Town of Seward Draft Agriculture and Farmland ... - Schoharie County

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Farming in Seward Palatine Germans from Dorlach, Germany, fleeing religious persecution, first settled Seward in the mid 18th century. They called their settlement New Dorlach. They struggled to make a living off the land and were assisted greatly by the Native Americans who already made the region their home. The community barely survived severe violence and destruction during the Revolutionary War. Originally part of the Town of Sharon the town officially formed in 1840 and was named after William H. Seward, senator, governor and secretary of state. As it grew the town became home to many dairy farms. “The Dairy Interest in the town has become of marked proportions,” wrote historian William Roscoe in the History of Schoharie County 1713-1882. “The pure spring water of the hills, and succulent grasses, unite to make dairying a special feature of the farmer’s pursuits.” The town became a center for cheese and butter making, producing more cheese than any other town in Schoharie County. During the late 1800s the town was home to three major cheese producers: Seward Valley Cheese Factory; Seward Centre Cheese Factory; and Gardnersville Cheese Factory. According to the Schoharie County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan the towns of Seward and Sharon constitute the County’s “standout farm areas” in terms of general agriculture. “They represent the prime dairy farm areas of the County and, along with portions of Carlisle, the single largest block of agricultural district land in the County.” The prolonged volatility of the prices paid to modern New York dairy farmers combined with rising operating costs has resulted in a steady decline in the number of dairy farms. According to the assessor’s records of property receiving agricultural assessment, today only 15 dairy farmers work agricultural land in the Town of Seward. Some of these farms have dairy farms located in Seward and some dairy farmers whose farms are located outside of Seward own or rent farmland in the town. There has been some interest in the town in organic dairy and several farmers in Seward and neighboring towns have converted to organic milk production to take advantage of the higher pay price. However, organic dairy has suffered alongside conventional dairy in the latest and most severe downturn. Other farmers in Seward are raising beef, pork, poultry and organic forage crops for livestock feed. Also raised in the town are horses, sheep, meat goats, bees, fruit and vegetables. According to the town’s agricultural assessment records the town has: one vegetable farm; one tree farm; two beef and pork operations; three farmers producing and selling hay alone; one organic hay and crop farmer; six farmers raising hay and beef; one farmer raising hay and horses; and one farmer raising hay and goats. These farms in addition to the dairy activity add up to a total of 31 farms. Town of Seward Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan 9
RD HILL RD STER RD WINKLER RD EMPIE LN JERSEY LN STATE H ROUTE ALLENBECK RD 145 PE N GORDON RD TRILLUM LN LN NY Feet 0 2,500 5,000 0 1 Miles Map1 Agricultural Use Town of Seward ENGLEVILLE RD SLATE HL GARDNERSVILLE RD BREW LOONENBERGH GUER NSEY LN TPKE NEVILLE RD PINE HILL RD S E WARD LN HUN TERS MESICK AVE LN STATE ROUTE 165 RHINEBECK RD CEMETARY RD JANESVILLE LN BORST RD LOWE RD CLEARVIEW DR STATE HWY 10 BERRY LN BUSH ST MARKLEY RD LAWYERSVILLE RD DECATUR RD SOTO LN W RICHMONDVILLE RD CO SS HOLLOW RD FROMIRE DR CLOVE RD PATRICK RD W CLOVE RD MACKE GNE Y LN RIGLEY RD PERRY RD PODPADIC LEDGE RD HARROWAY RD WINEGARD RD Legend Parcel Agricultrual Assessment Received for Self Agricultural Assessment Received for Rent Roads Agricultural District
Page 1 and 2: Seward, New York AGRICULTURAL AND F
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements Town of Seward Agr
Page 5 and 6: Appendix A. NYSDAM Agriculture Defi
Page 7 and 8: F. Farmland Protection 1. Educate L
Page 9: Definition of Agriculture The Town
Page 12 and 13: committees a joint executive agricu
Page 16 and 17: Soils The entire Town of Seward, 23
Page 18 and 19: Environmental and Recreational Bene
Page 20 and 21: In 2002 American Farmland Trust con
Page 22 and 23: JERSEY LN EMPIE LN GORDON RD STATE
Page 24 and 25: of dairy products sold in the Town
Page 26 and 27: Conversion Pressure Housing develop
Page 28 and 29: Land Use Regulation & Land Use Plan
Page 30 and 31: Clearview Dr Winegard Rd Winkler Rd
Page 32 and 33: Goals & Recommendations Goal I Supp
Page 34 and 35: Recommendation 8 Consider Housing P
Page 36 and 37: parcels of agricultural land are co
Page 38 and 39: land’s value for development and
Page 40 and 41: Action ii Take Advantage of Ethnic
Page 42 and 43: markets and wholesale to urban-base
Page 44 and 45: Recommendation 4 Produce Biofuel Co
Page 46 and 47: Goal II: Foster Economic Opportunit
Page 48 and 49: Implementation Responsibility Parti

Town of Seward Draft Agriculture and Farmland ... - Schoharie County

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