Pepperell Agricultural Commission closes hearing on livestock rules

Agricultural Commission · Meeting of February 26, 2026

Pepperell farmers pack Agricultural Commission hearing to fight new livestock rules. Co-Chairs Cheryl Rosoff and Lucy McCain presided as roughly two dozen residents and seven submitted letters opposed the Board of Health's draft "Keeping of Livestock and Manure Management" regulation, which would require annual permits, 100-foot setbacks and allow revocation "at any time for any cause," backed by fines up to $100 a day. Former animal inspector Robin Hiebert said "there's not a spot on my property I could stand where I wouldn't be 100 feet from a neighbor." Resident Amber Gardner pushed back on the state's "reasonable regulation" standard: "we handed this to you, we think it's reasonable, but we all think it's unreasonable." The commission, whose review authority runs through March 5 under Chapter 111, voted unanimously to close the hearing and will finalize its recommendations to the Board of Health at a March 2 meeting.

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Source: the Agricultural Commission meeting of February 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.