Holliston Agricultural Commission

The Town of Holliston formed an agricultural commission in 2004 with the mission “to support, promote, and enhance the long term viability of Holliston agriculture with the aim of helping this town’s agricultural businesses become as economically and environmentally sound as possible.”

The AgCom helps to protect agricultural lands, preserve rural character, provide a voice for farmers, and encourage agricultural-based businesses and educational opportunities in the town of Holliston. By doing so, it is hoped that our farmers will continue to support and maintain the hundreds of acres of valuable open space for the benefit of the town’s economy and environment. The commission is working to fulfill this mission through a variety of initiatives and programs. Over the past 8 years the commission has embarked on many projects to help fulfill its mission. These projects include an annual Farm Day, a Holliston Agricultural Commission Calendar, and a Food-to-Table Event in 2010, and a winter education program.

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Ag Coms represent the farming community and they encourage the pursuit of agriculture, promote agricultural economic development, and protect farmlands and farm businesses. They work to preserve, revitalize, and sustain agricultural businesses and land. They have been instrumental in farmland preservation efforts and are responsible for staying involved in regulatory proposals developed by their fellow town boards (planning board, board of health, conservation commission, etc). They can also provide marketing coordination to assist all farms in town. They have played key roles in mediating farmer/neighbor disputes, and can suggest resources to farmers needing information.

Holliston is a proud member of the larger Massachusetts Association of Agricultural Commissions. As such, the Holliston agricultural commission (Ag Com) is a standing committee of the Holliston town government, created through a vote of Town Meeting with members appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

By working within town government through an Ag Com, farmers enhance their credibility and are viewed as part of the teams interested in solving problems face today. Ag Coms are not, however, representative of any government organization that regulates or oversees or enforces any government mandates or requirements. No Ag Com has this “power” because as stated, the purpose of the Ag Com is to represent the farming community, not local or state government.
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According to the state of Massachusetts, under the general definition of agriculture (MGL Ch128 Sec.1A) “‘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 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.”

Real Estate Property Tax Exemption Policy: MGL Ch 61A sec 2 defines the real estate property tax exemption policy for the state.

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Get involved in your agricultural community, even if you aren’t a farmer. Email us if you’re willing to help.

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