Preston ― A town meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Preston Plains Middle School for residents to consider two proposals that would lower taxes for farmers and protect them from complaints.

The first is a plan to raise the property tax exemption for farming equipment from the current $100,000 to the $200,000 cap allowed by state law. Second is a request to enact the town’s first Right to Farm ordinance, which would protect farmers from nuisance complaints about noise, odor and activities associated with farming practices.

Gary Piszczek, chairman of the Preston Conservation and Agricultural Commission, said the commission endorsed the proposals to preserve Preston’s rural town character amid current and potential residential development growth and to encourage more farming in town.

“The dairy farms are shrinking, and I’m one of them,” Piszczek said. “They’re the ones who use a good deal of land.”

Piszczek said there are just three dairy farms in Preston now, down from “well over a dozen” a few years ago. The industry is shifting to large farms and corporations, he said. Preston has one hog farm and one poultry research facility, along with numerous small vegetable and plant nurseries and poultry farms.

Preston has allowed a farm equipment exemption of up to $100,000 for years, and the proposed ordinance would double the exemption to $200,000. Piszczek said with rising costs, a couple of large tractors could reach the $100,000 limit alone.

Farmers must apply in writing for the equipment assessment exemption within 30 days of receiving their assessments each year. To qualify, farms must have at least $15,000 in gross sales derived from farming and at least $15,000 in expenses related to farming for the year.

The Right to Farm ordinance is designed to protect and promote farming in Preston “with minimal conflict with abutters and town agencies,” the ordinance states. Any agricultural operation that follows accepted agricultural practices and meets state and local health, safety, building code and environmental regulations could not be considered a nuisance.

The ordinance lists incidental noise from livestock and equipment, odor from livestock, manure, feed and fertilizer, dust and fumes, legal application of chemicals and irrigation as accepted agricultural practices.

Town Planner Kathy Warzecha and Piszczek said they have not received any complaints about farming leading up to the proposed ordinance.

“The town is growing, and the few farmers left are a little bit concerned that attitudes change,” Piszczek said.

c.bessette@theday.com