Law Allows Preserved Long Valley Farms To Host Events, Boost Revenue

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Special events, such as weddings and concerts, will now be permitted on some of Long Valley's preserved farmland, thanks to a bipartisan bill signed recently by Gov. Phil Murphy.

This new ruling will impact roughly 75 preserved farms within Washington Township, allowing them to add temporary structures and temporary parking to accommodate the event.

Despite concerns from some residents about large and potentially valuable events being held on protected lands that receive public funds, supporters say the decision will help the state's agricultural industry.

State law prohibits preserved farms from using or developing the land for non-agricultural purposes. Carriage rides and seasonal celebrations at Ort Farms are two examples of permitted events.

However, this new law allows commercial farm owners on preserved land to host "special occasion events" based on their economic output.

Preserved farms that produce agricultural or horticultural annual sales worth more than $10,000 annually may hold up to a maximum of 26 special occasion events per calendar year, of which six may have 250 guests or more in attendance.

Events held for nonprofit organizations with fewer than one hundred attendees are not counted against this limit, as long as the farm does not charge or receive compensation for hosting the event other than out-of-pocket expenses of no more than $1,000.

According to officials, this will bring new business to family farms, help them secure a more stable future, create new agritourism spaces in the state and improve communities.

"This law will open new revenue streams for those who work tirelessly to maintain the preserved farmland that is core to our state’s cultural fabric," Murphy said.

The following list identifies the preserved farms in Washington Township, as per the Morris County Agricultural Development Board:

1. KelMar Acres
2. Andacres
3. TMN Holding Farm
4. Maier Farm
5. Jenkinson Farm
6. Harbedan Farms 1
7. Harbedan Farms 2
8. Harbedan Farms 3
9. Hawthorne Hill Farm
10. Wachtell Farm
11. Middle Valley Nursery
12. Windfall Farm
13. Malato Farm
14. Lost Injun Farm
15. Liebenzell Mission Farm
16. Palmer Family Limited Partnership Farm
17. Alstede Farm
18. Scott Farm I
19. Mortonhouse Farm
20. Alldian Farm
21. Hoppy Valley Farm
22. Scott Farm II
23. Frog Hollow Farm
24. Melroy Farm
25. Harbedan Farms 4
26. Ballotti Farm
27. All-D-Reiterhof Farm
28. Valley Shepard
29. Vivian Farm
30. Flickerwood Farm
31. Markus Farm
32. Lindaberry (A) Farm
33. Plut's Christmas Tree Farm
34. Perez Farm & Stable
35. Centenary University Equestrian Center
36. Borderline Nursey
37. Lindaberry (B) Farm
38. Misty Morn Farm
39. Filly Hill Farm
40. Jenkinson Nursery (Golub Tract)
41. Southview Farm
42. Lindaberry Farm (C)
43. Sixteen Hands Farm
44. Totten Family Farm
45. Blue Crest Farm A
46. Francavilla Farm
47. Winters Farm
48. Jayne Valley Farm
49. Claremont/Ort Farm
50. HDS Phoenix Acres
51. Ort Farm Homestead
52. Messina Farm
53. Cianfrocca Farm
54. Burd/Crimi Farm
55. Galeridge Farm
56. Stonemore Farm
57. River Run Farm
58. Walnut Farm
59. Peach Family Partnership, LP
60. Merchant Class Farms, LLC
61. Fellows Farm
62. Black River Farm
63. Morris Land Conservancy/Lillis Farm
64. Fairmount Farm
65. Agro Foods, Inc.
66. Peach Family Partnership Farm
67. Trinity Farm
68. Mini Mac Farm
69. Fox Hill Farm
70. Farrand Farm 5
71. Farrand Farm 6
72. Schooley's Mountain Farm
73. Willow Pond Farm
74. Scheller Farm
75. Pultz Farm

"This law gives farmers in New Jersey the opportunity to supplement their income by hosting special events on their land. Agritourism is a growing industry, and by allowing our farmers to participate, we make it possible for them to expand their businesses, grow the economy and showcase that which makes New Jersey’s agricultural community special," said Assemblymen Roy Freiman and Raj Mukherji. "By finding a balance between protecting preserved farmland and giving farmers in the Garden State the ability to host events, we can introduce new streams of income to the farming industry without compromising agricultural production."

The special events must not interfere with the use of the preserved farmland for agricultural or horticultural production, have minimal effects on the immediate area, and be designed to protect the land's agricultural resources, according to the law.

Farmers who violate the regulations face fines of up to $2,500 for the first offense, $10,000 for the second offense, and $25,000 for the third and subsequent offenses. Those who consistently violate the rules may be barred from holding special occasion events for a period of time that grows in proportion to the number of violations.