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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<strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liberty</strong><br />
<strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>and</strong> Farml<strong>and</strong> <strong>Protection</strong> <strong>Plan</strong><br />
Executive Summary<br />
The <strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liberty</strong> sought <strong>and</strong> received a grant from the<br />
New York State Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>and</strong> Markets to<br />
develop a town-level plan to protect <strong>and</strong> enhance<br />
agriculture. The grant tasked the <strong>Town</strong> to locate farm<br />
areas that should be protected, look at the value <strong>of</strong><br />
farml<strong>and</strong> open space <strong>and</strong> the agricultural economy to the<br />
municipality, evaluate consequences <strong>of</strong> possible<br />
conversion, <strong>and</strong> describe activities, programs <strong>and</strong><br />
strategies to promote continued agricultural use. A local<br />
committee was established in cooperation with the <strong>Town</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
Bethel to develop this <strong>Plan</strong>.<br />
This plan is designed to <strong>of</strong>fer the <strong>Town</strong> a toolbox <strong>of</strong> ideas<br />
<strong>and</strong> actions that can be implemented over time to improve<br />
agricultural opportunities in <strong>Liberty</strong>, preserve important<br />
farml<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> maintain open l<strong>and</strong>s as part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
l<strong>and</strong>scape. Overall, the <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>and</strong> Farml<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Protection</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> will give the <strong>Town</strong>:<br />
o Additional leverage <strong>and</strong> success in receiving future<br />
State Aid;<br />
o Assistance to local l<strong>and</strong>owners who wish to participate<br />
in State or Federal purchase <strong>of</strong> development rights<br />
programs;<br />
o A framework for the <strong>Town</strong> <strong>and</strong> interested l<strong>and</strong>owners to<br />
promote farming <strong>and</strong> agri-tourism in town;<br />
o Tools the <strong>Town</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>ning Board can use during<br />
project review to protect farms to the maximum extent<br />
practical;<br />
o A timetable for the <strong>Town</strong> to implement<br />
recommendations;<br />
o Policies to establish agriculture as a critical l<strong>and</strong> use in<br />
<strong>Town</strong>;<br />
o Opportunities to identify new farm operations;<br />
o Aid to help the <strong>Town</strong> maintain agriculture to promote<br />
healthy <strong>and</strong> local food.<br />
“Ag” or “ag<br />
operations” as<br />
used in this plan<br />
refers to<br />
agricultural<br />
operations, farms,<br />
<strong>and</strong> farming<br />
activities. “Agribusiness”<br />
refers<br />
to those<br />
businesses such<br />
as machinery<br />
dealers, seed<br />
dealers <strong>and</strong><br />
veterinarians that<br />
support<br />
agricultural<br />
operations.<br />
What is included in the <strong>Plan</strong>?<br />
1. Current status <strong>of</strong> farming: The <strong>Plan</strong> documents<br />
changes in farming over time <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fers information about<br />
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