How do you use the right to farm act to Protect your property?

[floridagirl13]

I know the feeling. I would love to talk my boss into putting in a small pond, it would improve the scenery on the farm and im sure the horses would appreciate a swimming hole. Plus i might be able to get a few duckies!

But! We are surrounded on 3 sides by swamp/ wetlands and we don't really need any more mosquitoes! Lol

 

[4 the Birds]

yeah my pond is mostly surrounded by trees which makes it drain faster. I'm torn between wanting it to stay full year round but not wanting to lose all of those wonderful trees. I plan to add a paddle boat just like that though.

While tractors are up for discussion - I looked at some zero turns and they don't appear to claim to have enough HP most of them. Like I was at sears a few days ago looking and they had the 26 HP regular riding mower ($2200 normally 2700) and right next to it they had the zero turn $2900 and was only 24 HP. I'm more concerned about can it mow slightly moist sticky tumbleweed piney/tar rope weeds going uphill (5 or 10 degree slope) with a 250 pound rider. My last riding mower had to ride uphill and then mow on the downhill because it was just too much work for a 20 HP to handle uphill mowing unless I hire a 90 pound jockey to do my mowing..

Our zero turn is a old Sears model. It is not pretty or stylish but the 25 HP motor is a BRUTE and at 10 mph very FAST! Nice wide 50 or 52 inch cut I believe. Had this thing 6 years and I replaced belts and blades and had to plug a tire. It keeps running strong. It will cut some pretty deep brush!

 

[4 the Birds]

All tractor talk aside, that is I beautiful photo. Kind of a "picture yourself here" thing

Thanks!

We had this pond dug when we built the house. It is 10 feet deep and I stocked it with bluegill, largemouth bass, and catfish. After 5 years the catfish are 30 lbs! We feed them pellets from the dock. Their massive heads come up and their mouth scoops in the pellets off the surface. Our dogs dip in the pond daily to stay cool and sometimes catch the bluegill.

 

[floridagirl13]

Awww now im really jealous! Lol you just had to tell me about the catfish....

 

[wingless]

As I said.... The County Assessor is your contact person to tell you what is needed to meet a zoning requirement (or zoning exemption). The town council has the final say. The County Assessor has "field people" that can meet with you to look at your place. The County Assessor determines value of your land and this ties in with how your land is used and the structures on your land. A property zoned as AG will be taxed differently that the same property zoned residential. The County Assessor does not determine the tax structures and tax amounts but for sure can tell you how you are zoned and the procedure to be rezoned.

The standard procedure is that when you apply for rezoning, a letter will be sent from the town/county planner to all your surrounding neighbors with a public hearing date. You will have to show that you have met the zoning requirements and the town council will vote to approve or deny your rezoning. Been there done that!

In Michigan our Right to Farm law explicitly prohibits local regulations from interfering with commercial farming operations that meet state regulatory requirements. So it is a state issue, not a local issue, and local units of government that attempt to get between residential residents and their chickens are losing:

http://sustainablefarmpolicy.org/the-courts/

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: For what it is worth, I am zoned Ag, and in my city it IS a residential zoning, and we pay the same tax rate as other residential zones that also fall within the same school school and other taxing districts. The county assessor has nothing to do with zoning other than to figure it into his calculations for the specific parcel. Each city or town or the county (for properties that are not within a city or town) makes its own determination on the zoning regulations. Different states operate differently.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Is your County zoned for all USDA agricultural activities? Ours is. The animal limiters tried to come in here years ago. There was a zoning board meeting to consider their proposals. All the dairy farmers showed up. They reminded the zoning bord that our County was zoned for all USDA Agricultural activities and that included dog breeding. The zoning board was reminded that if they did decide to consider this animal limitation proposal every dairy farmer in the County would be on their doorstep. ( read taxes and votes). The proposal went away, never to be revisited.
Best,
Karen