A contentious East Hampton law that could jail farmers for causing dust storms has been modified to have a less harsh penalty.
An unsecured potato field on eastern Long Island caused a dust storm in January. The farmer had planted a cover crop, but it failed.
East Hampton crafted a law with penalties that included fines and jail time, but the legislation faced stiff opposition from farmers.
“The initial penalty was problematic because you’re penalizing the farmer for something that is a weather event, an extreme weather event,” said Alex Balsam, a farmer and chair of the East Hampton Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Balsam says the legislation is almost complete and jail time has been removed as a potential penalty, but a so-called reasonable fine will be put in place.
