AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS RECREATE

2022 BY THE NUMBERS

3,636 Direct/Indirect Contacts l4 Program Offerings

$l20,224 Taste NY Gross Sales

$32,449 Sullivan Fresh Gross Sales

SUCCESS STORY: SULLIVAN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

Enacted in 1971, New York’s Agricultural Districts Law (ADL) is a very effective tool for maintaining lands in agriculture and ensuring New York’s position as an outstanding agricultural state. Agricultural Districts consist of viable agricultural lands, or, in other words, lands that are currently used for agriculture or may be used for agriculture in the future. Agricultural districts are not permanent, but instead change over time. Every year, from April 1st to April 30th, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County works directly with the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Community Development and the Sullivan County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board to review, assess, and RECREATE these properties. In addition, CCE Sullivan provides technical assistance to farm operations once they are located in a district, along with municipalities, realtors and community members.

Agricultural operations have unique needs when it comes to zoning. For example, a typical height restriction which would be normal for a residential building, could be considered overly restrictive for a farm operation, or typical smells and practices that are a necessary part of farming, could be considered a nuisance for a new neighbor. Staff have provided guidance and resources on agricultural zoning for municipalities in Sullivan County, and the changes they can enact to make farming easier. Technical assistance has also included guidance documents for farm operations on topics like building setbacks, planning board review, height restrictions, and direct sales and marketing. Farms can use these guidance documents to work with their municipality to make local laws less restrictive. One to one assistance helps realtors understand how agricultural districts work, and their obligations. CCE Sullivan also hosts a regularly updated website on agricultural districts and fact sheets on the program.

For 2023, staff are working on developing additional training programs on agricultural districts for both municipal officials and realtors. Over time, municipalities have enacted updated zoning to benefit agriculture. Farm operations have been permitted to construct agricultural buildings which they may have not been able to do without the support of CCE staff, and program participants have an overall better understanding of the benefits of agricultural districts for farmers, municipal officials, realtors and neighbors.