Farmers’ input sought

Four towns to develop farmland protection plans

BY FRITZ MAYER

fritzmayer@riverreporter.com

SULLIVANCOUNTY, NY — When people consider the future of the economy in Sullivan County, many think about the rebuilding of the Concord Resort or the coming of gas drilling. But the biggest economic engine in the county now is agriculture, and officials at the town and county levels want to ensure that the agriculture sector stays strong.

As part of that effort, grants totaling $100,000 from the New York Department Ag and Markets went to the towns of Callicoon, Delaware, Bethel and Liberty to develop farmland protection plans. To help develop the plans, the county planning department sent out 523 surveys in early November to farms in those towns and the businesses that serve them. The response, however, was not as brisk as had been hoped for, with less than 20 percent returned thus far.

Although the deadline for returning the surveys was November 18, county officials are still hoping to receive as many surveys as possible to allow them to understand the views of the agriculture community. Jill Weyer, a senior planner for the county, said it’s very important to hear from the industry “because we can only make the plan as good as the input we get from the farmers.”

The surveys, which are anonymous, seek information such as the type of farming being done, how many acres are farmed and opinions as to whether the respondent supports the idea of conservation easements, the purchase of development rights and farm-friendly zoning.

Dr. Bill Pammer, the county planning

commissioner, said the responses to such questions will help officials determine what kinds of programs they will put money into in the future.

To build on the information in the survey, two public forums are planned. The towns of Callicoon and Delaware will host a public workshop and a farmers’ focus group on Saturday, December 13 at the Jeffersonville Inn in Jeffersonville. The public workshop will take place from 10:00 a.m. to noon, and is open to all residents and business people. Nan Stolzenburg, founder of Community Planning and Environmental Associates, will facilitate discussions about the future of farming.

Following that, there will be a focus group discussion for farmers from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., with Stolzenburg giving a presentation about the results of the survey and leading a discussion about local agriculture.

There is a similar day planned for the towns of Liberty and Bethel, set at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Loomis-Ferndale Road in Liberty on January 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Refreshments will be served at both events.

For more information call the Sullivan County Department of Planning and Environmental Management at 845/794-3000, ext. 5028, or visit www.planningbetterplaces.com and click on the current client pages link.