HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-096/09/2021
Agriculture Advisory Committee
Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Austin Beck (7:50PM), Marie McRae, Kim LaMotte,
Steve Foote, Brian Magee
Absent:
Liaison(s): Craig Schutt (Conservation Board)
Guest(s):
The meeting was called to order at 7:36 PM.
Review and approval of minutes dated May 12, 2021
On motion made by S Foote, seconded by K LaMotte, minutes were unanimously approved as
written.
Town Board:
The following update was sent via email from L Sparling;
NYStretch Code
On May 20, the Town Board adopted the 2020 NYStretch Code. This local law
amendment will modify the Town of Dryden Code to adopt NYStretch and to enact more
restrictive regulations as they relate to new or substantially renovated buildings. This local law
will take effect on Sep. 1, 2021.
Hybrid Meetings
The Town Board will begin using a hybrid model for meetings starting with our
abstract/agenda meeting tomorrow night (Jun 10). This means that meetings will be in-person,
but will retain the option for people to attend via Zoom.
We're conducting a dry run tomorrow night to address any issues that might arise for
the more attended business meeting next week on Jun 17.
I would presume that hybrid meetings will also extend to the various advisory boards by
the end of the month, and will keep you appraised of any findings that may result ahead of your
July meeting.
Planning Board:
6/09/2021
A Green spoke last meeting about the Climate Plan and wanted input from the Ag
Committee.
As far as the community Comprehensive Plan update of which the climate plan is part
of, they are trying to finalize a report that will then get made public. I think the basic report Is
on the town website but I don’t know for sure. There will be a public report soon then a public
hearing. At the public hearing, that is when the Ag Committee can put in their two cents. You
can go to the town website and get to the Comprehensive Plan page, dryden2045, and there is
space to make comments.
E Carpenter: Is there anything the Ag Committee should be paying close attention to help
address?
M McRae doesn’t know but is willing to spend some time looking at the plan and get back to
the board.
Dryden Dairy Days:
There will be a small parade and a petting zoo at Agway. There will still be a coloring
contest for the kids. E Carpenter says the reason why it’s small this year is because they plan it
in January and because of guidelines changing all the time, they didn’t know what was to come
6 months later.
The tiny powerhouse will be parked in Agway’s parking lot from 1-2 PM.
Town Newsletter:
M McRae- We all agreed that educating Dryden residents about agricultural issues is a
good thing. I’m willing to write a paragraph or two each month, but I’m not willing to take it
upon my own initiative on the subject and I would like everyone’s input. Send the committee
some ideas so we are ahead of this, and so we really know we have something in the
newsletter each month. That way we will know something is going in the newsletter every
month.
We can talk about the good things farmers are doing and the practices that they are
already engaged in that are beneficial for the environment.
S Foote is going to print out some facts from the Cornell publication of 100 years of
dairy farming to put in one of the upcoming newsletters.
TMDL:
C Schutt believes comments are due by early July. In this plan, they are proposing
reduction for each part of society. Ag is the biggest use of land but they don’t think a lot of it
can come from the big farms. They think they are already doing everything they can.
6/09/2021
S Foote- I read an article that the reduced phosphorus load has also reduced the
sediment load coming through, the shellfish are somewhat suffering because there is not
enough sediment coming through to feed them.
Susquehanna and Chesapeake Bay have been under a TMDL for years now. This could
be done through cover crops, no till/reduce tillage, barn yards, etc.
On motion made by S Foote, seconded by K LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 8:08 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Banwell