"There are 325 farms in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district with land protected via the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program. The APR program is critical - except (and this was a big "except") - until yesterday farmers *could not* designate any of their land to grow hemp or marijuana (if they wanted to). Yesterday the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources issued guidance allowing this practice "in an effort to diversify land use and provide new income sources." This is a fairly major win in the fight for economic viability for our farms. If you heard a cheer resounding through our valley yesterday about 11 a.m., it was me upon hearing from MDAR Deputy Commissioner Ashley Sears Randle who called with the news." 4/29/21

Email: Jo.Comerford@masenate.gov

Web: https://jocomerford.org/

Phone: 617-722-1532