Expands agricultural tourism to include, but not be limited to, the production and processing of grapes, grains or other crops used to create alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in an on-farm brewery, winery, cidery, meadery or distillery, the production and processing of fiber such as sheep or alpaca wool, and the production of processed food commodities, including but not limited to ice cream, jams, baked goods and similar items.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6589
SPONSOR: Woerner TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to expand-
ing agricultural tourism
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill expands the definition of "agricultural tourism" to include on
farm production of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, fibers and
processed foods.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Agriculture and Markets Law § 301(15). Section 2
provides an effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Agricultural tourism is a growing industry in New York State. It
includes a diverse array of activities and attractions, including farm
stays, hayrides, maple syrup shacks, vegetable stands and, more recent-
ly, wineries, breweries and distilleries with tasting rooms. The New
York wine industry has been gaining in quality and reputation in the
past few decades and there has been an explosion in the number of
on-farm breweries Since they were legalized in 2013. This bill will
update our legal definition of agricultural tourism to include the farm
production, processing and sale of beverages, as well as fiber and
value-added food commodities produced on-farm, to the list of agricul-
ture activities that should be protected as agricultural tourism by the
State's Department of Agriculture and Markets.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6589
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to expand-
ing agricultural tourism
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 15 of section 301 of the agriculture and
2 markets law, as amended by chapter 87 of the laws of 2010, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 15. "Agricultural tourism" means activities, including but not limited
5 to the production of maple sap and pure maple products made therefrom,
6 the production and processing of grapes, grains or other crops used to
7 create alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in an on-farm brewery,
8 winery, cidery, meadery or distillery, the production and processing of
9 fiber such as sheep or alpaca wool, and the production of processed
10 food commodities, including but not limited to ice cream, jams, baked
11 goods and similar items, conducted by a farmer on-farm for the enjoyment
12 and/or education of the public, which primarily promote the sale,
13 marketing, production, harvesting or use of the products of the farm and
14 enhance the public's understanding and awareness of farming and farm
15 life.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
17 it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10004-01-5
