Broome County,
New York
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Agricultural
Economic Development Plan |
(CLICK
HERE FOR PDF VERSION)
4.0 Action Program - Major
Agricultural Initiatives
Agriculture, like any industry, has to change
with the times if it is to keep growing. New markets, new products,
new ways of doing business and new partnerships are ever needed.
The Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board can assist the
industry in meeting these challenges. Substantial payoffs in tourism,
quality of life and the long-term growth of the Broome County
agricultural economy will result if it does so. The success of
the nearby Finger Lakes wine industry provides a superb illustration
of the possibilities. The preceding Goals and Objectives set forth
a comprehensive program in this regard. The following represent
six major initiatives that should serve as an action program for
the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board and cooperating
agencies over the next 5+ years.
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4.1 |
Added Value
Enterprise Initiative |
As a center of commerce surrounded by rural
farm areas and major highway crossroads, Broome County is an ideal
location for added-value agricultural processing operations. Additional
efforts should be made to target these industries for solicitation
and development, through creation of improved sites, promotion
of tax abatement programs and use of other incentives.
Short-term incentives should be used to
initially attract such enterprises to Broome County. These must
be competitive with other regions and help to off-set some of
the capital costs relating to investment by these new businesses
in Broome County. The most important incentives, however, are
inherent. They relate to location, availability of labor, access
to raw products and markets and relatively inexpensive land. Documenting
and promoting these marketable competitive advantages is essential.
While this is largely the task of Broome County's economic development
agencies, the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board must
be an active partner to ensure that added-value agricultural processing
get the attention they deserve.
Such enterprises are already to be found
in the County, indicating that attracting new similar businesses
is feasible. It, too, suggests the potential for strengthening
and growing existing industries. They include the Crowley dairy
processing operation, the Frito-Lay plant, two food distributors
and some wood processing facilities. Pennfield Feeds had proposed
to locate in the Conklin Industrial Park but faced zoning obstacles
related to building height. A meat fabricator also proposed to
locate in the park but ultimately decided not to come to Broome
County because it wanted to concentrate more on Mid-Atlantic than
Northeast markets.
The County IDA offers a 15 year tax-abatement
program that phases in real property taxes for industrial projects
at 25% of normal for the first 5 years, 50% for the next 5 years
and 75% for another 5 years, transitioning to taxation at 100%
of value in the 16th year. State law requires that IDA's apply
uniform policies but separate abatement schedules can be adopted
for different classes of industries. Broome County, indeed, offers
a reduced program of benefits (50% abatement for the first 5 years
and 25% for another 5 years) for commercial projects such as wholesale
and office projects.
The following are the specifically recommended
elements of this initiative:
- A continuing education program to help
farmers identify and capitalize on opportunities in various new
products that can be produced on-farm (e.g yogurts) should be
launched by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County. This
should include a combination of seminars, field trips and consultations
designed to equip farmers with the knowledge to know what types
of on-farm processing may be economically feasible as well as
the skills to be successful should they pursue these opportunities.
- The County Industrial Development Agency
should, in consultation with local taxing authorities, develop
a special tax-abatement program to promote investment in new
or expanded agricultural enterprises. This is necessary because
many businesses, particularly those next door to Pennsylvania,
are tempted to relocate out of New York State due to high taxes.
Additionally, many farm-related enterprises engaging in retail
services are excluded from agricultural tax benefits in New York
State and are also outside the mainstream of manufacturing activity.
While Broome County's existing program is generous, one of similar
nature targeted to agriculture, will allow the County to more
effectively market to agricultural industries by showing that
it values the industry enough to create a special program for
it. Individually negotiated abatements cannot substitute because
they cannot be promoted. The IDA might well consider a targeted
tax abatement program with an abatement schedule similar to the
following:
Possible Agricultural Industry Tax Abatement
Program
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Years |
% Taxes Abated |
% Taxed under
PILOT* |
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1 to 5 |
100% |
0% |
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6 to 10 |
50% |
50% |
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11 to 15 |
25% |
75% |
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* PILOT = Payments In Lieu of Taxes |
This schedule is very similar to the existing one but designed
to provide maximum benefits during the period of time when an
agri-business is paying off equipment and start-up loans and,
therefore, will be of direct aid in capitalizing these businesses.
Other counties have used comparable incentives. Sullivan County,
for example, has a similar program already used by feed and farm
machinery dealers to expand their operations, increasing their
commitment to that County as a place of business. An aggressive
program is required to get attention and market the County as
a location with a valuable competitive advantage. This program
should, wherever possible, also be combined with Empire Zone
benefits to leverage the economic incentives.
- The Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board should work with Southern Tier East Regional Planning and
Development Board to encourage use of its EDA Title IX Revolving
Loan, Rural Micro Loan and Regional Revolving Loan Trust Funds
by County agribusiness. These funds can be used for agricultural
and forestry processing projects as well as other agribusiness
ventures. A "Funding for Farm and Agri-business Projects,"
brochure should also be developed by STERPDB. It should be distributed
by the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board and Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Broome County to promote various funding
sources available to assist agri-businesses and farms. It would
differ from existing handouts in that it would be more focused
on agriculture and also identify additional programs not available
to non-farm entities. It should, for instance, include programs
such as those offered by Empire State Development Agency, the
Department of Agriculture and Markets and USDA Rural Development.
The Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board should also meet
with local financial institutions to explore ways to enhance
this fund with leveraged below-market rate or market rate financing
that would help to meet their Community Reinvestment Act obligations.
- The Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board should also work with the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, the Broome County Soil and Water Conservation District,
the Broome County Planning and Economic Development Department,
USDA Rural Development and the Southern Tier East Regional Planning
and Development Board to pursue grant funds for agricultural
economic development. The agricultural sector of the economy
needs to be brought into the mainstream of development efforts.
Securing grant assistance from non-agricultural as well as
conventional funding sources for agricultural economic development
initiatives should be part of that.
- As the County develops additional industrial
sites it should designate a portion of these for potential agricultural
use with special attention to removing any local zoning or restrictive
covenant barriers such as those Town regulations that blocked
the Pennfield Feed plant from locating in the Conklin Industrial
Park. Ontario County provides a model in this regard. It offers
agribusiness sites within a designated agricultural industrial
park designed to attract food processors and similar industries
that use regional farm products. A significant obstacle to the
development of additional sites will be the limited sewer and
water infrastructure capacity within those areas where large
processors would have to locate today. A meat processing facility
that was considering the County as a location, for example, would
have consumed all the remaining capacity available to the site
it was considering. This forces the County to be very selective
in choosing tenants, focusing on job creation criteria that may
not favor agricultural enterprises despite their high income
multipliers. Therefore, it is essential to both extend the sewer
and water infrastructure to additional sites and expand the capacity
of existing systems to be in a position to accept agricultural
processors interested in Broome County. County studies are now
underway for this purpose.
Implementation Period: 2002
Responsible Parties:
1) Broome County IDA
2) Southern Tier East Reg. Planning & Dev. Board
3) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
4) Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board
5) Broome County Soil and Water Conservation District
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4.2 |
Direct Marketing
Initiative |
It is recommended that Broome County initiate
a coordinated advocacy effort to market more farm products and
develop the skills needed within the farm community to do so on
a continuing basis. The first step in this program should be to
create an Agricultural Marketing Specialist position. This person
should lead a coordinated effort by the Broome County Agricultural
and Farmland Protection Board, Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Broome County, the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Southern
Central East and the Broome County Department of Planning and
Economic Development to implement the recommendations of this
Plan. He or she should help to identify new markets for agricultural
products and services and be assigned to provide technical assistance
on a circuit-riding basis to farmers and agri-businesses in selling
to those markets.
The person hired could be employed by any
one of the above organizations but should be assigned specific
responsibilities to both the Broome County Department of Planning
and Economic Development and the County Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Board as a resource person. The shared responsibilities
are essential to highlighting the value of agriculture and forestry
to the local economy and further integrating agriculture into
the County's economic development program. Funding for this position
could come from a variety of sources including the County but,
initially, this endeavor should be approached as a demonstration
project. It should be possible to secure grant funds from State
and/or Federal sources to help launch the project. The position
should, however, be designed to be at least partially supported
by producers and agri-businesses over the long-term on a fee-for
service or cooperative basis.
The tasks of this Agricultural Marketing
Specialist should include, but not be limited to the following
projects:
- Development of new markets, both within
and outside the County, for Broome County's farm products. This
should include direct/technical assistance to farmers, agri-businesses
and farm organizations (including cooperatives) in selling, promoting
and structuring the distribution of these products as well as
the development of new lines.
One example might include establishing
a permanent farmers market in downtown Binghamton. A market within
the Kirkwood I-81 Visitors Center would offer excellent opportunities
to market products and there are several successful examples
of such markets to draw upon for experience. This Visitors Center
should, at a minimum, be used as a location to promote Broome
farm products with brochure/maps and displays.
A concerted effort should also be put into
the creation and support of additional Consumer Supported Agriculture
(CSA) groups serving both the Binghamton and New York City metropolitan
areas.
Still another possibility that should be
explored is the creation, on either a public or private sector
basis, of a livestock shipping point market where cattle and
other animals can be pooled for shipment to New York City area
meat processors serving certain ethnic and niche markets.
- Training farmers and agri-businesses in
marketing practices, including direct marketing, Internet sales
and exporting. There are significant opportunities in each of
these areas. The presence of an urban market within the County
suggests the potential for direct marketing is large. Moreover,
the resident population includes many upscale buyers with IBM
managerial positions. Some farmers are already using the Internet
to sell product from websites and much more can be done in this
area by helping to develop those websites on cost-effective basis.
Special opportunities abound because New
York State can supply more demand for a niche product than found
for ordinary products in most states. The skills required to
tap these markets need developing, however, because much of agriculture
has been commodity driven where farmers have essentially been
"price-takers." They must be converted to "price-makers,"
though better marketing.
- Identifying opportunities for adding value
to existing farm products before they are sold. Forestry products
for instance, offer possibilities to craft patio furniture, storage
sheds and wooden novelties in the manner of so many Lancaster,
Pennsylvania enterprises. On-farm dairy processing of cheeses,
yogurts and ice cream also offers opportunities. The Triple Cities
market is immediately accessible to such producers if someone
can help them exploit it. Additional work is involved but, where
combined with quality assurance and relatively low-key marketing,
farmers can deliver added value to customers for higher income
and better cash flow. The key is to establish relationships with
end-users, vertically integrating the industry wherever possible.
- Disseminating information on market opportunities.
A key element in development of new markets is the communication
of information on demand, supply and prices. No market is forever
and farmers need to continually adapt and respond to developing
opportunities. These include, for example, growing demands for
dairy/beef crosses at nearby Taylor Packing, as well as meat
goats for the ethnic market buyers at livestock auctions. Publication
of market data from livestock auctions is also important. There
is, too, a demand for technical information and Extension support
for growing niche businesses.
- Promoting sales of existing Broome County
farm products. A Broome County Farm Markets Brochure and Map
(or section on the existing Chamber of Commerce map) should be
created to promote local farm products. Additionally, too few
of the County's producers are making use of the Pride of New
York label. Despite heavy demand for "Made in New York"
products - there are only four Broome County participants. The
Agricultural Marketing Specialist should be helping to develop
the enterprises appropriate for these programs and soliciting
participation in them.
Implementation Period:
1) Start-up - 2002
2) Demonstration period - 2003-2006
Responsible Parties:
1) Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board
2) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
3) Broome County Dep. of Planning & Economic Dev.
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4.3 |
Agricultural
Tourism Initiative |
A more extensive Broome County agricultural
and natural resources tourism industry needs to be developed with
linkages to downtown Binghamton (e.g. to the "Gorgeous Washington"
project) and other attractions such as the Botanical Gardens at
the offices of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County.
Also, Route 79 is a particularly picturesque highway, with a great
deal of agriculture along the way, that could be developed into
a trail of agricultural tourism activities. There is a group working
on designating it (and connected routes) as a New York State Scenic
Byway and this could present a tremendous opportunity to promote
agricultural tourism. The following are some essential elements
of the recommended initiative:
- Professional marketing is needed to package
attractions with local bed & breakfast offerings, farm tours,
visits to farm markets and downtown attractions to create variety
and interest. The potential for making tourist attractions out
of farm enterprises is considerable. However, many of the County's
farmers are not aware of the tourism assets they possess and
more effort needs to be put into assisting farmers in developing
this potential. One of the most important assets in this regard
is the fact most of the farms are family operations. Family history
is a great marketing device of much interest to visitors who
like to take home plants, fruits, crafts and vegetables they
can tell others they purchased at a little family-owned farm
in Upstate New York. Visitors want to not only buy the farm product
but also to see how it's made and know who's making it.
- The County also needs to concentrate on
creating a better family tourism image for the area with the
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board taking the lead with
respect to farm-related activities. These might include corn
mazes, equine activities, pond or fee-fishing and farm visits,
for example. Other farm-related tourism could include tours of
a modern high-tech farm. The County tourism brochure should includes
farm market information and opportunities for farm tours so that
visitors can better understand present-day agriculture. There
is great interest in how working dairy farms, for example, operate
today.
- Many farms with tourism potential don't
promote because they see no profit in it and, therefore, the
Agricultural Marketing Specialist (and others) should work with
these farmers to create things to sell. These might include an
admittance, merchandise or schooling, but if a price is not charged
then the tourism is just apt to be a bother as an opportunity
for the farmer. Many farmers are simply unaware of the level
of interest in their activities or the fact that tourists will
pay for it. They will, however, and there are good examples in
nearby counties including "Herb Camps" and "Draft
Horse Schools." Similar opportunities exist with recreational
leases for hunting and fishing, petting zoos and other activities.
These all present profit potential that should be explored with
interested farmers. Also, rural landowners are often unsure how
to manage liability issues and need additional education and
technical assistance in this regard.
- Packaging should also involve linking
the attractions under a common theme such as "Broome County
- The Crossroads Where Farm and City Meet." This is a major
challenge for Broome County because it is a crossroads rather
than a widely recognized region like the Finger Lakes, Catskills
or Mohawk Valley. A Scenic Byway along Route 79 could help but
it will always be difficult to create an image of Broome County
that does not center on the Triple Cities. They do enjoy some
name recognition and the best approach is to embrace them and
build on this asset with linkages between the farm and city aspects
of the County. A permanent farm market downtown to complement
the Gorgeous Washington project with cross-promotion of the participating
farm locations ("come and visit us at the farm, too")
makes a great deal of sense and illustrates the importance of
a comprehensive economic development strategy for the County
that looks to both urban and rural needs and ways to jointly
meet them. Vestal, because of its wealthier demographic profile,
is another excellent location for creating a permanent indoor
farm market. The Johnson City market has appeal as an ethnic
marketplace only possible in an urban environment. It illustrates
the advantages Broome County offers for certain types of agricultural
enterprises.
- The Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board should provide the initial leadership in developing an
ag tourism program by assembling a task force of representatives
from the farm community, South Central New York RC&D, the
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chambers of Commerce and local
lodging places to identify the best opportunities and the measures
needed to stimulate interest by providers. From this a conceptual
plan for ag tourism promotion purposes can be developed. Providers
can then be solicited and an advertising campaign launched. It
need not be expensive. Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for example,
does a very effective job with a plain paper booklet advertising
several dozen sites and combines this with a website where such
attractions are packaged with bed and breakfast accommodations.
This is the type of program Broome County needs.
Summarizing, the keys to a successful agricultural
tourism program are two-fold; 1) having enough activities to attract
interest and package with other activities, and 2) establishing
a price that connects with each activity to generate income.
Implementation Period: 2003
Responsible Parties:
1) Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board
2) Broome County Conference & Visitor Bureau
3) Broome County Dep. of Planning & Economic Dev.
4) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
5) Broome County Chamber of Commerce
6) South Central New York RC&D
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4.4 |
Forest Management
Initiative |
Broome County's forest industry offers significant
additional profit potential for farms and is extremely important
to the County as a whole. Needs that the Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Board can help address include the following:
- Secondary processors of wood products,
particularly the smaller enterprises, need to be encouraged with
the same financial incentives offered agri-businesses. These
include woodcraft industries, cabinet-makers, manufacturers of
storage buildings and outdoor patio furniture and similar enterprises.
Another critical need at the present time is assistance in developing
new markets for low-grade timber (e.g. firewood or pallet manufacturers).
Financing and tax incentives for both small and large manufacturers
are needed, from woodcraft shops to sawmills.
- Forestry presents significant possibilities
for generating additional tourism to the area. Recreational leasing
of forest property for hunting and fishing is the most obvious
economic opportunity but there are also possibilities in hiking
trails, bird-watching and eco-tourism. Links to eating places,
bed & breakfasts and other activities where landowners can
earn an economic return are needed. Additionally, education regarding
liabilities and insurance is needed to gain the interest of farmers
in recreational leasing. Group purchases of insurance should
be possible. Marketing will, too, be essential and this is an
area for the proposed Agricultural Marketing Specialist.
- Forestry processors are typically large
users of electricity and need help in negotiating special utility
rates. This need is shared with the agriculture sector and can
be addressed by organizing farmers and forestry enterprise owners
as purchasing cooperatives or consortiums. Consultants who specialize
in such negotiations should be made available to these groups
to assist.
- The Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board should work with the South Central New York RC&D District
to create a regional Wood Products Directory. Data on primary
and secondary wood product manufacturers in the area should be
gathered, transferred to a brochure or website with follow-up
work to establish communications among buyers and sellers. Other
types of promotion are also needed. Small wood processors engaged
in producing crafts and furniture, for example, could be jointly
marketed using a simple brochure giving products, prices and
directions. This is done very effectively in Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, for instance, where many similar enterprises flourish.
- A comprehensive marketing study is needed
on a regional basis to attract users of low-grade forest products
by validating the flow of supply within the region. This involves
quantifying the regional supply of wood chips, other mill residues
and low-grade standing trees available. It also demands research
to identify different products that can be manufactured from
these resources including minimum wood requirements, break-even
sizes of potential commercial operations, utility requirements,
market evaluations, studies of the competition, probable pricing,
financing required and analysis of siting options. An independent
forestry marketing consultant should be used to do the study
but either South Central New York RC&D or Southern Tier East
could manage it. Trade Adjustment Assistance Program funding
may be available if a loss of business to imports can be documented
(as is the case with nearby P&G).
- Woodlot management skills need developing.
Many farmers and most new landowners in the County lack understanding
of sound forestry management practices. Accordingly, continuing
education efforts (Forest Owner Workshops ) in cooperation with
the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York
State Forest Owners Association are necessary. Both general education
and advocacy type technical assistance for landowners and mill
owners in finding and developing markets for products is required.
There is a particular need for forestry awareness education for
consumers to illustrate that sustainable forest management involves
harvesting.
Implementation Period: 2003 (Continuing)
Responsible Parties:
1) Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board
2) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
3) South Central New York RC & D Council
4) Broome County IDA
5) New York State Dep. of Environmental Conservation
6) New York State Forest Owners Association
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4.5 |
Agricultural
Planning Initiative |
Although Broome County is facing little
development pressure in the classic sense, it is already both
urban and rural. This has created numerous conflicts between
agricultural enterprises and residences, particularly in those
communities on the immediate periphery of the Triple Cities.
They are, despite declines in population, experiencing both commercial
and residential growth as households and commercial enterprises
move outward and household sizes shrink.
New "Smart Growth" land use regulations
are appropriate in some of these circumstances. Such regulations
typically encompass mechanisms such as "conservation subdivisions"
that concentrate growth in selected areas in return for preservation
of open space, including valuable farmland. The selected growth
areas are typically those near existing centers where infrastructure
exists to accommodate new development. The Department of Planning
and Economic Development promotes "Smart Growth" and
the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board should do the same.
However, there is more to the issue. Local
officials in urbanizing communities often lack knowledge and experience
with agricultural issues. New niche agricultural enterprises
also don't fit the model many officials have in mind when they
plan for agriculture. Regulations intended to control "hog
factories" can also prevent small greenhouses that should
be able to locate almost anywhere. Setbacks written to deal with
manure issues can render small properties completely unusable
for enterprises that generate little or no manure. Limitations
on selling retail products not produced on the farm can make it
unfeasible to sell those that are.
As a general matter, farming can be either greatly helped or greatly
hurt by land use regulations, depending on how well agricultural
interests are incorporated in the land use planning which undergirds
those regulations. Education to ensure the former, and not the
latter, takes place and to reinforce the value of land use regulation
as a tool for agricultural protection is demanded. Recommendations
in this regard are outlined below:
- Where zoning laws exist within the County,
the zoning laws should include agricultural zoning districts
generally matching the New York State Certified Agricultural
Districts within those borders. The Agricultural Farmland Protection
Board should, with the Planning Department, develop a model set
of district regulations for this purpose. The regulations should
permit a wide range of uses in such districts but only at densities
compatible with farm activities so that adequate buffers can
be provided and reduce potential nuisances suits. Permitted uses
should also be limited to compatible activities like campgrounds,
farm resorts, light manufacturing and other activities where
the potential for conflict with agriculture is minimized. Residential
development of any intensive nature should be discouraged.
The districts should discourage activities
that will require the extension of sewer and water lines into
active farm areas but encourage "conservation" or "farm-friendly"
subdivisions that allow the area to develop in a reasonable and
compatible manner and permit farmers to secure extra income from
sale of equity in land not essential to their farm operations.
Such subdivision regulations typically require clustering of
housing and development along the edges of properties or wooded
areas to avoid using up valuable farm fields. Some sample language
along this line might be as follows:
"Proposals for subdivision of parcels
including active farm or crop land within New York State Agricultural
Districts shall include delineation of proposed building sites
on each lot, which sites shall be located outside of or along
the edges of the active farm and crop lands. Subdivisions of
five (5) lots or more shall ordinarily be required to employ
conservation subdivision or clustering techniques which provide
for preservation of active farm and crop land without reducing
overall density of development."
Some caution must be exercised, however,
in planning developments of this nature to avoid creating conflicts
between homeowners and farmers engaged in normal agricultural
practices such as manure spreading, weed spraying and cattle
pasturing. Density of development and buffering are both factors
that should be considered in this regard.
- Local zoning laws should also provide
for new small and niche type agricultural enterprises outside
conventional agricultural zoning districts and New York State
Certified Agricultural Districts. Many new agricultural enterprises,
small greenhouse and crops in particular, can take place on tracts
of 2-5 acres with little or no impact on neighbors. The community
impacts, in fact, can be quite positive in terms of reinforcing
rural character and offering convenient shopping opportunities.
These need to be provided for in non-agricultural zoning districts
as well as traditional farm areas.
- Local officials and, particularly, planning
board members, require continuous education on planning issues
in general and agricultural law. Many planning board members
often come from non-farm backgrounds and are unaware of farm
issues and the law as it pertains to agriculture. They also need
instruction on "Smart Growth" and "Growing Greener"
planning options that concentrate growth near existing centers
and infrastructure. An Agricultural Planning Guide to assist
planning officials with these and related issues is attached
as an Appendix hereto. Planning schools, seminars and resource
materials for local officials should also be prepared and/or
conducted to help them understand how the Agricultural Districts
Law works and the considerations they should give to development
adjacent to farms.
- A concerted effort is needed to get members
of the agricultural community involved in local government and
planning. As an example, Section 271.11 of the New York State
Town Law specifically provides towns with the authority to appoint
to appoint to Planning Boards one
or more agricultural members who earn at least $10,000 per year
in gross income from agricultural pursuits. Such members can
be in addition to the other members the Law specifies each Board
must have. All major agricultural towns should take advantage
of this provision to designate additional farm members. Such
members are more effective in the long-term than simple appointments
of farmers to regular planning board positions because there
is no guarantee with the latter that farmers will stay on the
boards in the case of reappointments over the years. Getting
towns to make such appointments will demand not only some initial
persuasion but also continued follow-up and technical assistance.
- Right to farm laws should be encouraged
in all of Broome County's major agricultural towns. A suggested
model is included as an Appendix to this Plan and representatives
of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board should meet
with local officials of these towns on an individual basis over
the next two years to explain the benefits of agriculture and
propose the adoption of this model or a close facsimile. It is
town government that typically receives agricultural complaints
and takes responsibility for mediating these conflicts. Towns
also control building and development and, therefore, are the
logical entities to administer Right to Farm laws.
Right to Farm laws, it should be noted,
are intended to complement the New York State Agricultural District
Law and provide a means for resolving farm-neighbor conflicts.
They do so by protecting the rights of farmers using sound agricultural
practices to continue those practices and to grow and expand
within the community. They establish a policy which recognizes
agriculture as a priority land use and puts the burden of proof
that a farm practice constitutes a nuisance squarely upon those
who would oppose such practices.
The model law establishes specific criteria
which broadly define the nature of a sound agricultural practice
and make it extraordinary difficult for such practices to be
declared nuisances. The real strength of such laws, however,
is that they create a mechanism to discuss problems, educate
the parties and resolve conflicts on a local level. They also
serve to establish a statement of town policy which, it is hoped,
will carry over to other aspects of local government.
Implementation Period: 2002-2007 (Continuing)
Responsible Parties:
1) Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board
2) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
3) Broome County Dep. of Planning & Economic Dev.
4) Broome County Farm Bureau
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4.6 |
Agricultural
Awareness Initiative |
A major concern of virtually every farmer
in Broome County is maintaining a good relationship with farm
neighbors. Farmers are worried about complaints regarding odors,
noise, slow-moving traffic and the use of pesticides. Some have
opted to buy as much land as possible to buffer their activities,
others have informal arrangements to notify neighbors when they
plan to spread manure and still others invite their neighbors
to barbecue events or provide free vegetables as good will offerings.
- More important than anything is consumer
education. Broome County's largely urban population obviously
includes large numbers of residents who have not visited a farm
in recent years (or ever). Many have a nostalgic view of farming
that is totally at odds with the reality of agriculture as a
heavily diversified and often high-tech business These individuals
need exposure to the agriculture industry, the practices it involves,
the science it requires and the practical difficulties of farming,
if they are to be expected to sympathize with the attributes
of the farm next door. This requires regular events such as Sullivan
County's "Down on the Farm Week" and Tioga County,
Pennsylvania's "Farm-City Day." Tours, farm maps, school
presentations and other techniques need to be continually offered
to schools, visitors and adult groups.
- An annual publication similar to Saratoga
County's "Saratoga Farms" resource guide to farms in
the County should be developed to map Broome farms and promote
agriculture in general. This might simply be a Farm-City Day
newspaper insert or it could be done in the manner of a "Business
Journal" publication. The Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board could also develop such a publication on an annual basis
as the vehicle for agricultural promotion. It should include
not only the map but also economic data on agri-business and
farming, excerpts from this plan, descriptions of all significant
farms in the County by category, advertising and promotional
material. The goal should be to use the piece for education of
both the farm and non-farm community and to instill pride among
members of the industry. Numerous parties who attended hearings
on this Plan commented that they never knew before just how much
agriculture contributed to the County.
- Another very effective tool for good neighbor
relations is New York State's Agricultural District program.
Location in an Agricultural District provides farmers with the
protection of the State's right-to-farm legislation. Municipalities
cannot impose standards that unreasonably restrict farm activities.
The same provisions also offer Department of Agriculture and
Markets assistance in fighting nuisance suits directed at what
are ordinary and sound agricultural practices. Most importantly,
sales of property within Agricultural Districts or near farms
located in such Districts are subject to a notice requirement.
Purchasers receive an Agricultural Data Statement telling them
they are in an agricultural district where farm practices creating
odors and other impacts are routinely conducted. It also establishes
a legal foundation for farming and helps to eliminate causes
of action by neighbors against farmers. This feature of the legislation
discourages litigation and encourages resolution of disputes
by other means that respect the interests of both parties.
- Broome County's Agricultural District
program, is, therefore, extremely important and participation
by every farmer is essential. Public education regarding the
value of the Districts must be a continuing process. The Agricultural
and Farmland Protection Board should increase their efforts to
solicit farmers to join existing Agricultural Districts as they
come up for renewal. All landowners within a district undergoing
review should receive a direct mailing that includes the renewal
form and a fact sheet concerning Agricultural Districts. The
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board should also develop
and distribute Fact Sheets regarding the program.
- The Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board should work with local educational institutions to place
more emphasis on agricultural career development. This includes
introducing agricultural education at some level in all schools.
Agricultural vocational training in BOCES and local high schools
is also important. The "Feed the Green Machine" video
is a place to start. From this base, a program of seminars and
courses should be developed, particularly in the areas of agricultural
diversification and specialization with emphasis on the high-tech
nature of agriculture today and the many applications of science
that it involves. The "Agri-Core" curriculum programs
used in Cortland, Ontario and Cayuga Counties are also excellent
models.
Implementation Period: 2002-2007 (Continuing)
Responsible Parties:
1) Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Board
2) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
3) Broome County Farm Bureau
4) Broome County Dep. of Planning & Economic Dev.
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