Welcome to the Columbia County
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board

We hope that this site will provide you with the necessary tools to stay informed of our current projects as well as past.

The Columbia County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) was established in 1992 by authority of NYS Agriculture & Markets Law Article 25AA. The AFPB has the following powers and duties:

Advise the county legislative body (Columbia County Board of Supervisors) on matters related to the proposed establishment, modification, continuation, or termination of any state certified Article 25AA agricultural district.

• Review notice of intent filings (pursuant to Article 25AA) and make findings and recommendations on the potential impacts of governmental actions involving lands in state certified Article 25AA agricultural districts.

•May develop a county agricultural and farmland protection plan
(pursuant to Article 25AAA).

•Request the commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets to review any state agency rules and regulations which the board identifies as affecting agricultural activities within a state certified Article 25AA agricultural district.

•Notify the commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets and the commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation of any attempts to propose the siting of solid waste management facilities upon farmland within a state certified Article 24AA agricultural district.

•At the request of one or more owners of land used in agricultural production, review the land classification established by NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets for such land and recommend revisions the specific classification to the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets.

The AFPB consists of eleven members including up to six members representing active farmers and agribusiness and the following positions: chairman of the county soil & water conservation district board of directors (or designee), a member of the County Board of Supervisors, a county cooperative extension agent, the county planning director, and the county director of real property tax services.

Download a pdf copy of the powers and duties here.