Tax Abatement Benefits For Land Under Silvopasture Management

[Brett Chedzoy]

New York has gradually updated its property tax abatement program for agricultural land ("Ag Assessment") to include agroforestry practices like maple production - and more recently, silvopasturing.  More agroforestry practices anticipated to follow, like forest farming.  These changes are thanks in big part to NY Farm Bureau's grass-roots advocacy.  Link to a story below on the silvopasture revision in NY:

New York Amends Agriculture and Markets Law To
Provide Real Property Exemption For ... 

This forum has a broad geographical membership.  I'm curious to hear how other states treat hybrid forestry/ag production land uses in their property tax abatement programs?

[Jeff Jourdain]

Brett-

Here in Massachusetts, silvopastures can be classified as either forestland [under Chapter 61 or 61A] or pasture/agricultural land [under Chapter 61A].  I have clients who have done it both ways without any issues from the state or from local assessors.  These are for forest to silvopasture.  I generally recommend that the landowner classify them as agricultural land rather than forest land.  I think it gives the landowner more flexibility.

I do have to say I only have worked with a couple of cases, so as more silvopastiures are developed maybe the state/towns will take on a more definitive stance.

Jeff

Jeff