New Jersey Farm Bureau Policies 2015 As adopted by the delegates to the New Jersey Farm Bureau 96th Annual Meeting …because agriculture matters! 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE FARM VIABILITY ......................................................................................................................................5 RIGHT TO FARM .....................................................................................................................................5-8 FARMLAND ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................................................8-10 TAXATION ISSUES .................................................................................................................................10-11 SALES TAX ISSUES ................................................................................................................................12 AG RETENTION AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION ...........................................................................12-17 HISTORIC PRESERVATION ...................................................................................................................17-18 NJALT (NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST) .......................................................................18 FARMING ON PUBLIC LANDS ...............................................................................................................18-20 THE THREAT TO AGRICULTURE FROM INVASIVE AND NOXIOUS SPECIES .................................20-22 NURSERY AND PLANT INSPECTIONS .................................................................................................22-23 CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT ................................23 PINELANDS .............................................................................................................................................23-25 HIGHLANDS .............................................................................................................................................25-31 BAYSHORE REGION – TRI-COUNTY PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE ..................................................31-32 PROPERTY RIGHTS ...............................................................................................................................32-33 EMINENT DOMAIN ..................................................................................................................................33-34 WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................34-37 LABOR SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................37-39 TRUCKING/MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS .....................................................................................39-41 BRIDGE CHANGES AND ROAD WIDENING .........................................................................................41 RELIEF FROM EXCESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ........................................................41-42 THE LANDSCAPE PROJECT ..................................................................................................................42-44 WATER QUALITY REGULATION/WATERSHED PLANNING ISSUES .................................................45-48 WATER SUPPLY .....................................................................................................................................48-49 U.S. CLEAN WATER ACT/NPDES PERMITS ........................................................................................49-50 WETLANDS EXEMPTION FOR AGRICULTURE ...................................................................................50-52 ASPHALT MILLINGS ...............................................................................................................................52 MISUSE OF IMPERVIOUS COVER ORDINANCES ...............................................................................52-54 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) FUNDING .........................................................................54-55 NJAES AND THE COMMITMENT TO PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE ................................................55-57 RUTGERS BOARD OF MANAGERS ......................................................................................................57-58 FARM MANAGEMENT/INCUBATOR TRAINING MEETINGS ................................................................59 TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR) AND NONCONTIGUOUS CLUSTERING ...............59-62 STATE STRATEGIC GROWTH PLAN ...................................................................................................62-65 LAND USE REGULATION .......................................................................................................................65-67 2 MUNICIPAL DOWNZONING ...................................................................................................................67-68 COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING (COAH) ..................................................................................68-69 RAILS TO TRAILS INITIATIVES ..............................................................................................................69-70 TRESPASS/VANDALISM ........................................................................................................................70 MANDATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT DEED RESTRICTIONS ...................................................70-71 FOOD SAFETY ........................................................................................................................................71-72 BIO-ENGINEERED FOODS ....................................................................................................................72-74 USE OF FOOD BY-PRODUCTS .............................................................................................................74 HISTORIC PESTICIDES ..........................................................................................................................74-75 BIOSECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT .............................................................................75-76 ANIMAL CARE .........................................................................................................................................76-77 LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY SUPPORT .......................................................................................................77-79 DAIRY .......................................................................................................................................................79 BEEF PROMOTION .................................................................................................................................80 BISON PRODUCTION AND INSPECTION .............................................................................................80 DEER FARMING ......................................................................................................................................80 COMMERCIAL BEE INDUSTRY .............................................................................................................80-81 EQUINE INDUSTRY ................................................................................................................................81-83 SOCIETIES FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (SPCA) OF NEW JERSEY .........83-84 COMMERCIAL FISHING..........................................................................................................................84-87 AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT ..........................................................................................................87-88 WINE INDUSTRY SUPPORT ..................................................................................................................88-89 ENERGY USE ON FARMS ......................................................................................................................89 RENEWABLE ENERGY ...........................................................................................................................89-92 PRODUCT DISPARAGEMENT ...............................................................................................................92 MARKETING – JERSEY FRESH .............................................................................................................92-93 MARKETING – LOCALLY GROWN.........................................................................................................93 STATE PURCHASE OF NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ................................................93-94 COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS ......................................................................................................94-95 NEW USE AGRICULTURE ......................................................................................................................95 VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURE .............................................................................................................95-96 ON-FARM BREWING ...............................................................................................................................96 INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION .......................................................................................................96-97 UTILITY LINE MAINTENANCE & OTHER EFFECTS OF LINE DEVELOMENT/EXTENSION..............97-98 AUTO INSURANCE .................................................................................................................................98