City Council Oct. 12 signed off on a farmland agreement from the partnership of  Joe A. Hassle Jr., John M. Hassle, Scott M. Hassle and Berrybrook Farms Inc., 28230 Elm St., Dowagiac.

Although the farmland agreement is between Wayne Township and the owners of Berrybrook Farms, the application requires input from the City of Dowagiac since the property is located within three miles of the city.

The Farmland and Open Space Act enables a farm owner to enter into a Development Rights Agreement with the state.

The agreement insures that the land remains in agricultural use for a minimum of 10 years, and is not developed for any non-agricultural use.

In return for maintaining the land in agricultural use, the landowner may be entitled to certain income tax benefits, and the land is not subject to special assessments for sanitary sewer, water, lights or non-farm drain projects.

Farmland eligibility is determined by the size of the farm and, in some instances, by the farm’s income.

A parcel meets qualification requirements for enrollment in a Farmland Development Rights Agreement if one of the following is true:

• Parcel is 40 acres or larger, and a minimum of 51 percent of the land is agriculturally active.

• Parcel has at least five acres but less than 40 acres in size, more than 51 percent of the land is agriculturally active and the agricultural land produces a gross annual income in excess of $200 per tillable acre.

• Parcel has been designated as a specialty farm by the Michigan Department of Agriculture, is a minimum of 15 acres and has a gross annual income exceeding $2,000 per year.

The original farmland agreement is contracted for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 90 years.

The agreement may be extended for a minimum of seven years or longer, after the initial term.

City staff reviewed the request for the farmland agreement and found no impact on Dowagiac services.