Agricultural District Timeline:
How long will the process take?

New York State has AML, Article 25-AA outlined a process that will take 180 days from the beginning of the 30-day submission period (April). With the enrollment window beginning April 1st, the completion of the entire process is anticipated to be October 1st, but will be dependent on Board meeting and public hearing dates.

How will landowners be informed throughout the process?

  • If anything is missing from your enrollment packet or if the PCAFPB requires additional information, it will contact the landowner by email.
  • The landowner will be contacted by email to set up a farm visit during the month of May.
  • Landowners will be contacted by email of the PCAFPB’s recommendation and date for the County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee Meeting date to allow landowners to attend. (Landowners can also check on the County website at https://www.putnamcountyny.com/legi/legislative-calendar/ to see the date of meetings as well)
  • Landowners will be notified by email of the County Legislature’s decision for inclusion or rejection.
  • Landowners will be notified by letter after the County has received certification form NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Can Putnam County’s Agricultural District change?

Putnam County’s Agricultural District #1 was created in 2003 as a county-wide district. The agricultural district was re-certified in 2011. The next scheduled state required programmatic review will be in 2019. At that time parcels wishing to remain in the agricultural district must re-apply. A reminder will be sent out to Putnam County Agricultural District #1 members. During the NYS eight – year review is the only time that parcels can be removed from the agricultural district.

Timeline as outlined in NYS Agricultural District Law Article 25-AA:

Day Action
1 to 30 Open period for Annual Enrollment to petition for inclusion into the Putnam County Agricultural District #1. Landowners send in completed Annual Enrollment Forms to the Putnam County Legislature.

 
31 to 61 All requests are reviewed by the Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (PCAFPB).  Site visits to each farm occur prior to the PCAFPB’s recommendations are submitted to the Putnam County Legislature. The PCAFPB then notifies landowners of their recommendations.

 
62 to 150 The Putnam County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee reviews and discussed the submitted Enrollment Forms and the PCAFPB’s recommendations.  The Committee then sends their decision onto the full Legislature.  A Public Hearing is held and the Full Legislature Board either adopts, rejects, or amends the PCAFPB’s recommendations.  After adoption, the Legislature will submit their resolution, the PCAFPB report, the Tax Parcel ID numbers, and maps to the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  The PCAFPB notifies landowners of the Legislature’s Physical Services Committee’s decision.

 
151 to 180 The Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets may certify the new parcels and on that day these parcels become part of Putnam County’s Agricultural District #1.

 
181 to 211 PCAFPB will notify landowners of their inclusion into the Putnam County Agricultural District #1.