Farmers say AgCom is needed
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

More than 30 farmers, residents and Open Space Committee members filled the Selectmen's chambers in Westminster's Town Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

These men and women gathered to begin the first Agricultural Commission in town as away to provide support to each other, as a vehicle to town boards, and as a public-relations organization.

"It's a necessary evil," Joe Hollenbeck, a beef farmer, said. "Your right to farm is a God-given right."

Others who attended the meeting raised poultry, organic produce, horses, beef and diary bovine, and hay. There were others that were active loggers and some who farmed as a hobby.

"If you had this meeting 15 years ago you would have needed a bigger room," said Bill Foster, a diary farmer.

Those attending the meeting asked a variety of questions of Cheryl Lekstrom, a representative of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Lekstrom lead the original discussion about what an agricultural commission is, how they are started, and what resources are provided to help the members.

Foster, the owner of Wind Haven Farm, asked about the time commitment required for commissioners and Lekstorm responded it depended on the goals of the commission.

Commissions are formed based on voters' approval of an article at a town meeting. The article steps up the number of members (an odd number between three and 11) and the mission of the commission.

"Where does logging come under the agricultural commission," asked Bob Mason, a logger in town.

Lekstrom said agricultural can be anything that the town determines, so it can include horticulture, logging, 4H and Future Farmers of America organizations and activities, fishing as well as the standard animal raising and produce farming.

Foster asked if a commission was necessary to have a Right to Farm Bylaw. The bylaw is a local way to protect farmer's interests.

Lekstrom said it wasn't because the right to farm bylaw is already part of the state laws as it gives farmers many rights but that the local bylaw is just a re-enforcing mechanism.

"The laws are very generous," she said. "AgComs can pave the way politically."

There are more than 100 agricultural commissions in the state, according to Lekstrom.

"They are really for you and your town," she said. "It is not regulatory. They just make recommendations."

Lekstrom said one of the roles the commission could have would be to review potential land plots that have Chapter 61 protection because the town has the right to buy those parcels of land before any other interested parties if they go on the market. She said the commission could make recommendations on things such as soil quality. In Westminster, the Board of Selectmen already asks that the parcels be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Committee, the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board.

"When a town starts losing their farmland it is irreplaceable," Lekstrom said.

Most farmland is sold off to housing or commercial developers.

The Planning Board will be holding a public hearing on a variety of zoning bylaw amendments on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. One of the amendments that will be discussed during the public hearing will be the creation of the Agricultural Commission.