping, and other maintenance.

The commission discussed practical and legal considerations raised by Powdaly. Members noted they did not have recent soil or fertility records for the field; Powdaly said he believed the land had not been limed or fertilized for “at least a couple of years.” He also said keys to the parcel are held by the highway department and that interested respondents could be shown the field; he left a contact file at the Selectman’s office and gave the Selectmen’s phone number as (508) 946-8803.

Commissioners and attendees suggested several follow-ups: (1) commission members or volunteers should walk the field and report on equipment access and yield estimates, (2) staff or volunteers could draft a short request-for-quotes (RFQ) or specification for a single cutting and for an optional multi-year license with maintenance obligations, and (3) the commission could explore using part of the land for hands-on youth farming programs if town covenants permit.

Powdaly and several commissioners discussed the idea of using the land for a youth agriculture program, including for Future Farmers of America or 4‑H activities. The commission noted Bristol Aggie and other regional programs have active student participation and discussed whether a portion of Betty’s Neck or other town property could be used for training; no formal direction or commitment was made.

Other business

4‑H: Commission members reported only limited progress on formal 4‑H approvals. One local volunteer said she had completed CORI/background checks and that other named contacts (Nancy and Christina) had not yet received final word from 4‑H administrators.

Farmers market: The commission said it has not found a market manager. Members reported reaching out to contacts in Dartmouth, Westport and Middleborough without success and concluded there is no operator on the horizon for this season; they left open the possibility of pursuing a 2019 market or a winter market and agreed to continue outreach.

Membership and officers: The commission heard from a longtime resident, identified as Van LaHoeven, who expressed interest in joining the commission and said he has experience running a hay operation and other farms. The chairman asked prospective members to submit letters of interest to the Board of Selectmen for appointment.

Votes and routine actions: The commission unanimously accepted the minutes from April after a motion and second. Members then voted to keep current officers in place for the coming year; the motion passed by voice vote. The meeting adjourned by voice vote.

Why it matters

The commission’s decisions will determine whether the town secures a short-term haying contractor and whether it develops a longer-term plan to maintain or repurpose Betty’s Neck. That in turn affects town revenue from agricultural use, potential opportunities for youth farming programs, and local forage supply. The commission identified immediate operational steps—site visits and drafting simple RFQs—without committing the town to a new contract or to capital improvements such as irrigation.

What’s next

Commission members agreed to visit the field, continue outreach to local hay producers, and prepare draft specifications for a one-time cutting and an optional multi-year agreement. Interested residents were asked to submit letters of interest for commission vacancies to the Board of Selectmen’s office. The Selectmen’s office point of contact for this matter is Lorraine Carboni at (508) 946-8803, according to the commission discussion.