HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-14AAC 8/14/19
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AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
AUGUST 14, 2019
Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Kim LaMotte, Erin Bieber, Brian Magee
Absent: Marie McRae and Steve Foote
Liaisons: Craig Anderson (for Tom Hatfield), Planning Board
Craig Schutt, Conservation Board
Guest(s): Monika Roth, CCE – Tompkins
The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m.
Review and approval of minutes dated June 12, 2019
E. Bieber made a motion to approve the minutes as written, seconded by K. LaMotte, minutes were
unanimously approved.
Old Business
None
Ag District #1 Review
Monika Roth advised that per NYS Agriculture and Markets law, Tompkins County has started the
required review process of district boundaries. The County posted a public notice in the newspaper
advising of the review and the 30-day period for public comment (see attached). M. Roth brought a
Town of Dryden map that is color-coded to indicate parcels that are agricultural, vacant, and rural
residential for this committee’s review.
The Committee and M. Roth extensively reviewed the map and with their vast knowledge, were able to
indicate many owners of agricultural parcels. M. Roth advised that we need to have 51% of land as
agricultural (district wide). The towns involved in Ag District #1 are Lansing, Groton, Dryden, Caroline
and parts of Ithaca and Danby.
Final recommendations need to be to Tompkins County by February. They will be sending a survey to
farmers in November to try to finalize the data needed for the state. M. Roth will return for our
September 11th meeting.
C. Schutt advised that the Dryden Historical Society has their Heritage Days the 1st Saturday of October.
4H kids come with their animals, B. Magee comes and shears sheep, if this group wants to do something
(like bringing the ag district map and information on the ag district) it might be a good opportunity to
talk to people. Explain what the Ag District is and why it is important. C. Schutt can arrange to get us in
if we want to participate.
AAC 8/14/19
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Updates
C. Anderson - Town Board has authorized a Comp Plan update. Agricultural will be in the mix. The
people the town are working with think this can be accomplished in 11 months. Suggested the Ag
Committee speak up early in the process to make sure we are included in the update. The committee
should read our Ag Protection Plan and see how that connects to the Comp Plan. The goals should
match.
M. Roth stated she should meet with the Planning Board after some broader decisions have been made.
E. Bieber stated that as a “new” farmer in this area she is running into a lot of issues that leave her not
knowing where to turn. She didn’t realize we have a selenium deficiency. The committee suggested
contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension for information. B. Magee advised she can purchase salt with
selenium preventives from Ithaca Agway. Better alternative than giving the sheep shots.
M. Roth advised they are still trying to get their virtual farm market information updated. There are still
errors, but they have no staff to put in the time to work on this.
There being no further business, K. LaMotte made a motion to adjourn, seconded by B. Magee and
unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Chrystle Terwilliger
Deputy Town Clerk