BOSTON — The Senate budget committee is seeking to define and support the “agritourism” sector in a new farm bill that will get a full Senate vote on Wednesday, April 1.
Two out of every three Massachusetts farmers operate at a loss on their crops, according to a recently-released special legislative commission report on agriculture, and many have turned to alternative revenue streams such as agritourism to remain viable. The commission defines agritourism as farms offering recreational, educational or entertainment experiences to the public, such as apple picking or corn mazes.
“The report highlighted challenges in the growth of agritourism ventures, including current ‘restrictive town-specific zoning on agritourism activities,'” the Senate Ways and Means Committee said in a fact sheet for a bill it prepared for a Senate vote next week.
The bill (S 3029), which the committee advanced Monday, seeks to address those barriers by clarifying that local zoning bylaws cannot prohibit agritourism activities on land primarily used for commercial agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, viniculture or similar uses. It would also establish a statutory definition of agritourism in state law.
Titled “An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts,” the so-called FARM bill incorporates a wide range of recommendations from the special legislative commission chaired by Sen. Jo Comerford and aims to support farmers through economic development, infrastructure investment, and food system planning.
Beyond agritourism, the bill would make permanent the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides funding to farmers, fishermen and other food producers for equipment and infrastructure upgrades. Since 2020, the program has funded more than 800 projects and invested $127 million in the local food system, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The legislation also proposes changes for cranberry growers by allowing Water Management Act permits to be transferred to other registered permit holders. The committee’s fact sheet said the change is intended to ease transitions when growers retire bogs or sell their operations, which are subject to extensive regulation.
A significant portion of the bill focuses on nutrition and food access programs. It would codify the Healthy Incentives Program for the first time in state law. The program provides financial incentives for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables grown in Massachusetts.
The bill would also permanently establish the Farm to School program, which connects local farms with schools and child care providers to incorporate locally-grown food into meals and promote food literacy among students.
In addition, the legislation calls for new tracking and reporting requirements around the distribution of local food.
State agencies, in coordination with regional food banks and other partners, would be required to produce an annual report on how Massachusetts-grown products are used in food banks, school meals, Meals on Wheels and other assistance programs, along with recommendations to increase their use over time.
Looking at long-term agricultural planning, the bill directs the creation of a statewide, publicly searchable map and database of all agricultural and horticultural land. The registry, to be developed by the Department of Agricultural Resources in consultation with the Department of Revenue, is intended to support farmland preservation and strategic planning efforts.
The measure also requires a more detailed review of the state’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction program. As part of its regular evaluation, the program would need to assess factors such as soil health, biodiversity, market access, development pressures and the status of farm owners, including retirement considerations.
The bill directs the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to develop a plan to support agricultural, seafood and food processing sectors as part of broader emergency response and mitigation planning, with the goal of reducing disruptions to the food supply chain.
It further requires periodic review of restrictions on renewable energy generation on farmland. State agricultural and energy agencies would be tasked with examining existing limits to ensure farmers have opportunities to produce clean energy while maintaining active agricultural use.
Several provisions are aimed at workforce development and future agricultural capacity. The bill would establish a Next Generation Farmers Fund to provide grants for training first-time farmers through higher education institutions, vocational schools and community-based organizations. Funding could be transferred into the program from the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund.
It would also create a program to encourage the conversion of vacant or foreclosed properties into farms or community gardens, administered by the Department of Agricultural Resources.
Finally, the bill proposes changes to oversight of the University of Massachusetts Extension’s Board of Public Overseers by adding representatives from food system and farming organizations, including those focused on urban agriculture and historically marginalized or new-entry farmers, along with legislative leaders serving as non-voting members.
According to a Ways and Means Committee summary, the bill’s costs are expected to be covered through existing appropriations.
The Senate is scheduled to take up the FARM bill in formal session on April 1.