Genesee County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan

Genesee County: Agricultural Development Plan
Cost Considerations: This recommendation would require moderate levels of in-house
staffing and the support of a policy intern from a regional university. The budget for
developing the compliance bulletin would be approximately $3,000.
Responsibility: Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York Department of Agriculture and
Markets, Natural Resource Conservation Service/ Soil and Water District, and others.
Recommendation 2: Advocate for Local Content Legislation
Genesee County should advocate for state legislation that would require state institutions
and school systems to purchase dairy products with local dairy content. This would help
to maintain the Class I milk utilization rates in the region.
Priority Level 1: Immediate action in early program years.
Cost Considerations: This recommendation would require moderate levels of in-house
staffing and a budget of approximately $1,000 - $2,000.
Responsibility: IDA and the Chamber of Commerce.
Recommendation 3: Advocate for Improved Energy Policy
Genesee County farmers are exploring numerous alternative energy strategies, but are
restricted by Niagra-Mohawk (NIMO) policies that limit the sale of power back into the
NIMO grid. In order to open the grid to co-generated power, Genesee County should
explore the issues and advocate ways to open the NIMO distribution grid to farm
generated power while compensating these power producers at a market rate for
conditioned power.
Priority Level 2: Begin program in year 2 or 3.
Cost Considerations: This recommendation would require moderate levels of in-house
staffing and a budget of approximately $1,000 - $2,000.
Responsibility: CCE, IDA and the Chamber of Commerce.
Recommendation 4: Advocate for Country of Origin Labeling
Many states are now considering country of origin labeling on food products. It is
recommended that the County should advocate for such labeling requirements. It is
anticipated that such labeling, when combined with compliance to the Food Quality
Protection Act (FQPA), may increase the demand for local agricultural products.
Priority Level 2: Begin program in year 2 or 3.
Cost Considerations: This recommendation would require moderate levels of in-house
staffing and a budget of approximately $1,000 - $2,000.
Responsibility: IDA and the Chamber of Commerce.
Recommendation 5: Prepare Farmers for Compliance with HACCP, Food Quality
Protection Act, and Food Safety Microbial Standards
Implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Point (HACCP) at the farm level, and the promulgation of food microbial
safety recommendations will both challenge farmers to change existing practices and
provide farmers with a chance to differentiate their products in what is otherwise a strict
Copyright©, 2001: Agricultural & Community Development Services, Inc, Columbia, MD 27