Town Agricultural Commissions

A town Agricultural Commission is an appointed town standing committee whose members are primarily engaged in farming and represent the farm community, or others who encourage and promote agricultural-based business. It has no regulatory authority and acts as an advisory group to other local boards.

In 2005, nearly 40 towns created Agriculture Commissions to help farmers articulate their needs to their neighbors and town officials. CISA played an important role, helping disseminate information created by the Department of Agricultural Resources and hosting information sessions in communities around the Connecticut River valley of western Massachusetts (Pioneer Valley).

To learn more about starting an Agricultural Commission in your town, visit this page on the Mass DAR web site and scroll to the bottom for a comprehensive series of files to download.

CISA's work on starting Agricultural Commissions and helping towns with 'Right to Farm' by-laws has been funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the Trustees of Reservations Highland Communities Initiatives.