County Executive Molinaro Signs Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan into Law

County Executive Molinaro Signs Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan into Law

Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro was joined today by members of the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, county and municipal officials and local farmers at McEnroe Organic Farm in Millerton for the signing of the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan into law. The Dutchess County Legislature unanimously adopted the plan earlier this month.


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Photo: Erich McEnroe, Dutchess County Legislator Gregg Pulver, Dutchess County Acting Commissioner of Planning & Development Eoin Wrafter, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Chairman of the Dutchess County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Board Harry Baldwin and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County Executive Director Ruth Moore were at McEnroe Organic Farm in Millerton today for the signing of the Dutchess County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan.

County Executive Molinaro stated, “The Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan is proof that the agricultural economy in our County is continuing to grow, expand and adapt to change in our region. Famers and agri-businesses in Dutchess County are positively impacting residents evidenced by the increased demand for local agricultural products and the emergence of new markets. I applaud the work of our Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, the Steering Committee and our partner agencies and stakeholders for their efforts in continuing to transform agriculture in Dutchess County, making us a model for the rest of the State.”

The Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan outlines activities, programs and strategies to promote the economic success of the agricultural industry, including supporting its land use by identifying land or area proposed to be protected. Dutchess County’s original Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan was adopted in 1998 in response to the financial struggles that were being faced by local farms and the increased pressure to convert farms into residential and commercial properties. Today, the updated Plan reveals that Dutchess County’s agricultural industry is growing with excellent prospects for a continuing and vital agricultural economy, based on new markets, growing interest in local agricultural products, and opportunities for continued land preservation for the next generation of farmers. The number of farms, farmland acres and the market value of agricultural products are all on the rise in Dutchess County.

Chairman of Dutchess County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board Harry Baldwin said, “Dutchess County’s heritage is rooted in agriculture. The changes we have seen in the past fifteen years have been dramatic and it was important to put together a new plan with strategies to meet the needs of our current and future farmers and to encourage continued growth and prosperity of agriculture in Dutchess County.”

The Plan proposes five priority initiatives, with 19 specific goals, to be implemented by a collaboration of agencies including but not limited to the DC Agricultural & Farmland Protection Board, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County, DC Soil & Water Conservation District, DC Planning & Development, DC Economic Development Corporation, and local land trusts. The initiatives include:

Coordination and Collaboration through an Agricultural Navigator & Agricultural Advisory Committee
Agricultural Economic Development and Business Retention & Expansion Program
Farmland Preservation
Farm Friendly Regulation assessment and engagement
Marketing Public Relations and Awareness

Work on the updated Plan began in 2013, when the County was awarded a $50,000 Farmland Protection Planning Grant from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to update the County’s original 1998 Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. The County provided a $10,000 match to the grant funding and additional in-kind services were provided by partner agencies including Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County, the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development. The Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) led the efforts with the various partner agencies and worked with consultants, Community Planning and Environmental Associates. Numerous farming and agribusiness professionals, economic development and tourism representatives, land conservancies, local officials and residents served in an advisory capacity throughout the process.

Gregg Pulver, who serves as Dutchess County Legislator and is a third generation farmer in the Town of Pine Plains, said, “There are so many new and emerging opportunities here in Dutchess County for agriculture from farm-to-table, distilleries, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and more, it is very exciting to be part of it. This new Plan shows the strength of our farming industry and I believe it will inspire more farming endeavors in our region.”

To view the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, visit: www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Planning/22857.htm.

Author: Harlem Valley News