Tax Breaks Aimed At Keeping

Them Down On The Farm

NORTH STONINGTON (AP) — North Stonington town leaders are hopeful that giving dairy farmers significant tax breaks will reverse the trend of attrition, an offer more towns in the state should consider adopting, say state agriculture officials.

To keep the farms up and running, leaders in the mostly rural community are considering cutting dairy farmers’s property taxes in half. They are reviewing a state law that allows tax abatements of as much as 50 percent for dairy farmers.

“If you don’t save these farms, they close down and turn into residential developments and it costs the town more for services,” said First Selectman Nicholas Mullane.

North Stonington has seven of New London County’s 39 dairy farms. The county had 157 dairy farms in 1978, and only 59 four years later. That mirrors a statewide trend as farmers find it too expensive to survive in Connecticut as dairies give way to development.

The state Department of Agriculture reports there are 223 dairy farms today, compared to 6,233 in 1940. The decline has been attributed to rising costs of labor and equipment and low milk prices. Lucrative land prices have also encouraged small farmers to sell to developers.

In Windham County, Sterling is offering tax breaks of up to 50 percent for dairy farmers. The town has six dairy farms. The Sterling ordinance allows the town to recoup some of abated taxes for farms that are sold. Farmers must apply for the tax cut, and before it is approved, town officials must consider the size of the herd and acreage and how much milk is produced.

“We wanted to maintain our rural character and heritage,’’ said Sterling First Selectman Dale Clark. “We thought if we could give them a hand, no matter how token it can be, it might help.”

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Shirley Ferris applauded Sterling and North Stonington for their willingness to help dairy farmers. She said few, if any, other towns have offered such abatements.

“I hope this is an indicator that people really want to keep dairy farms in place for their aesthetic value,” Mrs Ferris said. “When a dairy farm goes, a couple hundred acres usually go with it.” Mrs Ferris is a Newtown resident.

North Stonington voters would have to approve the tax break at a special town meeting.

The plan is welcome news for Ledyard Lewis, whose family has run a dairy farm in North Stonington since 1791. The 300-cow herd produces nearly 2,600 gallons of milk a day.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Mr Lewis said. “But we could use the help.”