Ag District Approval Process Goes Much Differently

As noted in my March 5th newsletter that helped spark public interest in Putnam County’s treatment of it’s farmers, ranchers and landowners, for the last five years the Putnam County Legislature has rejected every farm who has applied for inclusion in the Agricultural district, even those approved by the county’s Agricultural Board.

Since March, however, many things have changed. Myself, along with many farmers across Putnam County have tirelessly advocated for changes to the way Putnam treats its farmers, for it to change it’s criteria for inclusion.

None worked as hard or sacrificed as much as Dan and Arielle Honovich, the owners of Ridge Ranch in Patterson. Not only have they had a myriad of issues with the town itself, but the county Legislature voted to deny them inclusion on an irrelevant soil quality resolution. This led to them suing the county, at their own expense.

The case was heard by New York Supreme Court Justice Victor Grossman, who found that the county’s application of this soil requirement was “yet another misuse of the law”. The case was sent back to the County Legislature, who then voted unanimously to put Ridge Ranch into the Agricultural District. I was in the court room for those oral arguments in front of Judge Grossman, and on the room the night the Legislature put Ridge Ranch in.

But I was also there many nights, unfortunately, when the Legislature would not hear us, listen to us, to work to fix the problems that had been created, such as below:

That is why, last night, during the Physical Services committee it was refreshing to see the committee vote to approve the seven farms that the Agricultural Board had recommended be let it. To be clear, this does not mean they are in. This means they were approved to be moved to the full legislature for a full vote, which will occur July 7th, and their monthly full meeting.

Arielle Honovich addressed the Legislature reminding them of the “time and money” her and her husband will never get back. I also addressed the Legislature to again remind them that their actions and decisions have impacts on real people and real families, that their division and in-fighting does nothing to solve that. I also told them I was grateful for how they approached this year’s process, which still has significant flaws from a criterion stand point, and asked that they expedite rectifying that.

Video of my full comments are below: