Agricultural Commission
A town agricultural commission (AgCom) is an appointed town standing committee whose members are primarily engaged in farming and are responsible for:
- Representing the farming community
- Encouraging the pursuit of agriculture
- Promoting agricultural-based economic opportunities
- Preserving, revitalizing, and sustaining the communities’ agricultural businesses and lands
AgComs are:
- Mapping farms and farmlands
- Identifying farmers' and the community's needs, issues and concerns
- Serving as an information clearinghouse and forum for farm-town relations
- Facilitating the technical, educational, business and regulatory assistance needed to farm and to live near farms
- Developing trust and a working relationship among farmers, residents and institutions
- Advocating at state and federal levels for support of community-identified agricultural needs
- Facilitating access to conflict resolution services for farmers and the community
- Hosting community agricultural events
- Recommending actions on land use programs that would help agriculture thrive, including Chapter 61, tax valuation, APR and other preservation programs and right-to-farm by-laws
- Seeking out informational and educational resources relevant to farms and farm communities
- Matching farmers with available land and helping the landowner and the farmer promote sustained use
- contact us by email at acushagcom@gmail.com
Commission Members
Name | Title |
---|---|
Norma York | Chairperson |
Robert Gilmore, Jr. | Board Member |
Richard Miranda | Board Member |
Scott Harding | Board Member |
Joseph Pereira | Board Member |
Thomas Whitehead |