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Massachusetts
Policy Update |
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AFT continues to work with a diverse group of organizations representing food, farm, and nutrition interests to enact a statewide Food Policy Council for the Commonwealth [PDF] . The groups envisions a council composed of state agency and stakeholder representatives that works to enhance the economic viability of agriculture; promote food security; expand production and consumption of fresh, healthy, safe and locally produced foods; and improve the nutritional health of the Commonwealth’s citizens.
 A new five-year Environmental Bond is a win for farmers, consumers and the environment, boosting funding for programs that improve farm profitability, promote local foods, protect productive farmland and encourage conservation.
The Bond increases the Commonwealth’s borrowing authority for the following programs operated by the Department of Agricultural Resources:
Many thanks to everyone who contacted their legislators, visited the State House on “Rally Day” or joined the Coalition for the Environmental Bond. Your voice was heard!
 Taking many of the recommendations of the Governor’s Dairy Task Force, the legislature enacted a dairy bill that provides a needed economic safety net for dairy farmers while encouraging reinvestment in all sectors of agriculture. Patterned after a South Carolina program, the measure establishes a refundable income tax credit for dairy farmers triggered when milk prices drop below a state-set price floor. The measure also creates a “linked” loan program, offering, through a buy down of commercial loan interest rates, four-year low-interest loans of up to $500,000 to farms of all types for several purposes, including improved profitability or marketing, infrastructure or environmental needs.
Towns that have been searching for ways to support their local farms have a new tool established by the Legislature—the option to waive the collection of personal property taxes on farm animals and equipment. Towns will need to adopt the waiver by a two-thirds vote.
Until now, farms enrolled in the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program have been ineligible for state grants designed to help implement farm business plans. The Dairy Farm Preservation Act adopts an AFT recommendation to allow APR farms to apply for Farm Viability grants, offering farmers who have permanently committed their land to agriculture a way to help finance needed investments in their farm business.
The Legislature is expected to give final approval soon to an exciting new tool for land protection—a state income tax credit for landowners who make permanent gifts of qualifying land or interests in land to the state, a town or a land conservation organization. The tax credit is limited to $50,000, and, in a compromise worked out between the Legislature and Governor, no more than $2 million in credits will be available each year. To increase its attractiveness to farmers, AFT has recommended that the credit be transferable, and a study commission will be established to explore that option.
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Massachusetts Food Policy Council
Permanently Protected Farms Now Eligible for Farm Viability Grants