HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG Minutes 2022-03-29 Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee Meeting
Tuesday,March 29,2022,6:00 pm
(Via Zoom Video Conference)
Final Minutes
Members Present: Matthew Stalker(AJ Teeter Farm), Chair, Claire Forest(Forest Family Farm),Christianne
White (Steep Hollow Farm),Lisa Ferguson(Laughing Goat Fiber Farm)
Members Absent: Ariel Casper(Casper's Farm)Vice-Chair, Steve Cummins (Indian Creek Farm), Russ
Wedemeyer(Ithaca Equestrian Center),
Town Representatives: Mike Smith(Senior Planner),Bill Goodman(Town Board Member)
Guests: None
1. Farmers Round Robin—What's happening on your farm? How is the season going/went? Issues/concerns?
Announcements?
Matt reported active calving season at his farm, spring barn projects,fence repair,farmers market plant
sale preparation and marketing beef products. Higher seed,feed and fertilizer costs were also noted. He
still is looking for help with the removal of a barn on the A.J. Teeter farm-George Sheldrake's name was
mentioned as a possible resource.
Lisa reported the first wave of kidding on her farm with the next anticipated in a few weeks, experience
with frostbite in one of the herd,recent election and becoming president of the Local Fiber Organization
and anticipated grant applications for events and projects, attendance at the Ag Summit and pasture
restoration goals.
Christianne reported on attending a recent animal science class on campus called World of Wool,no fiber
tour planned due to lack of people signing up,her sheep are anxious for green pasture to graze noting no
grain was fed over the winter(due to advice from Cornell Vet to prevent urinary stones)which in turn
negatively affected the coats and wool from less protein.It was noted that cases of avian flu were reported
at the top of the lake in Montezuma and more hemlock trees coming down in the glen.
2. Persons to be heard-none.
3. Chair(Matthew) and Coordinator(Mike)reports/updates:
Matt did not have any Chair items to report.
Mike from Planning reported on the upcoming close of this seasons Deer Management program with 37
deer harvested over the 9 site locations,up from the previous year. He also noted the Town's new
Website anticipated to go live in April with a different layout and information and also introduced the
new application and permit program for the Town called OpenGov where applicants will apply for all
building permits,licenses, subdivision and other planning and zoning applications online via a link on the
new website.
4. Ithaca Town Board(Bill)report/update:
Bill shared that the Cayuga Lake watershed area received a grant to treat the Hemlocks and he would
investigate the grant source and pass the information along. He updated on the changes to the Ag Zoning
law that were recommended by the Planning Committee around agrotourism, and seasonal farm lodging
were adopted by the Town Board and now are in place. The proposed Inlet Valley Zoning overlay
changes are still being worked on; the goal is to add more uses that promote economic development.
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Lisa asked to view the specific amendments to the Ag district zoning law, Bill noted it was approved at
the February Town Board meeting and could be found on the Town website in the packet and Mike
offered to send the language directly to Lisa as well.
5. Approval of minutes—July 28,2020,November 17,2020,March 30,2021, July 27, 2021,and November
30, 2021,and January 25,2022,minutes were presented. Christianne moved to approve the minutes as
presented,Lisa seconded, and the minutes were unanimouslyapproved.
6. Other Business:
Matt Stalker was recommended to continue as Chairman for 2022. He expressed strong interest getting
more people involved for a steady committee. South Hill Cider Company was mentioned,just across the
Town of Ithaca border into Danby,however, no one was opposed to inviting them to a future meeting.
The Vice Chair position was discussed. The current Vice Chair Ariel of Casper Farms will be contacted
by Bill to see if still interested in being involved with the Committee. Christianne volunteered for Vice
Chair if Ariel no longer is interested. She asked for Matt to contact Cody Sheldrake to see if he has
interest in being involved in the Committee and proposed the idea of compelling presentations to
encourage more membership.
Claire moved to approve the appointment of Matt Stalker as Chairman and Christianne White as Vice
Chair. Lisa seconded; the motion was unanimouslyapproved.
Lisa asked if there was a contact list for the Town farms,Mike replied that he maintains a contact list with
addresses, some emails and phone numbers. She wondered if a text or phone call the day of the meeting
would help, acknowledging the email that already gets sent along with the post card in advance.
Matt asked about the Town Board Farm tours for 2022, Mike did not have any farms set formally yet
however would start contacting the ones who declined in 2021 first.
Lisa moved to approve the meeting dates for the two remaining meetings in 2022, 7/26 at 7pm and 11/29
at 6pm. Christianne seconded, and the motion was unanimouslyapproved.
7. Adjourn. Christianne moved to adjourn at 6:40 p.m.,Lisa seconded,motion was unanimouslyapproved.
• Next meeting 07/26/2022 7:00 pm.
Minutes were drafted by Planning Admin Staff Abby Homer 4/06/2022
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