Agricultural Districts

Dutchess County Agricultural Districts

The purpose of agricultural districting is to encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production. The Program is based on a combination of landowner incentives and protections, all of which are designed to forestall the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses. Included in these benefits are preferential real property tax treatment (agricultural assessment and special benefit assessment), and protections against overly restrictive local laws, government funded acquisition or construction projects, and private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices.

One of the most important benefits of the Agricultural Districts Program is the opportunity provided farmland owners to receive real property assessments based on the value of their land for agricultural production rather than on its development value. Farmers receiving agricultural assessment collectively save over $70 million annually throughout NYS. The Division administers the Land Classification System, including maintenance of the statewide master list of agricultural soils. This system provides the basic soils information needed to calculate agricultural assessments for individual farms.

Dutchess County has four Agricultural Districts. There are over 5,000 parcels of land in the four districts. If you would like to determine if a parcel is in the Ag District, please call the Dutchess County Agricultural Navigator: 845-867-3075

NOTICE:

The 2025 Dutchess County Agricultural District enrollment period is now open until May 14^th. To apply please visit: https://gis.dutchessny.gov/ag-districts/. For questions regarding this application or agricultural districts, please contact the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District at 845.677-8011 ext. 3, or the Dutchess County Agricultural Navigator: agnavigator@dutchessny.gov.

Following this application period, the AFPB will review the submitted parcels and make recommendations to the County Legislature for the inclusion of agriculturally viable properties that serve the public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the district.

Note: Landowners whose parcels are already included in an Agricultural District are not required to apply as part of the annual inclusion process.

Last updated April 30, 2025