FALLSBURG — The Fallsburg Town Board is considering adopting a local Right to Farm law following discussion at its January 28 meeting, where local farmer and former executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, Gerry Skoda, urged officials to formally recognize agriculture as one of the town’s largest industries.

Skoda, who farms approximately 300 acres in Fallsburg, told board members that agriculture in the town is often overlooked despite being a multimillion-dollar sector.

“Agriculture in the town of Fallsburg is a multimillion-dollar business,” Skoda said, adding that Fallsburg contains significant amounts of Class 1 agricultural soil—considered the most productive soil classification in New York State.

He talked about a number of agricultural operations within the town, including livestock farms, vegetable growers, egg producers, horse farms and Christmas tree farms. Skoda talked about the larger agribusinesses operating locally, including poultry and egg processing facilities, within the Town of Fallsburg.

“You don’t think about this, but this is all agriculture,” Skoda said.

The proposed Right to Farm law would place Fallsburg among other towns that have adopted similar laws recognizing farming as a protected land use. While New York State Agriculture and Markets Law §305-a already has protections for farm operations within certified agricultural districts against local laws that unreasonably restrict farming practices, towns usually adopt their own Right to Farm laws to strengthen those protections at the local level.

These local laws recognize agriculture as an important industry, allow for farm awareness signs and are meant to reduce disputes between farmers and neighbors.

As reported in the Democrat, New York City tried to ban foie gras and local Sullivan County duck farms argued the city’s law conflicted with state Agriculture and Markets Law §305-a. The fight was about whether a town or city could control the sale of a farm product protected under state law.

Skoda said one of the most visible components would be signage warning motorists about farm equipment on roadways.

“I go to other towns and they have these signs—beware of farmers driving tractors and this type of thing,” he said. “Why don’t we have them in Fallsburg? Well, you don’t have a Right to Farm law.”

Supervisor Nathan Steingart said at the meeting, the board is reviewing the proposal and gathering input before taking any action.