MERCER TWP — The township’s board of supervisors used its meeting on March 16 to discuss revisiting and updating the township’s Agriculture Security Council in an effort to protect residents’ right to farm.

Supervisors emphasized the council is not a new concept. Instead, their effort is an attempt to bring back the initiative board members hope will maintain and even boost the productive use of farmland for agriculture.

One supervisor, three farmers and one other resident, who is not a farmer, are to be appointed to the Agriculture Security Council.

“It’s an already existing ag program that just hasn’t been updated,” Supervisor John Bennett said. “As we have areas in the township that are developing, we want to protect the farmers.”

The council could be called into action if a farmer spreads manure — something he’s done for years and needs to do for his farm — and someone raises a complaint, Bennett explained.

The council would oversee agriculture security areas, which could include land of at least 250 acres. The land does not have to be contiguous or under the same farmer’s ownership the whole way, but the land’s soil must be within farming regulations to be considered good for agricultural use.

Residents interested in a volunteer position on the Agriculture Security Council can find more information about applying on Mercer Township’s website, in their newsletter or by contacting the township.