Ovid Considers Right to Farm Law

The Town of Ovid Board of Trustees is looking at a “right to farm” law that protects farmers’ rights and establishes a dispute committee to resolve issues between neighbors.

Chris Verrill, a planning board member, first brought the law to the town board in August 2008, said David Dresser, town supervisor. It was referred to the planning board for approval and has been sent to several county boards for review.

“The town board has consulted with the Agricultural Enhancement Board and has sent the proposal to the Seneca County planning board and just received this month their recommendation for approval,” Dresser said.

The proposed law, which is available on the town’s Web site, is partially based on similar legislation in Yates County.

“It’s primarily a law which establishes a dispute resolution committee to mediate disagreements that might occur between farmers and non-farmers,” Dresser said. “It provides no more and no less rights to farmers than the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.”

There have not been any issues between farmers and neighbors that have made it to the town board level, Dresser said, but there have been some smaller concerns worked out with minimal aid.

“I know of only one instance, which I personally mediated, when a farmer near the village spread a very concentrated strip of manure and we resolved that, there haven’t been any further occurrences,” he said.

Another farm issue that has caused some concern among neighbors is the use of noise devices to scare birds off grapevines around town. Those issues have all been settled without mediation.

Dresser is unsure exactly why Verrill, who was unavailable for comment, recommended the law but believes it may have to do with farmers’ concern about proposed zoning in the town.

“Nothing has prompted this, of a dispute nature,” Dresser said. “I think that there was concern last summer when the zoning proposal was made public that farmers would be inhibited in their operation. This makes it clear that they’re protected and [provides] assurance to the agriculture community that their work is respected.”

Because the town does not currently have zoning there are no set agricultural districts. During a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) conducted as part of the proposed law, Dresser discovered that two agricultural districts encompass the town and extend into Lodi and Romulus.

“The acreage in [the SEQR] that is recognized as agricultural [is] 14,138 acres out of 24,800,” he said.

Of the nearly 25,000 acres in the Town of Ovid, just over 5,000 are located in Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, Dresser said, making the town’s land about three quarters agricultural.

Now that other committees at a town and county level have approved the law the final action falls to the town board. Dresser said the law is on the agenda for the town board’s January 14 meeting but was unsure if the issue would be acted on or tabled. The issue is important and board members may want more time to review the proposed law, he said.

“It’s probably the most significant thing on the agenda and that we’re taking up all year,” Dresser said.

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