Agricultural Commission preps for hearing on manure rule

Agricultural Commission · Meeting of February 16, 2026

Pepperell Agricultural Commission preps concerns ahead of Feb. 23 hearing on livestock manure rule. Members Eric Piper, Naomi Soden and Lucy McCain, led by chair Cheryl, flagged that the Board of Health's draft regulation, modeled on Carlisle's, could let the board revoke a livestock permit "for any cause at any time" and impose fines of $100 a day. Attorney Janet Morrison, connected to the commission through the Massachusetts Farm Action Plan, found the draft wrongly references state permits the Department of Agricultural Resources doesn't issue.

A caller identified as livestock owner Joe said he "moved to this town specifically" for its right-to-farm status and opposes any permitting requirement. Piper summed up the commission's stance: "Educate, don't regulate." The panel also flagged a $250,000 state earmark for Growing Places' cold storage food hub that has yet to be disbursed, separate from a $50,000 earmark the group already received. Minutes were approved unanimously for Nov. 25, Jan. 6 and Feb. 2.

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Source: the Agricultural Commission meeting of February 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.