Budget Amendment ID: FY2025-S4-814

OTH 814

Definition of Agritourism

Mr. Kennedy moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-

"SECTION XX: Chapter 128 of the General laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 1A, the following new section:-

SECTION 1B:

"Agritourism" is defined as "an agriculturally related educational, entertainment, historical, cultural, or recreational activity, including you-pick operations or farm markets, and horse farms that offer trail rides and hayrides, to the general public conducted on a farm that allows or invites members of the general public to observe, participate in, experience, or enjoy that activity,

Section 2 - MGL 40a, Section 3, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after the first paragraph the following:-

These protections afforded in the previous paragraph shall apply to agritourism activities as defined in Chapter 128, Section 1B, provided that the agritourism activity must:

1. Generate no more than 25%of the gross farm income. Of the remaining income, at least 65% must come from the sale of product grown on the farm or another qualifying Massachusetts farm, a minimum of 35% of which must be produced at the farm at which the agritourism activity takes place.

2. A non-farming property owner may conduct agritourism on a property provided that:

a. At least 75% of the acreage of the property is dedicated to traditional agricultural activities

b. At least 50% of the agricultural product produced on the property, by either gross sales or volume, are purchased by the property and utilized in the agritourism activity."