N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 321: Statement of legislative findings and intent

§ 321. Statement of legislative findings and intent. It is hereby

found and declared that agricultural lands are irreplaceable state

assets. In an effort to maintain the economic viability, and

environmental and landscape preservation values associated with

agriculture, the state must explore ways to sustain the state's valuable

farm economy and to protect farm operations and the land base associated

with it. External pressures on farm stability such as population growth

in non-metropolitan areas, lack of access to affordable farmland, and

public infrastructure development pose a significant threat to farm

operations, yet are the pressures over which farmers have the least

control. Local initiatives in agricultural protection policy,

facilitated by the agricultural districts program established in article

twenty-five-AA of this chapter, have proved effective as a basic step in

addressing these pressures. In an effort to encourage further

development of agricultural and farmland protection programs, and to

recognize both the crucial role that local government plays in

developing these strategies, plus the state constitutional directive to

the legislature to provide for the protection of agricultural lands, it

is therefore declared the policy of the state to promote local

initiatives for agricultural and farmland protection.