KEEP IT GROWING! AN AGRICULTURAL AND FARMLAND PROTECTION PLAN FOR RENSSELAER COUNTY Updated by Rensselaer County Economic Development & Planning FOR THE Rensselaer County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board December 2015 Rensselaer County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board Chairman Ken Herrington Rensselaer County Legislature and Farmer, Brunswick Jim Sullivan Farmer, Brunswick Paul Greene Farmer, Berlin Paul Peter Farmer, Schodack Daniel Requate Farmer, Pittstown William Film Rensselaer County Tax Services, Director Bernie Wiesen Cornell Cooperative Extension, Executive Director Robert Pasinella, Jr. Economic Development & Planning, Director Carl Cipperly Rensselaer Land Trust Board Member and Farmer Mark A. Cipperly Agribusiness Representative, Brunswick David Schmidt Soil and Water Conservation District Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Update Committee Omer Brenenstuhl Chairman, Soil and Water Conservation District Mark Cipperly Agribusiness, Brunswick Carl Cipperly Rensselaer Land Trust Board Member and Farmer Larry Eckhardt Farmer, Stephentown Paul Greene Farmer, Berlin Kenneth Herrington Rensselaer County Legislature and Farmer Paul Peter Farmer, Schodack Dan Requate Farmer, Pittstown Jim Sullivan Farmer, Brunswick David Tarbox Farmer, Brunswick Louise Wagner Farmer, Poestenkill Jeff Wysocki Farmer, Hoosick Kirk Shoen Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator Donna Murray Economic Development & Planning Linda von der heide Economic Development & Planning Mission: To develop strategies to preserve, support and enhance Rensselaer County’s agricultural industry and resources The Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council provided funding for this plan update. Rensselaer County Economic Development & Planning, Rensselaer County Cooperative Extension, Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Farm Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Agricultural Stewardship Association provided technical assistance. Letter Benefits Farms Provide Rensselaer County Economic Farms are businesses that buy fuel, supplies, insurance, equipment and stock locally as well as employ a number of people in the county. Farmer services, such as tractor and equipment repair, that are needed locally, also provide customers for local businesses. Every year, farm businesses in Rensselaer County spend millions of dollars for supplies and services to produce valuable farm products. Farms also employ hundreds of full time and part time employees. Farmers, in 2012, paid over $5 million in property taxes. In some towns, farmers and owners of farmland pay over ten percent of the property taxes collected in their communities. Farmland uses very little in municipal services. Farmland has very little educational and library needs, only occasionally requires fire or rescue services, usually does not require public water and sewer and rarely needs policing. Farmers, on the other hand, provide a daily human presence in increasingly bedroom communities. They often provide the daily manpower for fire companies. Farms are invested in their communities due to the nature of farming in general. They will, however, go out of business when the prices their products receive no longer cover the cost of production and taxes. Farms provide locally grown fresh produce, meats, cheese, bedding and nursery stock, hay and recreational services such as riding stables and corn mazes. Farmers also help non-farmers maintain large properties by cropping and mowing the farm fields. Agriculture also is tax-paying green space that filters rainwater, absorbs carbon dioxide and creates oxygen. Farms provide the scenic countryside and rural character that draw tourists to our communities. When permitted by farm owners, cropland, forestland, streams and ponds provide good hunting and fishing. Farmers often open their property to hikers, horseback riders, cross country skiers, nature lovers and photographers. Environmental Well-managed farmland protects soil, air and water resources – preventing flooding, absorbing carbon, providing clean groundwater recharge and producing oxygen. The county’s 25,000 acres of farm woodlots also slow and filter storm water runoff into streams and underground aquifers. Crop and forestland on area farms provide habitat for a diverse array of wildlife. Farm ponds and streams also are home to a variety of fish and waterfowl. 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 3 Background ................................................................................................................ 6 1. Why Keep Farms Growing? ............................................................................... 6 2. Agriculture in Rensselaer county .................................................................... 10 3. Tools to Keep Farms Growing……………………………………………………………………..19 Issues and Recommendations ................................................................................... 29 4. Strengthen Farm Viability and the Agricultural Economy .............................. 29 5. Support Farm Operations and the Right-to-Farm .......................................... 35 6. Protect Farmland as a Valuable Natural Resource ......................................... 40 7. Foster Recognition and Support for Agriculture ............................................. 47 8. Implementing the Plan.................................................................................... 52 Appendices (Not included here) Appendix A: Rensselaer County Agricultural Agencies and Organizations Appendix B: Survey of Farmers and Farmland Owners Report Appendix C: Rensselaer County Agricultural Data Appendix D: Rensselaer County Workshop SWOT Analysis Results Appendix E: Farmer Interviews Summary Appendix F: County and Municipal Planning and Land Use Programs Appendix G: Potential Activities to Support Goals and Recommendations Appendix H: Farmland Conservation Priority and Special Areas References List of Abbreviations Maps Productive Agricultural Soils Agricultural Districts and Enrolled Parcels Conserved Farmland Priority Areas Special Areas Ranking Criteria and Analysis 2 Executive Summary Rensselaer County’s family farms are extremely diverse. Some are small, part-time operations, while other county farms work several thousand acres. County farms produce a bounty of products from milk to vegetables and flowers to livestock. The talent and dedication of Rensselaer County farmers have made agriculture an integral part of the county’s economy, landscape and culture. County farmers are blessed with fertile soils, a moderate climate, and abundant water. Benefits of Rensselaer County Farms Each year, Rensselaer County farmers produce nearly $53 million in farm sales and create many seasonal and full-time employment opportunities. Farms help drive the local economy, since many of the dollars spend by farms operations stay within the county. Rensselaer County farms also help lower the property tax bills of county residents, since farmland requires few community services. In 2012, farmland was taxed over $5 million in property taxes, including library and fire district taxes. Although farmers use some community services, the County’s small number of farmers did not require $5 million in county, town and school district services. Rensselaer County farmers are stewards of our county’s land. Well-managed farms maintain water quality, protect wildlife habitat and provide recreational opportunities for residents. Farmland provides green benefits of clean air, groundwater recharge, and open space. Farmers face increased pressure to sell their land when farm profit margins are tight, the public undervalues agriculture, and developers are willing to pay exorbitant amounts for farmland. In the past 40 years, Rensselaer County has lost nearly 100,000 acres of its farmland to other uses. As the local residential construction market heats up again, pressures on farmland will again increase, leading to the loss of more agricultural lands. Rensselaer County Takes Action In 1999, Rensselaer County took action to create the “Keep It Growing! Rensselaer County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.” Since the adoption of the plan in 2001, many changes have occurred – some positive and others negative – that affect agriculture in Rensselaer County. This plan update attempts to address most of these changes. It is the intent of this plan to assist farmers in facing the rapidly changing agricultural future. It also hones actions proposed in the “Keep It Growing” plan of 2001, as well as the farmland protection maps and plan. The plan provided for farmer input with a farmer ad hoc guidance committee as well as five workshops spread throughout the county. Surveys of farmers were made to collect data on agriculture in Rensselaer County as well as gain insight into the needs and issues facing farmers today. Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this plan recommend 20 major actions for the county and towns to take promoting agricultural and farmland protection efforts. These actions address four areas: 3 economic development, business environment, farmland protection and public education and outreach. The plan also lists more than 50 specific strategies that the county and towns can take to implement the 16 recommendations. PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION ACTION ITEMS The following is a list of recommended actions that were selected by the AFPB as being high priority action items: