Commercial farming being redefined

The Town of Granville is in the process of updating its Right-to-Farm Law so that is differentiates between commercial and non-commercial farming.

“We’re trying to draw a line between hobby farming and commercial farming,” said Councilman Ken Quick.
Members debated how to define commercial farming.

In order to receive an agricultural exemption, a farm must consist of seven acres and gross $10,000 for two consecutive years.

But Supervisor Matt Hicks and Quick both argued that definition was flawed for the purposes of the law because of the advent of commercial farming operations that require less than seven acres. Quick said it’s possible for a farmer to grow hot house tomatoes on a commercial scale using less than seven acres.

Board members eventually agreed, for the sake of the law and not the exemption, to define commercial farming as any agricultural operation that grosses $10,000 annually. There is no acreage requirement.

The law aims to provide protections to commercial farmers.

Quick and Councilman Matt Rathbun were expected to present the law to the Farmland Protection Committee and a public hearing on the law will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8.

The town board will then vote on the law.