HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG Minutes 2017-11-28 Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee Meeting
November 28, 2017, 6:00 pm
Final Minutes
Members Present: Debbie Teeter(Chair), Ariel and Michael Casper, Claire Forrest, Lisa and Gary
Ferguson, Christianne White
Town Representatives: Mike Smith (Senior Planner), Bill Goodman (Town Supervisor)
Guests:Jennifer Tavares, President&CEO,Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce
1.Jennifer Tavares, President of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce came to tell us about
some of her experience supporting agricultural programs and endeavors. The Visit Ithaca and
agriculinary mission of the tourist bureau are very aligned with the Chamber of Commerce. She also
serves on the boards of several related institutions, so can be influential to farmers in a number of ways.
In her prior position as Director of Economic Development for Chenango County, she worked with lots of
dairy farmers. She saw innovation in hoop house farming and innovations on livestock farms. They had
a cohesive Agricultural Economic Development Council there in Chenango, and it does not seem like
there is a counterpoint to that overarching group here in Tompkins County. They were able to leverage
County money in the form of microgrants to farmers. Ithaca Tourism Bureau is now offering$500
microgrants from the tourism money, and currently has $5,000 set aside to grant to farmers.
Chenango County was good at leveraging CDBG or Community Block Grant Funding to support both
agribusiness and downtown development. By incorporating priorities to hire or fund low income
population they could meet CBDG goals. They offered a total of$240,000 on loan funds,which was
surprisingly difficult to get on the street. Farmers are loathe to increase their indebtedness.The
program provided $40,000 to be matched by$10,000 owner equity. This allowed some dairy farms to
invest in artificial insemination. NYS changed to grants from loans because the loans were unappealing
to farmers and often the return period was too long, like 3 years for hops mature enough to harvest.
In the early days of Chobani the five owners got grants. At first they were manufacturing for
Stoneyfield. They restored a decrepit old factory, with a combination of CDBG grant,tax incentives, and
economic development funds.
There was a separate grant program for dairy farmers to add cows so they could supply Chobani with
milk rather than shipping in from longer distances. Every Town of County can apply for CDBG funds.
Funding from Empire State Development must be ranked competitively.Town could offer its own funds
as grants or apply to future CFA? Town might have to hire someone with expertise to sort through the
applications and administer the program. The plan could include a class to write a business plan,with
applicants paying reimbursable tuition if they finish the class and apply.
Cornell Cooperative Extension offers ag business development and Alternatives Credit Union offers
small business classes. Sometimes there is USDA funding available. Monika Roth at CCE can advise on
how to be visitor ready, and can generate a report about investments people should make. For
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instance, do you need a bus turn-around or restrooms? George Van Valen is a good contractor for that
sort of thing; gravel and site construction.
The Ag tourism strategic plan can encompass more. Don't get hung up on the term agriculinary. Farm
experiences can engage tourists and don't have to be food-based. Lively Run Dairy in Interlaken is a
good example of an agricultural business that is a little visitor-ready.
It's important to check with one's insurer to see if charges go up if you host visitors. Sometimes if you
charge an admission your insurance goes up. Think of primary and secondary uses. Primary might be
farm related, secondary would be restaurant. If people come into a built space it must meet codes for
public buildings. Would you need two accessible bathrooms, for instance?
If you provide food service it's different than if you are just baking and selling. Pop up kitchens and food
trucks do have to follow local Department of Health rules.
Jennifer Tavares was surprised the County does not have an Ag Development Council. Representatives
could include Economic Development from the County, City and Town, and CCE and Farm Bureau, and
farmers, and reps from Town Boards.
Chenango was smaller than Tompkins County and farming was more dominant. TC has lots of farming
but it's a smaller part of the overall area identity.
TCAD serves the County and might be talked into supporting ag, especially if tourism were involved.
What about a regional rural initiative fund?
CCE is seeing start-ups replacing retiring farmers, but usually they are lacking capital. It is a challenge to
get a pool of money to be available, and then even more of a challenge to get it on the street because
applicants have to come up with a business plan and get technical advice and support.
Value of land in the Town is going up, as high as $6,000-$7,000/acre. Lisa Ferguson sold the
development rights to the Town.
Regional Access and Red Jacket ship local good around regionally. It can be done. We do lack local
butchering. CSA farmers wonder if they have hit a ceiling and have reached all their potential
consumers, but then so many people are new in community or just have not heard about the Meat
Locker project,for instance. NYS may be requiring more use of local products.
Will there be farmers to produce enough NYS hops, for instance? Casper mentions that NYC is saturated
with potential greens producers and Regional Access can't find markets for his sprout products. Farmer
motto, 'Never worked harder for less.'
Farmers Market found that a high percentage of WIC vouchers were never used. It's a better system to
hand people a pre-packed box of food and get the WIC checks.
Looking for new markets in Ithaca? It may make sense to target the larger employers like Ithaca College
and Cornell.
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2. Persons to be heard: none
3. Member announcements and concerns: Christianne asked about the County's 2001"anniversary
celebration.The Town will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2021 and will start planning in 2019.
Lansing had a big historical celebration and the Town Historian found great photos of ag history.
Casper's Farm applied to Albany to be a research pilot production site for industrial hemp. CBD oil is the
latest hot agricultural product;there is no THC content but high medicinal value. Southern Tier Hemp
was looking for farmers to grow for them. State Ag and Markets will supply the seeds. He may have to
install security measures like secure fencing. Hops are also a very hot product. Bob Arnold's kids are
growing hops up on 327.
Lisa Ferguson received an Award of Merit from Historic Ithaca because they used old barn beams in the
construction of their new barn for their Angora goats.
4. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Mike mentioned the Town has 2 new code enforcement officers—
Mark Stonier and Marty Moseley.
The Town sign law has passed—Section 270-246. There is an increase to 24 square feet of signage
allowed in an ag zone, 36 square feet if the parcel is more than five acres with no individual sign allowed
to be more than 24 square feet.
5. Ithaca Town Board Report: Bill mentioned that the Town is working with a consultant to come up with
an Inlet Valley Economic Development plan. There will be a public session for presentation of the final
report in early 2018.
The Town is working with the County and State to get the last approvals to connect Buttermilk Falls and
Treman State Parks with the next section of the Black Diamond Trail. The Gateway Trail is awaiting an
easement from Home Depot, and will connect to the Black Diamond Trail.
New Town legislation will apply to rental units. Operating permits will be required, with applications
due by May. Short term rentals of less than 30 days would come under different rules. Town is
allowing high density development near campuses, for instance 9613/King Road, which is only 7/10th
mile from Claire Forrest's land. Duplexes will be allowed.There is a landlord's listserve. There is to be a
public hearing on December 11. There will be a Town-wide mailing of a 2 page summary of the new law.
Claire mentioned the design charrette that was held for the development near her land. Buildings could
be as high as four stories,which seems out of place to her. Town acknowledges they need more good
housing. The moratorium ends in December.
6. Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the July 25, 2017 meeting were corrected and accepted (moved
by Lisa and seconded by Michael).
7. Recap of the October 201" Ithaca Town Board Farm Tour: Five out of 7 Town Board members went on
the farm tour. They visited Cayuga Landscape's Bundy Road nursery, Casper's Farm's microgreen room,
and Jamie and Jenny Baker's dairy farm and new calf facility with on-demand feeding;they are the first
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in the County to have a facility like this. Baker's will be planning a new milking parlor next. The Town
Board members enjoyed the tour and hope to continue it in the future.
8. Regular reports and updates: Debbie said that Open Farm Days garnered over 1000 visitors over 2
days to ten farms on Saturday and eight on Sunday, including the Wedemeyers,the bison farm, pig farm
on Buck Hill, and Farmer Ground flour. Volunteers at each farm tried to keep count of visitors. It was
hard to keep track of how many people visited more than one farm.
The bus tour for municipal officials was almost at capacity for a filled bus. They toured the west side of
the lake, Ulysses,Town of Ithaca, and Enfield, including a nice lunch at Stick and Stone Farm. Young
Future Farmers of America were on the bus too.
AgStravaganza will be held downtown again on April 14, 2018. The Downtown Partnership provides
insurance,which is great.
9. Other business: Debbie Teeter was nominated for chair and Lisa Ferguson for vice-chair(moved by
Claire, seconded by Christianne).
The 2018 meeting schedule (January 30th, March 27th,July 31St, and November 27th)was moved by
Debbie and seconded by Christianne.
Debbie said NY FarmNet has good programs on farm succession and mediation, ask for Dan Welch.
Mike will check with Dan to see if he is available to attend a future meeting.
We should form a subcommittee to review goals of the Town's ag plan.
10.Adjourn: 8:14 pm
Minutes drafted by Christianne McMillan White
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