Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan - Town of Liberty
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan - Town of Liberty
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan - Town of Liberty
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Draft <strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liberty</strong> <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Farml<strong>and</strong> <strong>Protection</strong> <strong>Plan</strong><br />
(5) Support with staff, funding, <strong>and</strong><br />
leadership the various <strong>Town</strong> initiatives<br />
outlined in this <strong>Plan</strong>.<br />
(6) Direct IDA policies to target more than<br />
agricultural infrastructure <strong>and</strong><br />
processing, but farm retention <strong>and</strong><br />
expansion. Emphasizing dairy <strong>and</strong><br />
livestock farm initiatives is critical.<br />
(7) Reach out <strong>and</strong> ensure that the farmers<br />
<strong>and</strong> farml<strong>and</strong> owners are familiar with countylevel<br />
programs <strong>and</strong> opportunities. Provide<br />
additional information <strong>and</strong> training <strong>of</strong> local<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficials about the NYS Ag District Program, its<br />
purposes, <strong>and</strong> its requirements.<br />
(8) Evaluate the feasibility <strong>of</strong> developing a farmersupported,<br />
but county-facilitated farm produce<br />
distribution network that would aid moving farm<br />
products to restaurants, farm markets <strong>and</strong> other<br />
retail opportunities. Interviews for this <strong>Plan</strong><br />
indicated that some potential markets do not<br />
have easy access to local products.<br />
(9) Provide up-to-date county-based information on<br />
the cost/benefits <strong>of</strong> conservation easements that<br />
protect farml<strong>and</strong>.<br />
(10) Enhance presence <strong>of</strong> agriculture <strong>and</strong> locally grown<br />
products on the Sullivan County Visitors<br />
Association website. <strong>Agriculture</strong> should have a<br />
more prominent role in tourism. The website<br />
currently has opportunities for people to request<br />
brochures on county antiques, pottery, gayfriendly<br />
businesses, <strong>and</strong> historic sites, but nothing<br />
about agriculture. Some agricultural events <strong>and</strong><br />
businesses are included on the site, but not as<br />
many as included in the Made in the Sullivan<br />
County Catskills brochure.<br />
(11) Promote agricultural education at local schools<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the community colleges, <strong>and</strong> through youth<br />
programs such as 4-H.<br />
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