3.1
Broome County, New York |
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Agricultural Economic Development Plan |
3.0 Agricultural Goals and Objectives
The following goals and objectives have been established for Broome County's agriculture development and farmland protection program. These are based on the results of detailed surveys of agricultural producer summarized in Appendix 5.1 of this report as well as public meetings conducted by the Broome County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board. The goals are intended to be multi-year in nature and reflect the basic policies of the County for agricultural development and farmland protection, while the objectives spell out more specific criteria by which policy performance can be measured. Measures of success are also suggested. Major specific recommendations may be found in Section 4.0 of this Plan.
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3.1 |
Goal: Create new economic incentives for the development of agricultural enterprises, particularly local suppliers of needed support services. |
Objectives:
3.1.1 Specifically promote the Broome County IDA's tax abatement program as a complement to the Section 483 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law (10 year property tax exemption on newly constructed or reconstructed agricultural structures), using it as a basis to solicit agri-businesses such as feed mills, farm machinery dealers, other farm suppliers, agricultural processing operations and farm marketing buildings.
Measure: Development and distribution of written materials explaining the existing tax-abatement program and use of the same to solicit increased use of the program by local and new agri-businesses.
3.1.2 Develop a program to purchase or lease development rights, financed through tax-abatements or by a realty transfer tax with respect to new development, on the most valuable farmland so as to allow those farmers to capture their equity, reduce their carrying costs and continue farming.
Measure: Number of farmers participating and acres of farmland preserved.
3.1.3 Provide more developed and zoned communities within the County with education regarding the potential for Transfer of Density Rights (TDR) programs as vehicles for creating private markets for these rights that allow farmers to sell them and raise capital to continue in farming.
Measure: Number of educational programs and materials developed and number of communities considering TDR programs.
3.1.4 Develop and promote the availability of financing programs that can provide capital for farm diversification and modernization as well as agri-business ventures, doing so in cooperation not only with farm agencies, but also the County Industrial Development Authority and other economic development entities.
Measure: Dollar volume of loan capacity available to creditworthy farmers. and number of institutions and programs available to help.
3.1.5 Establish and/or promote revolving loan programs specifically targeted at agriculture by working with Southern Tier East.
Measure: Establishment of program, dollars committed and number of participants.
3.1.6 Strongly encourage the streamlining of procedures for obtaining USDA Rural Development loans and grants for new agricultural ventures so as to reduce the time and paperwork involved in securing such assistance.
Measure: Reduction of time, paperwork and restrictions affecting new applications.
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3.2 |
Add value to agricultural products by ensuring quality, encouraging maximum participation of the farm community in State and industry quality assurance programs and supporting the further processing of agricultural products at the farm or locally. |
Objectives:
3.2.1 Assist farmers in pursuing specific added value initiatives such as on-farm dairy processing or training in the use of marketing tools that add value (e.g. adding a ribbon to ornamental corn).
Measure: Number of farmers participating and volumes of added value products sold.
3.2.2 Increase Broome County farmer use of the Pride of New York label as a means of capturing more intrastate as well as tourist sales, combining this initiative with the development of a regional branding program for Broome, Tioga and, perhaps, other adjacent counties under the umbrella of the Susquehanna River or Twin Tiers region.
Measure: Development of a regional branding program as a marketing foundation and an increase in the number of Pride of New York program participants to a minimum of 50.
3.2.3 Increase participation in other statewide and national quality certification programs, specifically including beef farm involvement in the New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program and similar endeavors.
Measure: Number of farmers participating in quality assurance programs.
3.2.4 Assist farmers in organizing to deliver local farm products for regional institutional use, adding value by addressing quality and packaging standards that will facilitate use of these products by schools and others.
Measure: Number of farmers participating and volumes of products purchased by regional institutions.
3.2.5 Develop a livestock marketing map and brochure that promote local freezer trade and other livestock businesses in the context of the County's strong natural image using colorful photography and trading off the ability of local farmers to raise quality meat animals.
Measure: Development and distribution of brochure and the number of farmers participating and volumes of added value products sold.
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3.3 |
Build a foundational farm, community and consumer relationship that supports the continued development of the local food system. |
Objectives:
3.3.1 Support the continued development of Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) organizations that reach out into new markets, through the provision of technical assistance and training.
Measure: Number of CSA's operating within County and participation by both farmers and consumers.
3.3.2 Assist farmers with outreach to unfamiliar but developing ethnic markets by offering guidelines and training in the nuances of dealing with these groups.
Measure: Number of farmers participating in training programs and hours of training provided.
3.3.3 Assist farmers in evaluating and fully understanding their customers wants and needs, and vice-versa, so as to build the permanent level of trust necessary to grow their markets on a firm foundation.
Measure: Surveys conducted, hours of training offered and volumes of products sold to developing markets.
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3.4 |
Promote the development of new specialty crops, the establishment of new markets for all Broome County agricultural product, including non-dairy enterprises, and the general diversification of all agriculture within Broome County. |
3.4.1 Provide additional training and technical assistance to farms to develop the entrepreneurial skills for marketing agricultural products, including the establishment and support of additional CSA's, identification and/or development of new outlets (e.g. the Kirkwwod I-81 visitors center), pricing strategies and new promotional themes that can be employed with regard to Broome County agricultural products.
Measure: Hours of specialist training and technical assistance provided and volumes of new products marketed.
3.4.2 Expand farm-based tourism by cross promoting with Bed & Breakfast operators, increasing farm-stand activity, creating additional and more vital farmers markets in downtown locations and adding to the variety of offerings with more attractions.
Measure: Number of farm-based tourism enterprises, number of Bed & Breakfast visitors and farm-stand sales.
3.4.3 Continually identify new alternative agricultural/agro-forestry product lines (including organic products), opportunities for new agricultural industries and areas where value can be added to existing products to encourage diversification, addressing the interests of the many farmers surveyed who stated that they wished to do so.
Measure: Number of educational programs conducted to disseminate this data and number of diversification ventures initiated.
3.4.4 Work with locally owned/operated food stores to market local produce and develop new products such as specialty cheeses produced on a local dairy farm using an on-farm processing facility.
Measure: Number of local or regional stores handling Broome County products and number of farmers producing for them.
3.4.5 Establish shared agricultural economic development or marketing staff to work with both farm and non-farm agencies in promoting new farm and agri-business ventures.
Measure: Creation of an Agricultural Economic Development Specialist position serving Broome County.
3.4.6 Encourage the State to reduce regulatory barriers to the development of on-farm processing and direct marketing operations in New York State (particularly with respect to milk), patterning these efforts after the very successful Farm Winery Act.
Measure: Streamlining of State regulations regarding milk processing.
3.4.7 Conduct continuing market research on evolving consumer tastes and provide this information to farmers in the form of technical assistance so as to better enable them to respond to markets and devise their own strategies for meeting consumer demand.
Measure: Number of studies completed and/or disseminated and hours of technical assistance provided.
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3.5 |
Develop more strategic alliances among farmers and agri-businesses to expand markets, decrease costs and increase the profitability of farm operations. |
Objectives:
3.5.1 Encourage the formation of additional marketing and purchasing groups, including cooperatives for financing new ventures, shipping point markets and similar entities; electricity and insurance being two group purchasing options with great potential for obtaining better rates given appropriate technical assistance with negotiations.
Measure: Number of Broome farmers participating in such cooperatives or groups.
3.5.2 Form less formal bargaining groups to jointly purchase farm supplies, cooperatively advertise farm products, provide better outlets for cull-dairy cows and facilitate use of custom services.
Measure: Number of farmers participating in such bargaining groups.
3.5.3 Use Cornell Cooperative Extension to continually maintain lists of product sources for purposes of promoting intra-county purchases, similar to the State's "hayfinder" program but extending the concept to other forages and products.
Measure: Lists of products, number of farmers who participate and amount of products sold through lists (consider using the Internet to offer the lists).
3.5.5 Maintain similar lists with regard to custom services and labor pools (e,g. relief milkers).
Measure: Lists of services, number of farmers who participate and amount of services and labor acquired through lists.
3.5.6 Help develop new labor sources (e.g. migrant labor) and better utilize existing sources by providing technical assistance in accessing labor pools, developing lists of relief farm workers and training farmers in the use of immigrant labor.
Measure: Quantitative and qualitative growth in the farm labor pool.
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3.6 |
Increase the profitability of all farm enterprises and ability of farmers to deal with vacillating prices in a changing marketplace. |
Objectives:
3.6.1 Get Broome County into the USDA demonstration prpgram and train farmers in the use of the Dairy Futures Program, forward pricing and similar mechanisms as means of stabilizing milk and other farm prices and securing greater farm control over costs of farm inputs.
Measure: Hours of training provided and number of farmers who participate.
3.6.2 Provide farmers with general information and research findings on innovative and alternative farming practices that can lower the costs of inputs and/or improve quality for a greater return (e.g. rotational grazing, direct commodity purchasing and other least cost feeds programs).
Measure: Hours of training provided and numbers of farmers using methods.
3.6.3 Annually conduct an intensive training programs for farmers on the availability of farm tax relief under both New York State and Federal law, including agricultural assessments, exemptions and refunds offered to farmers unaware of many of them as well as information on estate planning.
Measure: Hours of training provided, number of farmers who participate in training and proportion of farmers who take advantage of programs.
3.6.4 Integrate agriculture into a County economic development strategy geared toward the development of additional commerce and industry that will help to achieve a more balanced tax base and reduce the burden on farm land.
Measure: Specific inclusion of agriculture in strategy, development of an expanded commercial/industrial tax base in appropriate communities and lowered taxes for farmers in these communities .
3.6.5 Encourage extension of the Northeast Dairy Compact to New York State.
Measure: Passage of required legislation.
3.6.6 Encourage use of bargaining cooperatives as a device to negotiate over-order milk premiums and higher prices for other agricultural products on the basis of quality and volume.
Measure: Number of groups organized and over-order premiums secured.
3.6.7 Develop "train the trainer" programs for farm agricultural advisors (including bankers, accountants, lawyers and agency personnel), in relation to business and financial planning so that all such advisors are capable of offering farms good advice on issues of taxes and business management.
Measure: Hours of training provided and number of farm advisors who participate.
3.6.8 Conduct an annual agri-business forum for farmers, bankers, Farm Credit, agencies, and others engaging in serving the farm community to exchange information of programs, industry trends and opportunities.
Measure: Establishment of annual forum and number of participants.
3.6.9 Encourage more on-farm specialization within farm industries (e.g. raising high-bred cattle for export) as well as diversification among farm industries (e.g. combining dairy and beef operations).
Measure: Number of farmers adding profitable new lines of business.
3.6.10 Encourage greater use of recreational leasing as a means of supplementing farm incomes.
Measure: Number of farmers engaged in recreational leasing.
3.6.11 Professionalize real property assessment operations through consolidation and training so as to apply agricultural assessment and tax benefits more properly.
Measure: Hours of training provided, number of assessors who participate .
3.6.12 Train farmers in labor management to reduce employee turnover and related costs.
Measure: Hours of training provided and number of farmers who participate.
3.6.13 Directly train more farmers in the use of business planning methods and develop a comprehensive list of financing resources both within and outside the agricultural mainstream to help increase farmer awareness of financing opportunities.
Measure: Hours of training provided, numbers of farmers who participate and the development of a financing sources brochure.
3.6.14 Establish a farm manager development program along the line of those employed in other states to create a core of professional farm managers with the requisite skills in those aspects of farming designed to enhance profitability.
Measure: Development of a Farm Manager Development curriculum and enrollment levels in such program.
3.6.15 Promote energy conservation measures on the farm to reduce demand and lower costs.
Measure Hours of training provided.
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3.7 |
Achieve higher levels of management of farm woodlands for additional profit as secondary crops. |
Objectives:
3.7.1 Encourage, through landowner education, greater use of best management practices for farm woodlands as a means of increasing value and returns.
Measure: Hours of training provided and number of farm wood lot owners who participate.
3.7.2 Create additional markets for wood products in the County by providing economic incentives for the development of new primary and secondary wood processing ventures (including on-farm enterprises).
Measure: Incentives provided and volume of products processed.
3.7.3 Make additional forestry-related technical assistance available to landowners.
Measure: Man-hours of technical assistance provided to Broome County forest owners and number of farm wood lot owners who participate.
3.7.4 Promote the timber industry and professional management of forest resources, including providing help to municipalities interested in ensuring use of best management practices but avoiding over-regulation of the industry.
Measure: Number of promotional materials and/or advertisements developed and sales of forest products.
3.7.5 Develop a technical assistance and training program on effective deer control with respect to both agriculture and forestry.
Measure: Numbers of hours of training provided and number of participants.
3.7.6 Promote agro-forestry enterprises and crops such as ginseng, goldenseal, and mushrooms that can take advantage of the County's extensive forest resources.
Measure: Workshops conducted and agro-forestry enterprises established.
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3.8 |
Protect and promote the abilities and rights of farmers to engage in all sound agricultural management practices. |
Objectives:
3.8.1 Increase the participation of farmers and agri-business owners in local government and, specifically, on town planning boards by getting all towns with significant agricultural activity to appoint agricultural members under the authority of § 271.11 of the Town Law. Also, conduct regular training programs for local officials on agricultural planning issues and develop an agricultural planning guide to assist in this regard.
Measure: Number of Planning Boards with designated agricultural members, hours of training provided and production and use of Agricultural Plannning Guide.
3.8.2 Increase the level and frequency of farm community communications with the non-farm community by conducting more shared events, use of additional publications and employment of public service announcements and advertising.
Measure: Number of communications to non-farm community and number of non-farm participants in events.
3.8.3 Encourage more positive interaction among farmers and their non-farm neighbors by using newsletters to provide examples of successful efforts (e.g.neighborhood pig roasts, free sweet corn, pre-notification when emptying manure pits, etc.) and offering guidelines regarding how to avoid conflicts.
Measure: Number of articles distributed.
3.8.4 Specifically address the lack of public knowledge regarding animal agriculture by promoting farm tours, utilizing videos such as "Feeding the Green Machine" and conducting educational sessions.
Measure: Numbers of showings and tours conducted and number of participants.
3.8.5 Streamline town land use and zoning measures to simultaneously accommodate both agricultural activities and development, incorporating the latest elements of State law affording protection for farmers and agri-businesses.
Measure: Number of towns with specific provisions in their land use regulations to not only allow but also protect agricultural enterprises.
3.8.6 Encourage development of sewer and water infrastructure within town centers rather than agricultural areas so as to ensure development within and adjacent to agricultural zoning districts is fully compatible with farm activities.
Measure: Number of towns with strong incentives for hamlet and village development and disincentives for strip development.
3.8.7 Adopt a Right to Farm Law for Broome County and encourage major agricultural towns to adopt similar or complementary measures at the local level.
Measure: Adoption of Broome County Right to Farm Law and level of participation by towns.
3.8.8 Encourage Federal and State agencies to provide small farmers more time to react to changing pesticide rules and develop alternative remedies through research and application.
Measure: Favorable changes in time limits and numbers of alternative remedies developed.
3.8.9 Develop technical support services to assist all farmers with environmental compliance measures and maintain a vigilant approach to the monitoring of new and enforcement of existing regulations, pressing for consideration of the potential negative impacts on agriculture and the appropriate modifications thereof to avoid such problems.
Measure: Numbers of farmers assisted and successes in modifying regulations to address impacts on farm operations.
3.8.10 Promote the use of Agricultural Data Statements and local law authority by towns to put land buyers and home builders on notice that they are locating within an agricultural area where sound management practices can produce odors, slow moving traffic and other consequences.
Measure: Numbers of towns employing procedures comparable to those used by the Town of Fenton to issue such notices.
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3.9 |
Develop agriculture as a valued career path within Broome County. |
Objectives:
3.9.1 Develop more broad-based public education efforts, promotional materials and other programs designed to specifically increase public awareness of the value of agriculture as an industry to Broome County and as a career opportunity for Broome County youth and those pursuing second careers.
Measure: Numbers of programs conducted, materials developed and non-farm participants.
3.9.2 Work with schools and their guidance counselors as well as work force development program leaders to add agriculturist training tracks wherever possible and promote the "Ag in the Classroom" curriculum. Develop programs to expand and train the supply of agricultural workers.
Measure: Number of agricultural-related training programs available, number of participants and number of trained workers available.
3.9.3 Encourage more participation in 4-H programs by broadening outreach into both rural and urban areas of the County, increasing the range of offerings to emphasize the high-tech nature of modern agriculture, promoting different forms of membership and extending the opportunities to join.
Measure: Numbers of participants.
3.9.4 Arrange for more on-farm demonstrations to emphasize the high-tech nature of modern agriculture, promoting these to both the farm and non-farm communities as a means of demonstrating the science involved in agriculture, thereby also creating farm tourism opportunities visitors to the area who are seeking to fill out their day with events.
Measure: Numbers of demonstrations and participants.
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3.10 |
Maintain Agricultural Districts throughout the prime farming areas of the County as a means of both protecting farms and highlighting the value of agriculture to the County. |
Objectives:
3.10.1 Identify Broome County's most valuable farmland for purposes of providing regulatory protection, defining agricultural districts, purchasing or leasing development rights and offering other incentives to stay in farming.
Measure: Maps produced (Ag District and otherwise) for local government use.
3.10.2 Encourage towns with zoning to enhance agricultural districts by developing agricultural zoning districts to provide for compatible forms of development within these districts.
Measure: Number of communities employing these measures in their zoning laws (if they have such laws).
3.10.3 Encourage farm landowner participation in the Agricultural Districts program by identifying candidate properties and specifically soliciting those persons through regular paid advertisements, FSA and Cornell Cooperative Extension newsletters and other techniques that allow the benefits of districts to be touted.
Measure: Number of landowners asking to be included in Agricultural Districts.
3.10.4 Encourage all towns with significant areas of Agricultural District within their borders to participate in an annual agricultural economic development and land use forum where the evolving aspects of agriculture can be discussed and participants can learn about the latest issues and the importance of protecting farmland and the application of farm practices.
Measure: Number of towns participating.
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3.11 |
Assist Broome County's larger farmers in compliance with Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) regulations and other demands of water quality management connected with farming. |
Objectives:
3.11.1 Work with the Broome County Soil and Water Conservation District to provide farmers with technical assistance in responding to CAFO and other environmental regulations at all levels now and in the future, potentially turning these practices into profit through participation in water quality certification programs such as the "Chesapeake Milk" model tested in the Pennsylvania portion of that watershed.
Measure: Hours of training provided, number of farmers who participate in training and/or water-quality certification programs.
3.11.2 Provide farmers with greater financial assistance in responding to CAFO regulations by encouraging New York State to participate in the Chesapeake Bay Program and both the State and the Federal government to make EQIP and related funding available on a more equitable basis across watersheds throughout the County.
Measure: Dollars available in all watersheds to make CAFO improvements.
3.11.3 Work with small and large farmers alike to encourage greater use of economical and environmentally friendly practices such as rotational grazing as well as complementary management practices, including pasture fertilization programs, planting of turnip crops and similar strategies aimed at reducing costs and increasing yields.
Measure: Funding applications made and resulting increase in dollars available for promotion of rotational grazing and related or similar practices.
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3.12 |
Facilitate intergenerational farm transfers among and between families. |
Objectives:
3.12.1 Promote intergenerational farm transfers by; promoting use of the Farm Link program, conducting intensive educational sessions, providing top-level legal and financial technical assistance in estate/business planning and identifying and/or establishing sources of start-up capital for young farmers; simultaneously providing for the retirement needs of older farmers.
Measure: Hours of training and technical assistance provided, number of participants and number of successful farm transfers.
3.12.2 Encourage Federal and State governments to eliminate all capital gains and estate taxes, particularly in regard to farm transfers, as these taxes disproportionally impact upon farm operations, most of which are family owned, even if very large in size.
Measure: Elimination of capital gains and estate taxes on both the State and Federal level.
3.12.3 Develop a leased development rights program in return for abatement of local real property taxes as a means of decreasing the cash flow required during the early years while a farm is being purchased and lowering taxes as a cost of doing business for farmers.
Measure: Development of an LDR program and number of farmers participating.
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