Agricultural Commission Warrant Article

To see if the town will vote to establish an Agricultural Commission to represent the Lanesborough farming community. Said Commission shall serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuit of farming in the Town of Lanesborough, shall provide advisory services to other town Boards as requested, shall promote agricultural-based economic opportunities and the protection of farmland in the Town.

"Farming'' or "agriculture'' shall include farming in all of its branches and the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural, aquacultural, floricultural, viticultural or horticultural commodities, the growing and harvesting of forest products upon forest land, the raising of livestock including horses, the keeping of horses as a commercial enterprise, the keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle and other domesticated animals used for food purposes, bees, fur-bearing animals, and any forestry or lumbering operations, performed by a farmer, who is hereby defined as one engaged in agriculture or farming as herein defined, or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations, including preparations for market, delivery to storage or to market or to carriers for transportation to market.

The Commission will consist of three members from the past or present farming community of Lanesborough, appointed by the Board of Selectmen. One member for a term of three years, and three years thereafter; one member for a term of two years, and three years thereafter and one member for a one-year term, and three years thereafter. Up to 2 alternates may be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, each for one year.