CCE-colorOneida County’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Task Force has been working for almost a year to update the official County document that spells out a vision and recommended actions to ensure that agriculture remains a strong contributor to our local economy and to our quality of life for many years to come.

Members of the taskforce will be leading three public meetings in the coming weeks to share their work and to gather additional ideas and recommendations from members of the public as they develop a final draft to submit to the County Legislature at the end of this year. Farmers, farm land-owners, and municipal officials are particularly encouraged to come to the meetings, but we all have a stake in the future of agriculture in Oneida County and all members of the public are asked to participate in this important planning process.

The agenda for each meeting will include (1) a review and update on the state of agriculture and farmland resources in the County; (2) an explanation of the role of the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan and presentation of a draft plan outline (3) an interactive discussion designed to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that will shape the future of agriculture in the County, with the opportunity for participants to share additional ideas and recommendations. All attendees will also be invited to complete a brief written survey that will help shape the final plan.

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

Oneida County Ag Protection Plan Update

Thursday October 27, 2016, 6PM to 8PM

Steuben Town Hall

9458 Soule Rd.

Remsen, NY 13438

Wednesday November 9, 2016, 6PM to 8PM

Sangerfield Town Hall

1084 NY-12

Sangerfield, NY 13455

Thursday November 17, 2016, 6PM to 8PM

Verona Town Hall

6600 Germany Rd.

Durhamville, NY 13054

Advance registration is NOT required.

For additional information about farmland protection in Oneida County and the plan update process, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/ocfarmland or contact Jim Manning, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County at (315) 272-9529 or jpm277@cornell.edu.

By martha

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