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Legislature schedules June hearing on additions to agricultural districts
Summary
Ulster County scheduled a June 16 public hearing on applications to add parcels to agricultural districts; Director Doyle explained the March application window, site visits with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation, and the Farmland Protection Board review process.
The Ulster County Legislature’s committee set a public hearing for June 16, 2026, to consider applications to add parcels to the county’s agricultural districts under Article 25‑AA of New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law.
Director Doyle told the committee that the county has four agricultural districts totaling over 77,000 acres and that landowners may apply during the March 1–30 filing window. Applications are vetted through site visits with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District, then forwarded to the Farmland Protection Board, which prepares recommendations for the legislature.
Doyle said the process includes notice to affected municipalities and a public‑hearing requirement; after the legislature acts, the state Commissioner of Agriculture may review and amend recommendations. He warned that controversial additions often involve small parcels with potential nuisance conflicts with neighbors, and said the Farmland Protection Board typically evaluates both agronomic suitability and potential local impacts.
Committee members asked for counts of this year’s applications and precedent comparisons; Doyle said he would provide application counts and prior years’ reports to the committee in advance of the hearing.
The hearing was scheduled for June 16 at 7:05 p.m. and will include direct notice to affected municipalities and the Department of Planning.
