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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Schoharie County Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan January 2017

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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Schoharie County Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan January 2017 A Plan to Enhance the Agricultural Economy in Schoharie County. Adopted by the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors March 17, 2017 Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Schoharie County Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan January 2017 Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Funding ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Highlights ................................................ 4 Goals ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Recommended Actions ............................................................................................................................. 5 Schoharie’s Vision for Agriculture ................................................................................................................. 8 Long-Term Goals and Strategies for Agriculture in Schoharie County ......................................................... 9 Goals ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Snapshot of Recommended Strategies ..................................................................................................... 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 11 A. Why an updated Plan ......................................................................................................................... 11 B. The 2016 Planning Process ................................................................................................................ 13 C. Role of Agriculture in Schoharie County ............................................................................................ 14 D. Definition of Agriculture .................................................................................................................... 15 E. Farms, Farmland, and the Agricultural Economy in Schoharie County ............................................. 15 F. Farmland Conversion in Schoharie County ........................................................................................ 22 G. Identifying Priority Farmlands ........................................................................................................... 28 H. Summary of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats ........................................................... 31 Taking Action ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Recommended Programs and Projects................................................................................................... 34 Priority Projects ....................................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix A: Maps ....................................................................................................................................... 53 Appendix B: Description of Agricultural Resources in Schoharie County ................................................... 54 Farmland Parcels ..................................................................................................................................... 54 Agricultural Districts ................................................................................................................................ 55 Agricultural and Forest Land Value Assessments ................................................................................... 56 Farmland Soils ......................................................................................................................................... 56 Flood Hazards, Karst and Farmlands ....................................................................................................... 58 State Owned, New York City and Other Preserved Parcels .................................................................... 58 Public Water and Sewer in Schoharie County ........................................................................................ 58 Page | 1 Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan January 2017 Recent Development (Since Year 2000) ................................................................................................. 58 Open Tillable Land on Identified Farmland Parcels ................................................................................ 59 Priority Farmland Areas .......................................................................................................................... 59 Agricultural Districts in the Region ......................................................................................................... 60 Towns in Schoharie County with Right-to-Farm Laws ............................................................................ 61 Appendix C: Profile of the Agricultural Economy ....................................................................................... 62 Data on Schoharie County from the U.S. Census of Agriculture ............................................................. 62 Comparisons of Schoharie County to NYS and Other Counties .............................................................. 68 Appendix D: Public Input Results ................................................................................................................ 74 Farm Community Workshops ................................................................................................................. 74 Farmer Survey ......................................................................................................................................... 78 Focus Groups........................................................................................................................................... 82 Dairy Reset Meetings .............................................................................................................................. 83 Appendix E: Other Helpful Information ...................................................................................................... 86 The Schoharie County IDA and Agriculture ............................................................................................ 86 Ten Rules of Transition Management ..................................................................................................... 90 The Hudson Valley Agri-Business Development Corporation Model ..................................................... 92 Town of Amenia Agricultural Profile (Model) ......................................................................................... 94 Resources ................................................................................................................................................ 96 Appendix F. Schoharie County Agriculture and the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council......................................................................................................................................................... 98 Photo Courtesy of Barbers Farm Page | 2 Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan January 2017 Acknowledgements Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board Richard Bates, Chairman, Seward Farmer Claude Coons, Fulton, Schoharie County Soil and Water Conservation District David Cox, Ag Program Leader, Schoharie County Cornell Cooperative Extension Jerry Lape, Cobleskill Farmer Jack Miller, Schoharie Agri-business John Radliff, Cobleskill Farmer Cindy Shelley, Carlisle Farmer, SUNY Cobleskill Alicia Terry, Schoharie County Planning & Development Agency Lisa Thom, Schoharie County Real Property Earl Van Wormer III, Esperance Supervisors, County Board of Supervisors Karl Westphal, Schoharie Land Trust Consultants Community Planning & Environmental Associates Nan Stolzenburg, AICP, CEP Don Meltz, AICP E.M. Pemrick and Company Ellen Morosoff Pemrick Assistance was also provided by: Schoharie County Planning and Development Agency Alicia Terry, Senior Planner Brian Fleury, GIS Specialist Funding This Plan was funded through a grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Schoharie County. Schoharie County Board of Supervisors J. Carl Barbic/John Bates Larry Bradt Gerald Coppolo William Federice Margaret Hait Richard Lape Alexander Luniewski Sandra Manko Leo T. McAllister Philip Skowfoe Jr. David Simkins Shawn J. Smith Christopher Tague Anthony VanGlad Earl Van Wormer III Harold Vroman Page | 3 Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan January 2017 Executive Summary Why an Agricultural Plan for Schoharie County? Because agriculture has, and continues to be one of Schoharie County's most important industries. Agriculture uniquely and positively affects not only our economy, but is vital to Schoharie’s rural landscape, community character,
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