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PROMOTING AGRICULTURE in YOUR COUNTY a Special Report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming

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PROMOTING AGRICULTURE in YOUR COUNTY a Special Report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming PROMOTING AGRICULTURE IN YOUR COUNTY A Special Report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming Mark Alger President A. Douglas Berwanger Chairman Stephen J. Acquario Executive Director November 2013 ■ NYSACNYSAC | | 540540 Broadway, Broadway, Fifth Fifth Floor Floor | | Albany,Albany, NY NY 12207 12207 | | 518.465.1473518.465.1473 | | www.nysac.orgwww.nysac.org NYSAC | 540 Broadway, Fifth Floor | Albany, New York NYSAC Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State | 1 The New York State Association of Counties Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State is a group of more than 50 county officials working together to make a positive impact on farming and agriculture in New York State. NYSAC Blue Ribbon Task Force members meeting at the Empire Farm Days. The stories contributed for this report came directly from the following Blue Ribbon Task Force members. We thank them for their input and ongoing service. We also want to thank and acknowledge NYSAC’s Liai- son to the Task Force, Katy Vescio, who was instrumental in pulling this report together. • Hon. Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer County Executive [email protected] • Hon. Alan Grattidge, Saratoga County Chairman [email protected] • Hon. Morris Sorbello, Oswego County Legislator [email protected] • Jan Blaire, Vice Chair, Westchester County Soil and Water Board [email protected] • Hon. Doug Berwanger, Wyoming County Chairman [email protected] • Hon. Jim Brick, Wyoming County Supervisor [email protected] • Hon. Thomas Ryan, Steuben County Legislator [email protected] • Hon. Rochelle Stein, Genesee County Legislator [email protected] New York State Association of Counties © 2013 2 | New York State Association of Counties | Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State COUNTY AGRICULTURE SUCCESS STORIES A Special Report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming ince its inception in 2010, the Blue Saratoga County. It is held on Father’s Ribbon Task Force on the Future Day weekend each year and attracts more Sof Farming has met to discuss than 3000 people. The event is open to the challenges facing New York’s farms and public, free, and designed to minimize the devise strategies for helping to promote impact on the farm. A trolley system brings agriculture in New York State. During a participants to the farm from designated recent roundtable discussion held by the parking areas. This gives the opportunity Task Force, our members shared stories of for visitors to hear a talk during the trolley successful agriculture initiatives in their ride on the history of the farm. The 2o13 county. The goal of this exercise was to tour highlighted a working horse farm help other county leaders learn about in order to bring attention to the equine new ways to help promote farming and industry and further public outreach to that agriculture locally. agricultural sector. Among the many goals From branding campaigns, to economic of “Sundae on the Farm” are to educate the development strategies, these stories from public on where their food comes from, across New York State present a cross- and highlight local products and regionally section of ideas that offer inspiration to significant agriculture ventures. More others looking for ways to support local information is available online at: farms and bolster agricultural initiatives in http://www.ccesaratoga.org/ their own communities. For more information about agricultural Many of the stories shared here include initiatives underway in Saratoga County, examples of farm tours as ways to engage contact Hon. Alan Grattidge, Chairman of the public or key policy makers. The the Saratoga Board of Supervisors. American Dairy Association and the Ad Council have developed a “Farm Tour Checklist” as a useful tool when planning for and preparing your own farm tour. This document is provided in Appendix A. Saratoga County Sundae on the Farm Saratoga County each year, pulls together a a cooperative effort to showcase a working farm. “Sundae on the Farm” celebrated their 18th year as a project to help with education and outreach to the public in order to broaden understanding of and appreciation for local farms and agriculture industries. Saratoga County Chairman Alan Grattidge The “Sundae on the Farm” effort is overseen addresses the county’s 2013 Sundae on the Farm. by Cornell Cooperative Extension of NYSAC | 540 Broadway, Fifth Floor | Albany, New York NYSAC Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State | 3 Genesee County enterprise. In partnership with Cornell University, local economic developers, Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park the Genesee County Community College Genesee County has developed a 200 and various agricultural manufactures, acre industrial park with all the proper the business park was rated by Business infrastructure and zoning to attract Facilities magazine as “Top 3 in Metro/ agricultural businesses. The Genesee Food Processing Industry Growth’’. An Valley Agri-Business Park is dedicated important element of this project was to Agri-Business and Renewable Energy ensuring that educational institutions could and is the first of its kind in New York help fill the gaps in needed workforce skills State. Park residents enjoy low cost water so that companies who moved into the Park delivered via the local aquifer, which can were able to find the skilled workers they provide up to 6 million gallons per day. needed. More information is available at: In addition, a wastewater pretreatment http://www.gcedc.com/pdf/marketing/ facility sits on the site. The park is serviced GeneseeAg-08_06_12-low.pdf by Transmission, Sub-Transmission and Distribution level electric and up to 8” gas “Celebrate Agriculture” Dinner lines are available. Businesses located in The success of Genesee County’s “Celebrate the park are: Alpina, a Columbian-Swiss Agriculture Dinner” is largely due to the based venture producing greek style yogurt; partnership created between the county Muller, a Quaker Dairy partnership of Theo and local agriculture groups. This event Muller of Germany and UK and Pepsi brand is coordinated by Cornell Cooperative products producing greek style yogurt; Extension of Genesee County, Genesee and Martec, a local dairy industry labeling County Chamber of Commerce, Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District and Genesee County Farm Bureau. Promotion for this even has grown and it has become a popular community tradition to bring individuals together to socialize before the beginning of the growing season. Revenue generated by this event is used to fund the Ag Decision-makers’ Forum.For more information, visit Genesee County’s Cooperative Extension website: https://genesee.shutterfly.com An arial view of the Genesee Valley agribusiness park 4 | New York State Association of Counties | Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State Agriculture Decision Makers’ Forum Wyoming County The goal of this event is to bring about a Agri-palooza broader understanding of farming and This event is held on a Sunday from agriculture by elected officials representing 12-4pm. It attracts 2000-3000 people, Genesee County. The event is geared to and is cosponsored by Cornell Cooperative all elected local officials that levy taxes on Extension and the Chamber of Commerce. property, including school board members, county legislators, town board, village, Wyoming County has also closely worked fire district commissioners and library with the Finger Lakes Regional Economic boards. The forum involves a free tour and Development Council (FLREDC) to interaction with young entrepreneurs. promote their agricultural industries and farms. Executives from Wegmans (co-chair of the council) worked with John Nobel and The forum tackles global agriculture the Governor’s office to do local site visits issues as well as local issues, such as on a dairy farm to give members of the immigration, cost of services studies, FLREDC an “on-farm” perspective of what career opportunities, hydro-fracking, public the agriculture industry means to that area. water access, GIS and GPS propelled farm Agri-palooza celebrates Wyoming County’s equipment. By bringing policy-makers onto #1 industry: agriculture. The event, held a working farm, or into an agribusiness annually is free, family-friendly and has operation, the tour organizers are able activities for participants of all ages. The to explain the impacts of specific policy event includes guided farm tours, children’s decisions on working farmers. The tour educational activities including a hay changes every year - 2014 will be the 25th maze, a corn dig, animal exhibits and year of this forum. From animal care to soil farm equipment displays. A special focus dynamics, this tour has worked to educate is placed on Wyoming County products, the public about the salient issues facing highlighted through the farmer’s market. agriculture in the county. More information is available by contacting the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Committee. www.geneseeny.com/. For more information on any of the initiatives underway in Genesee County, contact Hon. Shelly Stein, Genesee County Legislator. NYSAC | 540 Broadway, Fifth Floor | Albany, New York NYSAC Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State | 5 The event is organized by the Wyoming Farmland Preservation Plan and County Chamber of Commerce and Cornell Economic Development Cooperative Extension
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