HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Farmland Protection Plan 2012Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
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Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca
Final
November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
2
“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most
vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their
country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands.”
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Jay, August 23, 1785
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
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Prepared by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
&
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
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Town Board
Herb Engman, Town Supervisor
Bill Goodman, Deputy Town Supervisor
Rich DePaolo
Tee-Ann Hunter
Pat Leary
Eric Levine
Nahmin Horwitz
Agricultural Plan Steering Committee
Jon Bosak Diane Conneman
Herb Engman Hollis Erb
Jonathan Kanter Monika Roth
Michael Smith Debbie Teeter
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Monika Roth, Agricultural Development Specialist
Debbie Teeter, Agriculture Program Manager
Town of Ithaca Planning Staff
Susan Ritter, Director of Planning
Jonathan Kanter, AICP, Director of Planning *
Dan Tasman, AICP, Assistant Director of Planning
Michael Smith, AICP, Environmental Planner
Christine Balestra, Planner
Darby Kiley, Planner *
* former Department staff members
The Town of Ithaca Farmers and Town of Ithaca Residents
This Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan was developed with funding
provided by the Town of Ithaca and through a New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets grant under the Municipal Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Plan Development Program. Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Tompkins County was contracted with to work on portions of this Plan.
All photographs in this Plan were taken within the Town of Ithaca.
Acknowledgements
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Acknowledgements............................................................................................4
Table of Contents ..............................................................................................5
List of Appendices .............................................................................................7
Table of Abbreviations .......................................................................................8
Executive Summary...........................................................................................9
Introduction ....................................................................................................10
Tompkins County / Town of Ithaca ..............................................................10
Overview of the Planning Process and Public Outreach .................................11
Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan Update .................................................13
Definition of Agriculture...............................................................................14
Farming in the Town of Ithaca .........................................................................15
Historical Summary .....................................................................................15
General Description .....................................................................................15
Farm-Town Relations ...................................................................................17
Farm Operations (not including Cornell University).......................................18
Cornell University ........................................................................................20
Agricultural Resources (Existing Conditions / Inventory)..................................23
Natural Resources........................................................................................23
Agricultural Soils .........................................................................................25
Markets & Support Services .........................................................................26
Markets....................................................................................................26
Support Services.......................................................................................28
Local Foods..................................................................................................29
Agricultural Districts....................................................................................30
Agriculture in Adjoining Towns.....................................................................31
Other Existing Plans and Regulations..............................................................34
Town of Ithaca .............................................................................................34
Planning for Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca (1992)................................34
Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan (1993) ...............................................34
Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan (1997)....................34
Policies and Procedures Manual–Town of Ithaca Agricultural Land
Preservation Program (1999, updated 2008).........................................35
Town of Ithaca Agricultural Zoning (2004).................................................36
Tompkins County.........................................................................................36
Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan (1996)..........36
Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan (2004)...........................................36
Tompkins County Conservation Plan–Part II: A Strategic Approach to
Agricultural Resource Stewardship (draft, 2010)...................................37
Agricultural Lands to be Protected...................................................................38
Value of Agriculture to the Town Economy ...................................................39
Table of Contents
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Value to Food Security .................................................................................40
Value of Open Space ....................................................................................41
Conversion Pressure ....................................................................................43
Population Trends ....................................................................................43
Development Trends.................................................................................44
Consequences of Possible Farmland Conversion ........................................45
Vision Statement, Goals, and Recommendations..............................................46
Implementation Plan .......................................................................................51
Adoption and Maintenance ..............................................................................57
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Appendix A: Comprehensive Plan Town Residents Survey Summary (selected
questions)
Appendix B: Sample of Farmer Interview Form
Appendix C: Definitions from NYS Agriculture and Markets Laws
Appendix D: List of farm operations that were interviewed and/or researched
Appendix E: Maps
Appendix F: March 4, 2009 Agricultural Focus Group Meeting (Agenda & Notes)
November 17, 2009, May 1, 2010, and March 22, 2011 Farmer
Meetings (Agendas & Notes)
Appendix G: Proposed Charter of the Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee
Appendix H: Farming on the Edge – Sprawling Development Threatens America’s
Best Farmland (Map of New York State)
Appendix I: Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Approvals
List of Appendices
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AFPB Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board
AFPP Town of Ithaca Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan
ARFA Tompkins Country Agricultural Resource Focus Area
CCETC Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
CSA Community-Supported Agriculture
CWA Clean Water Act
DEC (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation
FSA Farm Service Agency
LDR Lease of Development Rights
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
NWI National Wetland Inventory
NYS New York State
PDR Purchase of Development Rights
SWCD Soil and Water Conservation District
TC3 Tompkins Cortland Community College
UNA Unique Natural Area
USDA US Department of Agriculture
Table of Abbreviations
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Vision Statement
The Town of Ithaca recognizes that agriculture is an integral part of the
Town’s economy and environment, provides locally grown food and other
agricultural products, and enhances the quality of life for Town residents.
The Town proactively promotes a diversity of farm types, seeks the long-
term preservation of the Town’s agricultural-land resources, supports the
economic viability of the farming community and the profitability of each
farm, values the local public agricultural research and educational
resources, and encourages the general public to understand and support
local agriculture.
The Town’s 24 farms represent a diversity of enterprises ranging from small-scale
fruit and vegetable producers, livestock farmers, and ornamental-horticultural
businesses to a few farmers engaged in larger-scale dairy and commodity field-
crop production. These farms generate more than $4.4 million in annual sales,
and employ at least 27 full-time, 39 part-time, and another 25 seasonal workers.
Farm operations in the Town own and operate a total of 3,412 acres. Although
agriculture is the main land use in several portions of the Town, the total
agricultural acreage has declined from the 4,920 acres reported in 1992.
The positive backdrop for agriculture in the Town includes the Town Agricultural
Zones (with right-to-farm laws), the Town’s program for the purchase of
development rights, the strong and expanding local-food movement, and public
awareness of the value of open space (including farmlands). Specific growth
potential is seen for local-food sales, niche crops, and value-added production
systems.
The goals of this Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan are:
1 – Promote the availability of locally grown foods and other agricultural
products for all residents including limited income families
2 – Retain and encourage a diversity of economically viable farm types
3 – Ensure long-term protection of agricultural-land resources for
agriculture, open space, and scenic resources
4 – Encourage public understanding and involvement
5 – Promote wise land use and waste management on agricultural land
Some of the key recommendations of the Plan are:
Revitalize the Town Agriculture Committee and designate a staff member
as the agriculture-contact person in Town Hall.
Revise local zoning and building laws to decrease: development pressure,
conflict between farm and non-farming neighbors, and restrictions on
farm construction projects.
Executive Summary
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Tompkins County / Town of Ithaca
Tompkins County is located at the southern end of Cayuga Lake in the Eastern
Finger Lakes region of central New York. In 2007, the 588 farms in the County
owned and operated 108,739 acres (36%) of the County’s total of 303,779 acres—
averaging 185 acres per farm. According to the 2007 US Census of Agriculture,
the market value of all agricultural products sold from County farms was $60.1
million (average: $102,356 per farm). The leading products sold were dairy (61%),
grains and dry beans (9%), cattle and calves (7%), nursery and floriculture (7%),
and vegetables and potatoes (6%). The average value of land and buildings per
farm in 2007 was $418,353; machinery and equipment was valued at $94,081
per farm. Farming was the principal occupation reported by 46% of the farm
operators; the average age of the operator was 55.4 years.
The Town of Ithaca (which includes the Village of Cayuga Heights) is located in
the center of Tompkins County. The Town surrounds the City of Ithaca and is
bordered by six other municipalities of Tompkins County: the Village and Town
of Lansing and the Towns of Dryden, Danby, Newfield, Enfield, and Ulysses.
Prior to World War II, agriculture was a major economic sector and the
predominant land use in the Town of Ithaca. Despite the formidable barriers to
farming presented by terrain, soils, and climate, the Town produced and
exported significant amounts of wheat and other agriculture products beginning
around 1800. Throughout the 19th Century, potatoes, hay, tobacco, grain, fruit,
and dairy and meat products were sent to market from the numerous farms
dotting East Hill, South Hill, Inlet Valley, and West Hill.
Although agriculture in the
Town has declined since the
end of World War II, it is
still the predominant land
use in several portions of
the Town. Farming areas
are concentrated in the
western part of the Town
along the borders of Enfield
and Ulysses and extend in
places into these other
towns. Portions of South
Hill also are actively
farmed, and Cornell
University uses areas of
East Hill for agricultural
research and teaching.
Farmland, and the farmers who work the land, contribute to the well-being of all
Town residents. In addition to the direct contribution to the local economy
through production and employment, local farmers also make significant indirect
Introduction
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contributions to the local economy through the purchase of equipment and
supplies and through their relatively low demands on costly public
infrastructure. The rural character of the Town—enjoyed by Town residents and
essential to the local tourist industry—is provided largely by local farmers and
State Parks. Perhaps most importantly, farmers in the Town of Ithaca have
established a tradition of stewardship of the land and its resources.
The 24 farms in the Town represent a diversity of enterprises ranging from small-
scale fruit and vegetable producers, livestock farmers, and ornamental
horticultural businesses to a few farmers engaged in larger-scale dairy and
commodity field-crop
production. Farm operations
in the Town own and operate
a total of 3,412 acres
(approximately 18% of the
Town’s total land area), and
generate $4.431 million in
sales (7% of the total value of
agriculture sales in the
County). Relative to other
towns in the County, the
Town of Ithaca ranks second
lowest in terms of land in
farms, but it is also the most
developed town.
Town-level agricultural statistics are not tracked in the US Census of Agriculture
or by the NYS Department of Agriculture. Agricultural data at the Town level
were gathered as part of several studies conducted by the Town in preparation of
the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and Agriculture Plan in 1992 and 1993 and by
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCETC) as part of a review
of County Agricultural Districts. Most farmers in the Town were interviewed in
developing this 2011 plan, and summaries of findings can be found in the
“Farming in the Town of Ithaca” section.
Overview of the Planning Process and Public Outreach
The agricultural-planning process in the Town of Ithaca was initiated in February
2008 when a grant proposal was submitted to NYS Department of Agriculture
and Markets for funding to develop a Town Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Plan (AFPP). In August 2008, the Town was awarded funding (with the State
agreement finalized in February 2009).
As part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan update, a random-dialed resident
phone survey was conducted in January 2009. In total, 359 surveys were
completed; parts of two of the questions related to Town agriculture. Residents
were asked, “How important are these aspects to your quality of life?” Out of a
maximum score of 4, “scenic views” received a score of 3.4, the “ability to buy
locally produced farm products” received a score of 3.2, while “farmland” received
a score of 2.9. Residents also were asked, “How do you feel about the Town
spending money on the following activities?” Out of a maximum score of 4,
“protecting farmland from development” was supported with a score of 3.2
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(second highest out of the nine choices). Summary tables from these two
questions are included in Appendix A. These responses indicate that Town
residents are supportive of local agriculture and appreciate the need to protect
farmland.
In March 2009, the Town conducted a joint agricultural focus-group meeting for
both the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan and for updating the Town’s
Comprehensive Plan. Four farmers attended, as did representatives from the
Town’s Comprehensive Plan Committee, the Town of Ithaca Planning and
Conservation Boards, CCETC, the Tompkins County Planning Department, and
the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The
discussion included: the current status of farming in the Town, issues and
opportunities farmers are facing in the Town, and where the Town would like to
see agriculture in the future.
In June 2009, the Town signed an agreement with CCETC to provide data and
guidance for the development of the AFPP. Representatives from the Town of
Ithaca and CCETC started to meet regularly and collected various types of
background data and other information for the Plan. In July 2009, a meeting was
held at CCETC between agricultural-committee members from the Towns of
Ithaca, Lansing, and Ulysses and David Haight (New York Director of the
American Farmland Trust) to discuss approaches in developing the Towns’
agriculture plans.
CCETC and the Town of Ithaca
identified all landowners in the
Town who have some type of
agricultural use on their
property. An interview form
(see Appendix B for sample
form) guided the conversations
with farmers; starting the
summer of 2009, we held one-
on-one interviews with 16
agricultural operations in the
Town. (A summary of the
interviews is located in
“Farming in the Town of
Ithaca” section.)
In November 2009, a farmer meeting was held at Town Hall with approximately
16 persons (including several farmers) in attendance. The purpose of the meeting
was to review the farmer-interview process, provide a summary of interviews, and
outline the major points from the interviews. Farmers added additional ideas and
collectively discussed common issues and opportunities.
In April 2010, a presentation was given to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan
Committee regarding the status of the AFPP. The Committee discussed the draft
Vision Statement and Goals; several of the key recommendations were
highlighted.
On May 1, 2010, a second farmers’ meeting was held at Town Hall to obtain
feedback on the draft Vision Statement, Goals, and Recommendations.
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Approximately 15 people attended, including nine Town farmers. The meeting
also provided a brief overview of what had been completed, and there was
discussion of farmer interest in Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Lease
of Development Rights (LDR).
The Town of Ithaca participated in Tompkins County’s Farm City Day held on
August 14, 2010 at Sweyolakan Farms in the Town of Ithaca. Farm City Day is a
free educational event that offers
the public a first-hand look at
how farms operate. The Town
displayed several of the draft
plan maps and distributed
copies of the draft Vision
Statement, Goals, and
Recommendations. Planning
staff and members of the
Agricultural Plan Steering
Committee were available
throughout the day to answer
questions and discuss the draft
plan.
On March 22, 2011, a third farmers’ meeting was held at Town Hall with 12 in
attendance. Prior to the meeting, copies of the draft plan (dated March 10, 2011)
were distributed to all farmers in the Town, with additional copies available at
the meeting. The meeting provided an overview of the plan and obtained
feedback on parts of the plan. Discussion focused on the farm-operation
definition, the Goals and Recommendation Section, and the proposed draft
Agriculture Committee Charter.
In March 2011, copies of the draft plan were provided to the Tompkins County
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) with a brief overview of the
Plan provided by Town Planning Staff and CCETC. In April 2011, the AFPB
returned with various questions and comments on the Plan, with a couple of
members providing comments separately. Also in April, copies of the draft were
provided to the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) and representatives for Cornell
University; Andrew Zepp (Executive Director of the FLLT) provided comments.
On September 26, 2011, the Town of Ithaca Town Board reviewed and discussed
the draft AFPP and offered a few minor edits and suggestions. They continued
their discussion at the October 17, 2011 meeting and scheduled the public
hearing for November 7, 2011. On November 7th, the Town of Ithaca Town Board
made a negative determination of environmental significance, held a public
hearing, and adopted the Town of Ithaca Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Plan. On November 16, 2011, the Tompkins County AFPB reviewed the AFPP
and passed a resolution approving the Town of Ithaca’s Agricultural and
Farmland Protection Plan.
Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan Update
In 2008, the Town of Ithaca began updating its 1993 Comprehensive Plan. As
part of this update, a resident phone survey was conducted, focus-group
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meetings and two public-information meetings were held, and the
Comprehensive Plan Committee met regularly. All of these activities have had an
agricultural component, and relevant information was incorporated in the AFPP.
It is anticipated that the recommendations from this AFPP will be incorporated
into the updated Comprehensive Plan and that the entire AFPP will be included
as an appendix to the Comprehensive Plan. The adoption of the Comprehensive
Plan will include additional public meetings and public hearings, which will
provide additional feedback relating to agriculture and the AFPP.
Definition of Agriculture
Agriculture and farming can be defined and interpreted in different ways for
different purposes. The Town needs one consistent definition to help identify
what is “farming” and to determine what farm operations are appropriate for the
various policies, funding, or other programs outlined in this AFPP.
The Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance defines a farm as “any parcel of land
containing at least three acres which is used in the raising of agricultural
products, such as crops, livestock, poultry, and dairy goods. It includes
structures necessary to the production and storage of agricultural products and
equipment and on-farm buildings used for preparation or marketing of products
produced, or derived from products produced, predominately on the farm
property on which the building is located subject to the limitations regarding
roadside stands set forth in this chapter” (Town Code Section 270-5).
Based largely on definitions in NYS Agriculture and Markets Law (See Appendix
C), for the purposes of this plan the Town of Ithaca defines a “farm operation” as
involving the production, preparation and marketing of fruit, vegetables,
field crops, nursery stock and flowers, livestock and livestock products
as a commercial enterprise, including horse boarding and breeding
operations, Christmas trees, timber processing, compost, mulch, or
other biomass crops, and the management and harvesting of farm
woodlands. Such farm operations include the land and on-farm
buildings, equipment, and manure processing and handling facilities
and may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land, where
parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous.
The Town of Ithaca recognizes that there is a wide range of sizes and types of
farms in the Town, from the small hobby farmer (interested in farming for
personal benefit and with minimal sales) to the large commercial farms that
operate with the intent to make a profit as a business. Farming can occur on as
little as 1 acre to as much as 500 acres depending on the enterprise.
For the purposes of this plan, the term “farmer” includes other landowners who
rent or lease agricultural lands to a farmer. Any programs, funding
opportunities, or other items mentioned in this plan would apply to any
agricultural-land owners with land actively used for farming.
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Much of the information used to develop this agricultural profile was obtained
through interviews with individual farmers in the Town. A questionnaire was
used to guide the interview process and to ensure consistency for a baseline of
information gathered. During the interviews, farmers were asked about their
operations, plans for the future, and thoughts about agriculture in the Town. A
complete list of all farm operations that were interviewed and/or researched is
available in Appendix D.
Additional information was provided by the Tompkins County Assessment
Department and collected from previous research for some farms whose owners
were not available to be interviewed.
Historical Summary
A review of the historical information regarding the Town of Ithaca’s agricultural
land has tracked farmland from generation to generation or owner to owner.
Much of the agricultural land identified in the late 1970s has remained in
farming, been left open for agriculture, or been consolidated into much larger
agricultural holdings. There are some notable exceptions where residential
development has occurred: Saponi Meadows in Inlet Valley, Perry farm on West
Hill, and Babcock and Eddy land on West Hill.
While some parcels have been consolidated into or absorbed by one larger
operation, other farms have seen a shrinking land base due to division of land at
the time of generational transfers. Opportunities for farm expansion are limited
by both a lack of available land and the cost of land. However, there is a
landowner commitment to agriculture, even if the owner is not farming full time
(or even at all).
Comparing the list of farmland identified in the late
1970s to the current inventory, there are 1260
acres of land currently farmed that were not
mentioned in the documentation from 30+ years
ago. Some of it was farmed at that time but wasn’t
included in the inventory. Other (often, smaller)
parcels, if not farmed at the time, were at least
kept open for agriculture.
There has been a diversification of agriculture and
a transition from dairy farming to cropping in the
Town over the last 30 years. There are now equine,
vegetable, beef, viticulture, and horticulture operations; farm markets and
roadside stands; and several smaller-scale niche and hobby operations.
General Description
Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca reflects agriculture in the region. Even though
the number of farms is relatively small, agriculture in the Town is surprisingly
diverse—in both types of operations and their longevity. Enterprises include
Farming in the Town of Ithaca
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dairies, vineyards and wineries, direct-marketed produce (via area farmers
markets, U-pick tree-fruit and berry crops, farm markets, or roadside stands),
field crops, forest crops, landscaping and nursery stock, Christmas trees,
greenhouses, horses, beef, chickens, fiber products, and even a “corn maze
sound garden.” There are newly developing farm operations, farms that have
been operating 20-50 years, and several multigenerational farms.
Town agriculture is not isolated within the Town’s boundaries; several operations
cross borders into neighboring towns (Danby, Dryden, Enfield, and Ulysses). In
one case, Town of Ithaca land supports a landscaping business in Lansing. This
illustrates the need to consider a regional approach to farm and agricultural-land
preservation and to work with adjacent municipalities whenever possible. On the
east side of the Town, agriculture is dominated by research fields owned by the
Cornell University Experiment Station and thus requires the Town to be
cognizant of the University’s long-range plans for agricultural lands.
Overall, farmers’ commitment to keeping their land in agriculture was a
constant. A few farmers were concerned about their family’s ability to keep
farming but expected their land to stay in agriculture or to be placed under a
conservation easement. This is likely attributable to the family nature of farming
in the Town. All private farms are family-owned and operated. Within the past 12
years, seven multigenerational farms have transitioned or are transitioning from
one generation to the next, with
two or three generations actively
involved in the operation. The one
corporate farming enterprise in
the Town (a dairy-cattle Young
Sire Complex) is operated on West
Hill by Genex Cooperative of
Shawano, WI. It employs 55
people.
Farmers generally agreed that sound agricultural practices protect the
environment, though farmers also acknowledged that there is the potential for
negative impacts (such as occasional fertilizer runoff or manure spills, erosion,
and problems associated with livestock in or near waterways). Several farmers
mentioned concern about depleted farmland in the area due to the high price of
lime (resulting in lime not being used when it should be). There was also mention
that the scale/magnitude of farming in this region is much different from that in
the Midwest. Positive conservation practices specifically mentioned included strip
cropping, crop rotation, permanent vegetation, no-till, organic production,
woodlot management, reduced pesticide use, cultural practices to control weeds,
and preservation of rural landscapes for aesthetics and tourism. Farmers
mentioned that they must take care of the land to stay in business.
Several farmers also offered perspectives on agriculture’s impact on the
environment compared to residential and commercial development. One example
was that farms have very few impervious surfaces: cropland encourages water
absorption, and therefore farms (as opposed to driveways and parking lots)
benefit the water table and reduce runoff. Also, Town farmers don’t have to drive
far to go to work.
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Farm-Town Relations
While many farmers expressed feelings of mistrust of and frustration with the
Town in the past, there was an almost universal desire and hope that the
problems raised could and would be addressed. Because farmers’ means of
production are the lands they own and the buildings on it, Town of Ithaca
farmers are committed to staying here. Problems working with Town offices and
regulations were mentioned by several farmers as the biggest hurdle to their
ability to remain in farming or to become more profitable.
Farmers want to stay in Ithaca, and they think the Town should encourage and
support agriculture (depending on what that might mean and what related
consequences there might be). They want the Town to be proactive and to have a
“can-do” approach to keeping agriculture viable. Farmers are willing to trade
some forms of land-use restrictions for assistance that makes business
improvements possible and feasible.
Farmers think the Town is
suitable for many types of
agriculture, most
specifically small-scale and
niche operations—especially
those that cater to local
residents. Such types of
agriculture include farm
stands, CSAs (community-
supported agriculture
operations where
consumers pay at the
beginning of the season for
a weekly share of the
harvest), poultry, and small
ruminants. Large-scale livestock operations were not considered realistic or
feasible in the Town due to the lack of land-base availability and proximity of
residences.
Some farmers were interested in PDR or LDR (conservation easements), while
others were not. Nearly everyone wanted to know more about both concepts.
When asked about the future, farmers generally didn’t expect a lot of change in
the next 10 years, but thought much could happen in the next 20 years
(including both more agriculture and less agriculture).
Several farmers mentioned the need or desire for a “go-to” person in Town
government who could answer questions and help navigate Town requirements.
Farmers also appreciate having an agriculture committee available (even if it
doesn’t meet very often) as a conduit for providing agricultural information when
the Town needs it and to serve as a forum for getting concerns addressed.
Farming in and near suburban and urban centers presents unique (or at least
concentrated) problems—some of which the Town can directly work to address
(although others would require the Town to work with other entities). Farmers
universally mentioned problems with traffic. This is a concern for farmers in all
parts of the Town, but the further down the transportation funnel into Ithaca a
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
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farm is located, the more intense the problems can be. Many of the main travel
routes are County or State Roads; the Town would need to work with County and
State agencies to address traffic concerns. Other problems (such as trespassing,
vandalism, and neighbor complaints) can be tackled through the Right-to-Farm
law and consumer/community education.
Farm Operations (not including Cornell University)
There are approximately 3,412 acres of agricultural land in the Town of Ithaca
(including Cornell University agricultural lands); 2,832 actively farmed acres and
580 fallow acres. Approximately 2,533 acres receive an agricultural property-tax
assessment. Of the 2,533 acres receiving agricultural assessment, 1,058 acres
(42%) are rented to farmers. This is evidence that rural landowners value the
opportunity to keep land
in agriculture and enjoy
the tax benefit of
agricultural assessment,
but in some cases the
owner farms some of the
land and another farmer
uses the rest. However,
this also points out that
should landowners decide
not to rent land to
farmers, it could have a
significant impact on the
farm operation specifically
and on the amount of
farming in general in the
Town.
Farms in the Town fall generally into either small (50 acres or less) or medium
(150-200 acres) size categories (with nothing between 50 and 150 acres). Larger
holdings exist, and three farmers rent additional land; one rents 1000 tillable
acres (310 acres in the Town of Ithaca and 690 acres in the Town of Enfield),
another rents 100 acres (all in Ithaca), and a third rents 4 acres (in Ithaca).
Agricultural operations range from start-ups, to family-run only, to farm
businesses employing seasonal and/or year-around help. Most of the farms
among those whose owners were interviewed employ many farm-family members,
including 14 full-time and 30 part-time positions in all. These farms also have
paid non-family staff providing a total of 13 full-time and nine part-time year-
around jobs and 15 full-time and 10 part-time seasonal jobs (seasons range from
a few to 9 months).
Farm size is not an indicator of economic viability; some of the medium-sized
farms are being worked just enough to keep the land open, meet the criteria for
agricultural assessment, pay the taxes, and provide some money for
reinvestment. Some of the smaller operations have the highest sales and employ
the most people. Six farms report six-figure annual gross incomes; two gross
close to or over $1 million annually. As reported during the interviews in 2009
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
19
(using the high sides of ranges given) the total value of agricultural products is
approximately $4,431,000.
Farmers tend to re-invest
in their operations
commensurate with their
income; start-ups invest
as well, but tend to re-use
materials and look for
low-cost alternatives. Two
new operations in
particular (a sustainable
chicken project and a
vegetable cash-crop farm)
talked about “creative
reuse” to keep costs
down. Recent investments
in larger operations include new outbuildings, equipment, and increased plant
material and livestock inventory.
Owners of larger, more traditional operations (dairy, livestock) were familiar with
existing agricultural programs (FSA, NRCS, SWCD); newer and/or niche
operators were not, or weren’t sure there were any programs for which they were
eligible. Several farmers reported taking advantage of these programs for things
like livestock fencing, well drilling for livestock-watering systems, barnyard
drainage, and crop insurance.
Farmers reported the following crops and land uses on their farms (this
represents rented as well as owned land but excludes Genex and Cornell):
Hay 717-787 acres
Woods 668 acres
Corn 363 acres
Vegetables 203 acres
Pasture 185 acres
Small Grains (winter wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat) 183 acres
Landscaping 91 acres
Tillable fallow 51 acres
Orchard 25 acres
Vineyard 5 acres
Corn maze 3 acres
Greenhouses 40,000 sq. ft.
Notes:
Genex has 127 acres on Sheffield Rd. in the Town of Ithaca which are
often in hay but sometimes in corn; Genex has an additional 491 acres
(one contiguous block of six parcels running through the block to
North Van Dorn Road) across Sheffield Road in the Town of Enfield.
Cornell has approximately 870 acres located in the Town of Ithaca in
vegetable and field crops, orchards, pasture, dairy, and greenhouses.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
20
Farms reported the following combined livestock numbers (this includes Genex
but excludes Cornell):
Dairy bulls 300
Dairy heifers 247
Dairy cows 200
Chickens (layers) 148
Goats, sheep, alpacas 47
Beef 30
Horses 12
Hogs 6
Cornell University
Cornell University, through many of its colleges and departments, has a large
agricultural presence on East Hill in the Town of Ithaca. Cornell has various
teaching and research facilities related to agriculture, provides services to local
farmers (veterinary care, research, resource for questions, etc.), and supports
local agriculture through purchasing and selling agricultural products (hay,
fruits, compost, etc.) and purchasing materials and equipment locally.
The College of Veterinary
Medicine (part of the State
University of New York) is
primarily located within the
Town of Ithaca. The College of
Veterinary Medicine employs
approximately 310 faculty
and 700 staff members and
has 445 students enrolled in
its programs. The College
includes the Animal Health
Diagnostic Center, the
Cornell University Hospital
for Animals (including the
Companion Animal Hospital
and the Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals), the Baker Institute for Animal
Health, and the Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research.
The Farm Animal Hospital provides health and medical care for approximately
1,000 farm animals each year. Additionally, nearly 40,000 farm animals are
visited each year by the Ambulatory and Production Medicine Service, whose
staff travels to area (including Town of Ithaca) farms to provide health care on-
site. The Farm Animal Hospital and the Animal Health Diagnostic Center also
investigate herd outbreaks for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
With all these services provided locally, Town farmers have direct, convenient
access to high-quality care for their farm animals.
The Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station links Cornell’s research
facilities and the statewide Cooperative Extension system. The station is involved
with crops on approximately 500 acres within the Town of Ithaca; many facilities
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
21
are located or based in the Town near the main campus. Some of these
agricultural facilities (or “operations”) located in the Town include the Dilmun
Hill Student Farm, Greenhouse Operations, Farm Services, Campus Area Farms,
and the Sarkaria Arthropod Research Laboratory. The Station employs
approximately 50 staff on the farms and in the greenhouses, with additional
direct on-the-farm employees. The Station also provides many public
opportunities related to agriculture (including classes and field days), and many
of the research fields are open to the public. The Station and the Cooperative
Extension system field
inquiries from the public,
meet with start-up
operations, and provide
education, expertise, and
supplemental knowledge.
While these services are
available to anyone, it is a
benefit to the Town of
Ithaca farmers having
these services and
facilities available so
nearby.
The Dilmun Hill Student Farm (a 12-acre student-run farm located near the
Cornell Orchards), provides a working farm for students to learn hands-on
organic practices and farm management. Dilmun distributes organic produce to
Cornell Dining and Manndible Café, and through direct market sales on the “Ag
Quad” (on the central campus).
Greenhouse Operations includes a 163-compartment greenhouse complex, which
combines teaching and research facilities and public observatories with more
than 500 species of plants. The various greenhouses cover approximately 4 acres
and can house 200 to 300 research projects at any given time with approximately
350 users of the facilities (including faculty, students, and researchers). Farm
Services provides both research and production farming with as many as 20
research projects
underway at any one
time. Farm Services
crops hay, corn, barley,
and wheat and
maintains a college
“land bank” that keeps
land in agricultural
production as the need
for research acreage
changes. Farm Services
also operates the
University’s compost
facility, which currently
handles about 5,000
tons of waste annually
from campus dining
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
22
facilities. Cereal grains and forages grown on Farm Services land are either used
within Cornell or sold to the public. Farm Services is based in the Town of
Ithaca, and a portion of the cropland is located in the Town.
Campus Area Farms manages 325 acres on 11 small farms; some of these
operations are in the Town of Ithaca. The farms provide easily accessible
research plots for faculty and students. Research includes breeding research on
popular food crops such as corn, small grains, potatoes, and pumpkins.
Researchers investigate possible genetic improvements that would make these
crops more suitable for growing in New York. One current project includes a trial
of different grasses dedicated to biofuels to see which are most adaptable to New
York.
The Sarkaria Arthropod Research Laboratory is a special quarantine facility
providing research capacity for arthropods for experimentation on their biology
and control. The facility is located in the Town of Ithaca and houses exotic-pest
species as well as non-indigenous arthropods that might serve as biological-
control agents of pests.
Cornell Orchards is a working orchard, vineyard, and fruit farm managed by the
Department of Horticulture. The Ithaca site includes storage and packing
facilities, a cider press and research lab, a student winery, and 37 acres of fruit
plantings for teaching and research programs. Cornell Orchards also sells fruit
from the research and teaching plantings at the retail outlet located on NYS
Route 366.
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Natural Resources
Topography: The Town was sculpted by retreating glaciers thousands of years
ago, and is bisected by the deep valley of the southern end of Cayuga Lake and
its major tributary (the Cayuga Inlet). Flanked by numerous gorges incised along
the steep hillsides, the valley steadily rises up to a hilly mid-plateau that
continues gradually to rise beyond the Town’s borders. The Town varies from a
topographic low point of approximately 390 feet above mean sea level along the
valley floor of the Cayuga Inlet to a topographic high point of approximately 1420
feet above mean sea level on South Hill near Ridgecrest and Troy Roads (where
the Towns of Ithaca and Danby meet).
Lakes & Streams: Cayuga Lake—the
longest of the Finger Lakes—is a treasured
resource enjoyed for its scenic and
recreational amenities by residents and
visitors alike. Approximately 680 acres of
the southern end of the Lake is located
within the Town of Ithaca (including
approximately 2.9 miles of shoreline).
Cayuga Lake is the source of drinking
water for most residents in the Town of
Ithaca and for many residents of
surrounding municipalities.
Seven major streams and innumerable
smaller tributaries traverse the Town. All
of these streams are within the Cayuga
Lake watershed.
Wetlands: Wetlands are important
components of our landscape. Wetlands
are amongst the most productive
ecosystems—providing food and habitat to
a wide variety of plants, insects,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and
mammals. Wetlands lessen the magnitude
of flood events by acting as natural
sponges that trap and slowly release flood waters; wetlands protect water quality
by serving as filters that remove pollutants and nutrients and trap sediment from
surface water and stormwater. Wetlands also provide important recreational
opportunities (such as bird watching, hunting, and fishing).
Under the New York State Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975, the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) maps and regulates wetlands
encompassing at least 12.4 acres and those smaller wetlands judged to be of
unusual importance. DEC also regulates a 100-foot adjacent area (buffer zone)
Agricultural Resources (Existing Conditions /
Inventory)
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
24
surrounding each protected wetland. There are four NYS regulated wetlands in
the Town.
The US Army Corps of Engineers also protects wetland—regardless of size—
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Some of the wetlands regulated
by the Corps of Engineers are noted on maps prepared by the US Fish and
Wildlife Service as part of its National Wetland Inventory (NWI). However, unlike
DEC, the Corps of Engineers regulates all “waters of the United States” whether
they were mapped or not.
The only way to be certain of the existence of a wetland is with on-site surveys
conducted by qualified professionals. The three essential characteristics of
wetlands are hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology; all
these characteristics must be present for an area to be identified as a wetland.
Geology: The Town of Ithaca is located within the glaciated portion of the
Allegheny Plateau. The Allegheny Plateau is characterized by layers of rock that
have been gently folded and tilted slightly to the south during the final
mountain-building event of 290 to 248 million years ago.
“Bedrock geology” describes the basic rock formations that underlie the soils and
unconsolidated materials (surficial geology). The bedrock underlying Ithaca and
in the exposed rock formations seen in area gorges and stream beds had its
origin during the Devonian period (approximately 415 to 360 million years ago).
These formations consist of sedimentary rocks of marine origin including shale,
fine-grained sandstone, and thin beds of limestone. Depth to bedrock is relatively
shallow in areas of Ithaca.
“Surficial geology” describes the rocks and unconsolidated material that lie
between bedrock and the surface of the land. While “soil” refers to the organic
component of these materials, “surficial geology” refers to the rock and mineral
component of these materials. When glaciers receded 12,000 to 25,000 years
ago, they deposited the rocks and debris frozen within the ice. These formations
are classified by the shape of the formation, its thickness, and the type and size
of the various particles found. Because it is these deposits that commonly
determine soil composition, their characteristics can affect agricultural viability.
“Till” (a heterogeneous unsorted mix of silt, sand, clay, and rock) is the most
abundant glacial deposit in the Town. Because tills contain many different grain
sizes, the empty spaces between coarser grains tend to become filled with finer-
grained materials (resulting in a very low porosity). Till can be very difficult to
excavate and generally has poor qualities for farming. Lacustrine (i.e., lake) silt
and clay deposits are also common in Ithaca. These laminated silts and clays
were deposited in lakes formed during the melting of the glaciers. They are high
in calicite, have low permeability, and form potentially unstable land.
Soils: As in most of Tompkins County, soils in the Town of Ithaca vary
considerably from place-to-place in terms of their physical properties and
suitability for various uses. Ninety-one different soil types (mapping units) have
been identified in the Town, with a wide variety of soil characteristics. The most
common soil type is BgC (Bath and Valois gravelly silt loam with 5 to 15% slopes)
and represents 9.7% of all known soil types within the town; other soil types
each represent less than 2% of Town soils. This variability of the soil properties
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
25
can equate to variability in the suitability of the land to support agricultural uses
or development. (Additional information regarding agricultural soils can be found
below.)
Plants & Wildlife: The Town contains many diverse habitat types. Woodlands,
brush lands, meadows, wetlands, streams and gorges, agricultural lands, and
transitional areas support a wide variety of plant species as well as dwelling and
feeding areas for mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
The Town of Ithaca falls within
the regional forest formation
designated as the “Alleghany
Section” of the Northern
Appalachian Highland Division
of the Hemlock-White Pine
Northern Hardwood Region. The
Allegheny Section is a broad
forest type that begins at the
northern edge of the Finger
Lakes and continues south,
covering most of the northern
half of Pennsylvania and the
southern half of New York.
According to Tompkins County Land Use Land Cover Mapping Project (updated
in 2007 by the Tompkins County Planning Department), approximately 6,800
acres (36% of the land area of the Town including the Village of Cayuga Heights
but excluding Cayuga Lake), is forested and composed of either deciduous,
conifer, or mixed woodlands or forest plantations. Brush or grassland accounts
for another approximately 2,757 acres (15%) of the land area.
There has been no comprehensive fish or wildlife survey completed for the Town;
however, predictions based on habitat types can be made. As described above,
the Town contains a mosaic of land use and vegetation types. This variety
translates to different habitat types that can support a wide variety of mammals,
birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Agricultural Soils
“Prime farmland,” as designated in 1992 by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical
characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is
available for these uses. (The land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland,
forestland, and other land, but not urban built-up land or water.) It has the soil
quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high
yields of crops economically when treated and managed (including water
management) according to acceptable farming methods. In general, prime
farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or
irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or
alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks (Prime
Farmland, Section II-III-A).
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
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Approximately 2,633 acres of soils meet the requirements for prime farmland in
the Town. Unfortunately, much of that prime farmland is not located where most
of the active farming is currently taking place or within the current Agricultural
Zone. As shown on Map 5, Agricultural Soils (Appendix E), much of the prime
farmland has been developed for housing or other non-agricultural activities.
Beyond prime farmland in the Town, there is a significant amount of land
classified as “farmland of statewide importance” for the production of food, feed,
fiber, forage, and oilseed crops. Such lands generally include those that are
nearly prime farmland and that produce high yields of crops in an economic
manner when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods.
Some may produce yields as high as those of prime farmlands if conditions are
favorable. In the Town of Ithaca, approximately 5,369 acres meet the above
requirements and are designated by New York State as “important” farmland.
This represents a significant amount of the active farmland in the Town–
especially farmland on West Hill.
As in the case in other parts of the County, there are good agricultural soils in
Ithaca–but in many cases, they have a slope that is not ideal for many
agricultural operations. Both the prime farmlands and the farmlands of
statewide importance are shown on Map 5, Agricultural Soils (Appendix E).
Markets & Support Services
Markets
Town of Ithaca farmers use a variety of market channels depending on the
products they produce and the size of their businesses. The one remaining dairy
farm (which is also the largest farming operation) in the Town sells its milk to an
independent processor owned by Kraft Foods and located in Steuben County, NY.
Other livestock operations are small,
and most rely on direct sales or
auctions to move their animals. One
farm with laying hens has an
interesting compost-trade-for-eggs
operation, where City and Town
residents save food scraps to feed
chickens and in turn get weekly egg
deliveries. Direct marketing is an
excellent channel for locally produced
foods (produce and meats) given the
proximity of farms to consumers in
the Town (and City) of Ithaca.
One challenge for all livestock producers is finding nearby USDA- or NYS-
certified slaughter facilities. USDA inspection is required for meat sales to
restaurants and retailers (NYS inspection is acceptable when whole animals are
sold as freezer trade direct to the consumer). Producers may need to schedule
processing with a slaughter plant a year in advance. Poultry farmers with meat
chickens do enjoy a 1,000-bird exemption (the exemption for turkeys, geese and
ducks is 250 birds) which allows them to process on the farm. Given the
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
27
proximity of the combined populations of the Town and City of Ithaca, there is
good potential in the Town for more small-scale livestock and poultry production.
Better access to slaughter facilities could accelerate this opportunity.
Field crops such as corn, hay, and small grains are major land uses that provide
animal feed for both on-farm use and for sale to other local farmers or brokers.
Field-crop producers depend on having land available to rent. The level of
production is strongly influenced by market prices. Horse farms are a good
market for hay. There is good potential for horse operations to expand given the
availability of hay, the proximity to the City, and the expertise available at the
Cornell Veterinary College.
Fruit and vegetables produced in the Town are marketed to area consumers.
Three farms in the Town operate roadside stands, a few sell at the Ithaca
Farmers’ Market, and there are two CSAs operating in the town. Most of these
farms are located on the west side of the Town. Potential exists for more direct
marketing on the east side of Ithaca. Currently, Cornell Orchards is the
predominant outlet for fruits and some vegetables on the east side of Ithaca.
Some interest has been expressed for a farmers market on the Cornell campus or
at East Hill Plaza, and it is anticipated that in the near future, CCETC staff will
investigate these opportunities.
The Town is home to the only two wineries in the County. These wineries were
established to take advantage of the consumer base and high volume of visitors–
especially families coming to the campuses. Six Mile Creek winery has been
operating for almost 30 years on East Hill; the other (on the west side of the
Town) is just coming into production. These operations, along with the sound
maze, the farm stands, Westhaven Farm at Ecovillage, Laughing Goat Fiber
Farm, and several others provide a strong base for promoting agritourism in the
Town. Cooperative Extension has partnered on several occasions with these
farms to offer successful farm tours.
The Town is also home to the Ithaca Beer Company which is currently building a
new brewery and restaurant/pub (expected to open in 2012). The new facility is
located on a large parcel where hops will be grown for use in the brewery
production and used as part of facility tours. The owners also anticipate growing
various fruits and vegetables on the property that would be used in the
restaurant. This project will
provide an excellent agritourism
opportunity in the Town and will
show the connection between
farming and local foods.
Greenhouse and nursery
production is a viable economic
sector of agriculture that
depends largely on direct local
sales. Producing and selling
bedding plants, perennials, and
nursery stock features
prominently at area farm stands;
it allows them to open early and
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
28
offer a larger variety of products into the fall. Christmas-tree farms also depend
on U-cut customers for sales. Two producers specialize in spring plant sales from
greenhouses open to the public from May to July. Two tree-nursery operations in
the Town include a national distributor of grafted fruit trees and a landscape
company that raises trees for both retail and wholesale nursery sales.
Marketing opportunities exist in the Town for organic livestock production
(especially poultry), organic field crops for animal feed, organic compost, horse
boarding and riding, Christmas trees, specialized fruit and vegetable farming,
and specialized ornamental production. More farmers could also be taking
advantage of demand from restaurants and food retailers for local foods;
however, pricing, packing, storage, and distribution pose cost deterrents to
expansion into these outlets.
Support Services
Farmers rely on a huge variety of businesses for inputs and sale of products.
Farmers seek services and supplies locally and from throughout the region.
Business services such as banking and accounting are generally locally sourced,
but supplies may be purchased regionally or in many cases via mail order. Ithaca
Agway and Tractor Supply Company are the closest general farm-supply stores.
Farm tractors and other specialized equipment often are purchased used at
auctions or from regional dealers in Newfield, Cortland, and Geneva. Animal feed
is trucked in (if not grown here). Organic feed often comes from a mill in Penn
Yan, NY.
Crop, herd, and veterinary
services are common in the
large dairy, but the small
crop and livestock farms
generally are self-sufficient
(other than requiring
veterinary assistance from
time-to-time). Farmers are
also often self-sufficient
when it comes to equipment
repairs—through parts may
come from a distance and it
does hamper production
efficiency when farmers
have to wait days for a part needed for equipment repair. Fertilizer sources
include on-farm manure or purchased supplies delivered in bulk from a variety
of sources to field-crop farms. Seed dealers work directly with crop farmers, and
most fruit and vegetable farmers order seeds via mail catalogs.
Energy is a big input on farms and some is locally supplied from propane
suppliers. Alternative energy sources (including solar, wind, biogas, and biomass)
provide opportunities for use of on-farm resources and offer potential savings for
farms. More work is needed to expose farms to energy alternatives and cost
savings that might be realized.
Infrastructure for processing is lacking. In addition to slaughter facilities as
mentioned above, it could be useful if farms had access to common storage
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
29
facilities and to packing, grading, and processing facilities. This would open
market-channel opportunities and reduce the need for individual farms to invest
in needed infrastructure. For example, a common cold-storage and packing
facility might allow farmers to expand their marketing season. Farmers in the
Town are fortunate to have access to excellent distribution resources. Regional
Access (located just north of the Town’s border on NYS Route 96) is distributes
local farm and food products locally and throughout the State. The company
specializes in regional and NY products and negotiates transportation
assessments for farmers who need the company’s services to expand their
farming operations.
Opportunities to develop supply, business, and marketing services for farmers
should be investigated as part of a plan for strengthening agriculture in the
Town. Some services that could be offered include: specialized animal feeds;
nutrition counseling; soil testing; organic-materials processing and compost sale;
coordination of farm marketing and processing; and business assistance. These
enterprises need to expand as farms expand and will probably need to work with
additional farmers beyond the Town’s borders to be economically viable.
Training of future farmers is actively pursued locally.
Beginning-farmer training is offered by CCETC; recently,
additional training for beginning farmers became
available through a project via Ecovillage and
Groundswell. Groundswell is a new entity organizing
farm internships, has offered a summer hands-on
practicum on food and farming at TC3, and has received
a USDA grant to do more training and develop an
incubator farm at Ecovillage. In addition, there is more
focus on farming opportunities via Cornell; these include
the new Enology and Viticulture undergraduate program,
and the efforts of the Cornell Small Farms Program–
Beginning Farmer Project. Dilmun Hill (a Cornell
student-run farm; see above), also offers a hands-on
opportunity for aspiring farmers. Anyone interested in
farming has access to these training resources, along
with business assistance from CCETC and the
Alternatives Federal Credit Union.
Local Foods
Local-food production is growing among the Town’s farmers. Beyond the three
long-operating farm stands, there are two CSA farms and several new farmers
interested in meat and vegetable production for direct sales. Given the
population of the Town and City of Ithaca combined, there is opportunity to
expand local-food production if demand remains strong. A key challenge is to
offer affordable local foods.
Local foods can be produced on smaller plots (as little as 1 acre) as intensive
culture or in greenhouses. Intensive production provides the opportunity to
situate farms on small parcels that may be more widely scattered throughout the
Town and in closer proximity to developed areas (and their residents). A flexible
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
30
definition of farming that accommodates some types of small-scale agriculture
and homesteading could enhance opportunities for local-food production.
Opportunities for marketing to larger institutional buyers are being explored by
CCETC, including direct sales at higher residential density (senior facilities, low
income housing, etc.) and to businesses (such as Cayuga Medical Center, area
schools, and other similar outlets). Often, policy barriers and purchasing
requirements must be addressed to open these venues to local sales. Fortunately,
public demand is driving this opportunity; therefore, institutional buyers are
open to exploring options for purchasing directly from local farms.
Local foods are also grown in home and community gardens. While there is no
census of home gardening, CCETC has experienced significant interest in home-
gardening classes and information. Additionally, there is interest in
homesteading beyond gardens. Many residents are eager to become more food
self-sufficient. This includes keeping bees, backyard poultry and small livestock,
making maple syrup, etc. Town laws should be reviewed to ensure that self-
sufficiency (and also more modest home production) is practiced on appropriately
sized parcels and in appropriate settings. Laws could be created to permit some
of these enterprises in areas other than the agricultural zone.
The Town has invested
in community gardens
on West Hill next to
Linderman Creek.
Similar initiatives
could be undertaken in
other parts of the Town
where land is available
adjacent to group
residences or in Town
parks. This makes it
possible for people who
do not have access to
land to grow and eat
fresh food.
Cornell has made land available to community residents for gardening on Freese
Road on the east side of the Town. There are approximately 80 plots at that site.
Several other group-housing facilities in the Town have established food gardens
for residents, including the Ellis Hollow Senior Apartments and Cornell’s
Maplewood Apartments and Hasbrouck Apartments on East Hill near Cornell.
Interest exists for gardening at the Overlook Apartments on West Hill.
Agricultural Districts
Article 25-AA of the New York State Agricultural and Markets Law authorizes the
creation of county agricultural districts. The purpose of agricultural districts is to
encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production. The
program is based on a combination of landowner incentives and protections—all
designed to prevent the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.
Included in these benefits are: preferential real property-tax treatment
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
31
(agricultural assessment and special-benefit assessment); protections against
overly restrictive local laws, government-funded acquisition, or construction
projects that would adversely affect agricultural operations; and protection
against private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices. The Agricultural
Assessment program is voluntary, and not all farms can qualify (e.g., do not have
the minimum annual income of $10,000 from the farm operation).
Currently, portions of both of Tompkins County’s Agricultural Districts
(Agricultural Districts 1 & 2) extend into the Town of Ithaca covering
approximately 4,580 acres of active and inactive agricultural lands, wooded
areas, and residential development (See Map No. 6, Agricultural Districts). Within
the Town’s Agricultural Districts, there are approximately 1,474 acres of farmer-
owned lands and farmers rent another 1,098 acres that receive agricultural
assessment.
Agriculture in Adjoining Towns
Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca is generally located around the Town’s
perimeter and often crosses into adjoining Towns. Development pressure from
the Town is outward against farm and other rural land. If development
“leapfrogs” over Town of Ithaca agriculture into adjoining towns, Town farmers
could be pressured by development from both sides. Additionally, increased
residential development in adjoining towns creates traffic-related problems for
Town of Ithaca farmers.
Enfield; The Town of Ithaca’s entire western border (including much of the
agricultural land) is contiguous with the Town of Enfield. To the west/southwest,
fairly contiguous blocks of farmland (both owned and rented) extend into the
Town of Enfield. Moving north from Robert H. Treman State Park, A. J. Teeter
Farm borders the Park and crosses into Enfield, where it meets the Arnold Farm
and agricultural land rented by Sweyolakan Farm and Eddy Hill Farm on both
sides of Cole Grove Road to Bostwick Road. Sweyolakan, Eddy Hill, and Eddydale
farms own land up to Sheffield Road and beyond into Enfield; Sweyolakan Farm
owns to Poole Road and rents land east to Culver Road. Both Sheffield and
Bostwick Roads have increasing residential development.
To the west/northwest along Sheffield Road to Hayts Road, Laughing Goat Fiber
Farm, Drake Farm, Suwinski Farm, Cayuga Landscape, and Genex all farm in
proximity and in some cases contiguously. Only Genex owns land across
Sheffield into the Town of Enfield; they own west to Van Dorn Road. The Drake
Farm owns along both sides of Mecklenburg Road (NYS Route 79). There is
roadside residential development throughout the area, but there are large blocks
of open land between Mecklenburg, Bundy, Hayts, and Iradell Roads (moving
from south to north between the Town’s western boundary and NYS Route 96).
The Town of Enfield has no zoning, but it does have both a Site Plan Review Law
and Subdivision Regulation. Enfield has a history of strong, community-wide
rejection of zoning whenever the subject is broached. Enfield is rural residential,
with about 40% of the land in agriculture. Agriculture occurs throughout Enfield,
but is most heavily concentrated on Enfield’s western border (i.e., not the border
with Ithaca). Residential growth in Enfield has been steady but might be
increasing; building permits in mid-year 2010 already exceed those from all of
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
32
the previous year (2009). The straight east-west roads in Enfield leading directly
into Ithaca offer quick access to rural living. Significant roadside development
along these roads could occur in Enfield with little impact on that town’s
agriculture, but the resulting traffic into Ithaca would exacerbate the problems
Ithaca farmers are already experiencing.
Ulysses: The Town of Ulysses shares a small section of the Town of Ithaca’s
northern border to the west of Cayuga Lake. Trumansburg Road (NYS Route 96)
is a major transit route from the north through the Town of Ulysses into Ithaca.
Although agricultural land is found along and near Route 96, major residential
development around this route continues in both Ithaca and Ulysses. Ulysses’
agricultural land near this boundary provides a buffer for agricultural land in the
Town of Ithaca only in the context of adjoining land in the western part of
Ulysses and in the Town of Enfield. However, agricultural operations along Route
96 (both in Ulysses and Ithaca) are well-suited to high traffic. The Indian Creek
Fruit Farm, Jackman Vineyards, and the Wedemeyer equestrian facility (under
construction) benefit from the exposure and customer base provided by locations
on busy thoroughfares. These three direct-marketing operations form a combined
total of 280 contiguous or nearby acres.
Ulysses recently updated their Comprehensive Plan and is developing an
Agricultural Protection Plan. Indications are that the agricultural area they will
target for protection will be in the western part of Ulysses (i.e., not adjacent to
the Town of Ithaca). Their Comprehensive Plan also identified areas for
conservation protection (particularly on the lake-facing slopes in the Town).
Additional residential growth can be expected in the hamlet of Jacksonville
(within Ulysses).
Additional development along and to the west of NYS Route 96 in Ulysses and in
the northeast corner of Enfield could eventually isolate the direct-marketing
enterprises along NYS Route 96 (in the towns of both Ithaca and Ulysses). Ithaca
and Ulysses might work together to strengthen and encourage direct-marketing
enterprises along this route to the benefit of both towns’ agricultural base.
Danby: Most of the Town’s southern border is shared with the Town of Danby.
The major agricultural operation on this border is the Voss property, with 480
acres in Ithaca and 380 acres in Danby. A combination of topography and
residential development separates this agricultural land from other agricultural
property in both towns. Although there is no agricultural buffer for this property,
there is significant NYS park land and some Finger Lakes Land Trust Land
nearby. However, this might actually increase the development value of this
land–although access to the land is somewhat awkward given the roads that
reach it.
The Town of Danby has zoning and their Comprehensive Plan promotes the
conservation of agricultural land. It encourages cluster subdivision and growth
focused near the two hamlets of Central and West Danby. Several years ago,
Danby developed a Sustainable Hamlets Revitalization Plan through funding
from a Small Cities Grant. Danby also recently appointed a Conservation
Advisory Board.
Growth in Danby is stable, averaging just under 20 units per year. There are no
“hot spots”; new residential housing occurs throughout Danby. Danby affords
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
33
easy access to Ithaca via NYS Route 96B and (from West Danby) NYS Route 13.
Coddington Road is also a transit route into the City of Ithaca.
Danby’s focus on hamlet development will increase traffic into Ithaca along
Routes 96B and 13. This traffic is unlikely to affect farming negatively on the
Voss property, and will likely benefit the direct-marketing operations on NYS
Route 13 just inside Ithaca’s southern border (Eddydale Farm Market, Earlybird
Farms, and Steep Hollow Farm Sound Garden and Corn Maze).
Dryden: Ithaca’s eastern border with the Town of Dryden includes residential
development, wetlands, Cornell University, and a small area of agricultural land
(Cornell and privately-owned parcels) from the Game Farm Road area to the
Turkey Hill Road area. The agricultural land in this area is geographically
isolated (primarily due to topography) from the primary agricultural land in
Dryden’s north-northeast area. However, there is a band of agricultural land that
runs along the hilltops from Mt. Pleasant Road to Ringwood Road—some of
which has only recently been returned to production. All of this land is
recognized as agricultural by Dryden, and is proposed for Agricultural Zoning in
Dryden’s Draft Comprehensive Plan. Their Draft Plan states that:
The primary emphasis of future land use policies in the town as they
affect agriculture must recognize agriculture as a legitimate, long term
land use on par with residential, commercial, industrial and other
traditional land use, and not as merely a temporary state pending
development for a “higher” use.
The Plan also mentions PDR as an agricultural protection tool; applications to
the NYS program have targeted the Dryden’s larger, contiguous band of
agricultural land just east and west of the Village of Dryden and continuing
north and northeast to The Town of Groton and Cortland County.
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34
Several documents and other regulations adopted by the Town of Ithaca Town
Board in the past have included information, recommendations, and policies
regarding agriculture in the Town. Tompkins County has also addressed
agriculture–including specific references to agriculture in the Town of Ithaca in
three documents over the past several years.
Town of Ithaca
Planning for Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca (1992)
The Planning for Agriculture document was adopted in 1992 and provided an
overview of agriculture in the Town along with some of the protections that were
in place in 1992. The plan discussed some of the concerns of Town farmers and
then provided recommended policies and implementation measures for the Town
to consider for the future. Recommendations implemented by the Town include
revising the agricultural zoning, adopting a PDR program, and establishing a
Town Agriculture Committee.
Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan (1993)
The current Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Ithaca was adopted by the Town
Board in September 1993. The Plan was developed in response to changes in the
physical environment, perceived development pressure, and a desire to protect
and improve natural resources and neighborhood character. The 1993 Plan
included a detailed inventory of agriculture in the Town; maps showing the
agricultural land use, agricultural districts, and soils; a goal specific to
agriculture (“To enhance agricultural viability and preserve agricultural land
resources”); and multiple objectives and recommendations. Most
recommendations have been implemented, including enacting a right-to-farm
law, allowing farm stands, and adopting a voluntary PDR program for
agricultural-land resources.
As mentioned earlier, the Town is in the process of updating the Comprehensive
Plan; portions of the AFPP are expected to be incorporated into the new Plan.
Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan (1997)
The 1997 Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan identified
approximately 3,440 acres of active agricultural land, approximately 1,480 acres
of inactive agricultural land, and approximately 1,050 acres of mature woodlots
owned by farmers. The Plan addressed the open-space contribution that
agricultural lands make to the Town and recommended revision of the
Agricultural Zoning District, the use of cluster subdivision design, and
development of a PDR program. The Plan identified approximately 2,800 acres of
agricultural lands to include in a PDR program and discussed criteria for
selecting properties. It specifically stated:
For agricultural land a parcel should contribute to creation of a critical
mass of contiguous agricultural land to ensure optimum efficiency and
Other Existing Plans and Regulations
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
35
thus economic viability from the standpoint of farmers, and to protect
farmers from intruding residential development.
The Plan also discussed the costs and potential sources of funding for a PDR
program.
Policies and Procedures Manual–Town of Ithaca Agricultural Land
Preservation Program (1999, updated 2008)
In 1999, the Town of Ithaca adopted a Policies and Procedures Manual for its
new Agricultural Land Preservation (PDR) Program. This program was designed
to protect the agricultural-land resources for future generations by purchasing
development rights on key parcels in the Town. It is a voluntary program through
which the Town Board (on behalf of all Town residents) purchases from willing
seller the development rights on their parcels (i.e., by establishing conservation
easements)—thereby limiting the uses and development potential of the parcels.
Participation in the PDR Program enables farmers to continue farming their land;
it relieves development pressures by ensuring that development will not encroach
onto participating farm parcels.
The Town adopted the voluntary PDR Program as a long-term commitment.
Approximately 3,500 acres of farmland in the Town of Ithaca are recommended
for PDR. A copy of the Map “Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements
Target Areas” is included in Appendix E. Since the start of this Program, the
Town has been setting aside funds in an Open Space Reserve account for PDR.
As of September 2011, the Town has accumulated approximately $651,800 of
reserve funds.
In 2003, the Town obtained its first
agricultural conservation easement
through PDR on a 40-acre parcel of
active farmland on Sheffield Road,
which is currently operated as the
Laughing Goat Fiber Farm. The
property contains approximately 30
acres of active farmland and 10
acres of mixed woods and shrub
growth. The owners rent a portion of
the property to another local farmer
for hay and themselves use the
northern portion of the property for
their goats, alpacas, and sheep.
Scenic views over the property are
visible from Sheffield Road looking
east toward East Hill areas of the
Town of Ithaca and beyond.
In 2009, the Town was notified that it will receive funding from NYS’s Farmland
Protection Implementation Grants program for PDR conservation on the 42-acre
Indian Creek Farm on Trumansburg Road. The Farm consists of U-pick fruits
and vegetables, a roadside stand, and original nursery sales. The farm is located
only 2 miles from downtown Ithaca, contains terrific views to the east, and is
open from spring to late fall (from dawn to dusk). In addition to the fruits and
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
36
vegetables grown, Indian Creek Farm also grafts and grows over 500 varieties of
fruit trees (Cummins Nursery) and is home to Eve’s Cidery.
Town of Ithaca Agricultural Zoning (2004)
In 2004, the Town of Ithaca adopted an updated zoning ordinance which
included significant changes to both the language and boundary of the
Agricultural Zone. The new zone contains approximately 4,235 acres (24% of the
total zoning); the text was enhanced and expanded to help preserve and promote
agriculture. New permitted uses (e.g., equestrian facilities, forest management,
and roadside stands) were added while some inappropriate uses were eliminated.
Many other uses related to or compatible with agriculture (e.g., retail sales of
machinery, products, or supplies related to or derived from agricultural
operations; golf courses; veterinary offices; composting facilities; farm retreats)
were also added through the Special Permit process.
A fixed-ratio subdivision system was added which included a 2-acre minimum
(except for non-farm lots), clustering requirements, and density limitations of 7
acres (original tract acreage divided by 7 to determine the number of lots
available).
The other significant addition to the new Agricultural Zone was the specific
“right-to-farm” provision. This warned landowners that the primary intention of
the zone is to permit usual acceptable farming practices.
All the revisions to the Agricultural Zone were designed to: assure a proper
economic and physical environment for continued agricultural use of the land
and other non-extractive natural-resource land uses; maintain an open rural
character in viable agricultural areas; assure compatible types and densities of
development on lands that are usable for agricultural pursuits; and minimize
other land uses incompatible with farming. A copy of the current Zoning Map is
included in Appendix E.
Tompkins County
Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan (1996)
The Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan provides an
overview of existing agriculture in Tompkins County and identifies specific
strategies and actions for supporting agriculture and protecting farmland. The
Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) has applied
for a New York State Grant to update the existing County Agriculture and
Farmland Protection Plan (which was written in 1996). The AFPB did some
preliminary work to update the Plan a couple of years ago and identified several
primary goals, including Economic Development, Agricultural Awareness,
Government Policies, Environmental Issues, and Agricultural Plan
Implementation. Many of the Strategies identified to meet these Goals mirror
(and none is in conflict with) those identified in the Town of Ithaca’s plan.
Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan (2004)
The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan (adopted in the 2004) contains
principles, policies, and actions that will help guide the County in decisions that
influence regional development, involve inter-governmental cooperation, and
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
37
affect the quality of life in neighborhoods and communities. Agriculture is
discussed within the Rural Resources section, which includes the principle that
“A diversified rural economy centered around the working rural landscapes of
farms and forests, and the livelihoods of those who depend upon them, should be
preserved and enhanced.” The plan discusses the agricultural economy, the loss
of farmland, and existing protection efforts, and it includes a strategy for the
future which includes specific policies and action items.
Tompkins County Conservation Plan–Part II: A Strategic Approach to
Agricultural Resource Stewardship (draft, 2010)
The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan identifies a need for establishing “a
program to protect and manage land for agricultural and forestry use in the
focus areas using tools appropriate to the functions of those resources.” The
Agricultural Resource Focus Area Plan is being developed to meet this need–
highlighting the critical agricultural-resource areas in the County where there is
a significant concentration of high-quality soils, actively farmed parcels, and land
within an agricultural district. There are six identified agricultural resource focus
areas (ARFAs) in the County; a small portion of one of the ARFAs extends into
the northwest corner of the Town of Ithaca. This plan presents existing
conditions of the agricultural resource base in each ARFA; identifies
impediments, opportunities, and resources for the farming community; and
develops conservation and management tools to ensure the future viability of
these important agricultural resources and to help farming prosper in these
areas.
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
38
Most of the Town of Ithaca’s active farmland is in the Town’s current Agricultural
Zoning district or in one of the Tompkins County Agricultural Districts (see Maps
7 and 6, Appendix E). In addition to the Agricultural Zone, the Town has further
identified agricultural properties that are a priority to protect through its
Agricultural Land Preservation Program PDR (see Map 8, Appendix E). These
existing designations define the land most important to protect with the various
tools identified in the recommendation section of this Plan. All of these areas are
privately owned-and-operated farmland and are suitable for long-term protection.
It also is important to preserve the agricultural research
lands identified on Map 9 that are owned by Cornell
University and NYS. To ensure long-term agricultural use,
these lands will most likely require tools and strategies
different from those used for private farmland. Most of
these Cornell or State lands are not located within the
existing designations mentioned above (agricultural
districts or zones, or PDR-targeted areas). These lands are
actively used for research and educational agriculture,
contain large amounts of prime soils and soils of statewide
significance, and make a significant contribution to
agriculture and open space in the Town.
Although continued agricultural use is encouraged throughout the Town, this
Plan designates certain areas important to protect for agricultural uses. There
are also lands outside of the priority areas that should be protected. These
include some additional lands with soils rated prime or of statewide importance,
as shown on Map 5. Other criteria include: the history of farming; the quality of
farm management; the type of farm operation; development pressure; specific
location within the Town; and buffering of natural resources.
Based on this
information and
previous agricultural
prioritization by the
Town (through zoning
and the PDR
program), two general
agricultural priority
areas have been
identified for
protection in the
Town. These areas are
shown on Map 9 in
Appendix E; the areas
identified on this map
are approximate.
Agricultural Lands to be Protected
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
39
Value of Agriculture to the Town Economy
Farms are local businesses. They create jobs and support many other businesses
by purchasing local goods and services. Additionally, there are secondary
economic benefits from farms—including open vistas and working landscapes
that enhance tourism. Local consumers benefit from having a source of locally
produced foods and thereby increased community food security. Farms in the
Town generate a combined value of agricultural sales of $4,431,000 (figure based
on the 16 interviewed farms).
Development imposes costs on communities in the form of increased demand for
schools, roads, water, sewer, and other community services. Numerous “cost of
community services” studies and other research have shown that farmlands and
forestlands generate more local tax revenue than they cost in services. By
comparison, residential development typically fails to make up for local costs
with property-tax revenue.
In 1995, CCETC and the Tompkins County AFPB prepared a “Cost of Community
Services Study” for all Towns in Tompkins County. The results for the Town of
Ithaca are consistent with the other towns in Tompkins County and other similar
surveys around the country, and show that farmland pays more in taxes than it
requires in services. As shown in Table 1 below, for every dollar paid in taxes in
the Town of Ithaca, residential land usage requires $1.09 in services, whereas
agricultural and open lands only receive $0.27 in services.
Table 1
Summary of Revenues and Expenditures by Land Use Category
for the Town of Ithaca – 1995
Ratio Excluding
Revenues
($)
Expenditures
($)
Ratio
School Budgets
Residential 17,357,468 18,901,479 1/1.09 1/1.00
Agricultural / Open Land 248,422 67,290 1/0.27 1/0.98
Commercial / Industrial 1,868,220 505,611 1/0.27 1/0.98
From "Cost of Community Services Study, Tompkins County, New York"
Prepared by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County and
Tompkins County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, August
1995
Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca is a vital business sector that supports food
manufacturers and processors, garden centers, veterinarians, farm-equipment
dealers, farm-supply stores, machinery-repair shops, and fuel suppliers. Most
support services are not available in the Town; if they were, the agricultural
industry could expand and become more integrated. Studies on the multiplier
effects of farming range from 1.3 to 2.1 (i.e., every dollar of agricultural output
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
40
generates $1.30 to $2.10 additional economic activity). Dairy has the highest
multiplier of all agricultural sectors given the numbers of services that are
employed by dairy farmers from veterinarians, feed and equipment dealers, etc.
There are 27 year-round full-time jobs on farms in the Town, plus an additional
39 year-round part-time jobs (on 15 of the interviewed farms). During the
growing season, another 25 people are employed on those 15 Town farms.
Additionally, 55 employees work at Genex year-round, and Cornell also employs
many year-round and full-time workers at their various facilities in the town (see
Cornell University section on page 20). While the actual numbers of farmers is
not high, there is significant human capital and expertise in agriculture given the
proximity of farming and the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and of
Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. Cornell agritechnology incubation presents a
further asset for expanding the agricultural businesses located in the town.
We acknowledge that only 2 of 15 responding farmers indicated that their
families had income only from their farm; farming in Ithaca tends to be a small,
niche, part-time occupation (as is often true regionally and statewide). Preserving
farms within the Town specifically is
desirable because it provides
“bilateral” benefits. The Town’s
residents and visitors gain access to
local foods and benefit from the open
space and longer-term place-holding
for agriculture that the farms offer. In
return, closeness to the Town (and
City) populations provides the farmers
with access to local markets and to
the off-farm employment that
supplements their families’ farm-
generated income.
Value to Food Security
Direct marketing is a key marketing channel used by Town farmers. It allows
Town consumers to buy foods locally (including meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables,
and wine). Opportunities exist to expand production to serve more of the
residents in the County. Maple sugar, honey, mushrooms, greenhouse-grown
vegetables and fruit, and more poultry and small livestock are enterprises that
would meet additional consumer needs. While dairy regulations make local milk
sales more costly to develop, there would be consumer interest in raw milk.
Organic grains could also be used for human food instead of animal feed.
Currently, the two CSA farms serve approximately 300 county families. The
Town’s four farm markets also serve the needs of many customers each year.
Additionally, U-pick farms operating from June (strawberries) into the fall
(apples) provide outlets for bulk purchases.
To become food self-sufficient is not a realistic Town-level goal. Given the
population of the Town and typical USDA per capita consumption for vegetables
and fruit, the Towns’ farmers produce about 25% of the vegetables and fruit that
would be eaten in a year (assuming that all of the acreage is being actively
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
41
farmed and its produce sold locally). For beef, there is a much bigger gap
between consumption and production. Only 1.7% of the total beef produced in
the Town could be from local sources (again assuming that all beef produced in
the Town is consumed by Town residents). While it might be possible to achieve a
higher level of self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables, it becomes challenging to
become self-sufficient in meat production, given that significantly more land
resources for grazing and feed would be needed to increase livestock production
to meet local consumption. This would likewise be true for poultry and other
meat species. Nevertheless, there is considerable opportunity for household
production and consumption of eggs and poultry, rabbits, and similar small
livestock.
It is very important that
agriculture be maintained
at the urban fringe and
that urban-edge
agriculture focus on
providing food to nearby
residents. In addition to
making local food
accessible to urban
residents, urban-edge
agriculture reduces the
cost of transporting food
over large distances
(thereby reducing the
carbon footprint of food),
maintains societal and
community connections to how food is produced, and helps to maintain open
space in proximity to urban areas. Studies of urban-edge agriculture also reveal
that direct-market farmers who focus on meeting the needs of nearby consumers
can be more profitable than those in rural areas with fewer consumers to attract.
Home food production and self-sufficiency should also be considered as part of a
goal of food security. Changes that make it possible to keep a few livestock or to
have access to public lands for growing gardens, community orchards, or
greenhouses could add to the food security and health of Town residents.
Value of Open Space
The 2009 NYS Open Space Conservation Plan defines open space as
land which is not intensively developed for residential, commercial,
industrial or institutional use. Open space can be publicly or privately
owned. It includes agricultural and forest land, undeveloped coastal and
estuarine lands, undeveloped scenic lands, public parks and preserves.
It also includes water bodies such as lakes and bays.
Using this definition, the agricultural and forestlands in the Town of Ithaca can
be considered “open space.”
Within the Town of Ithaca there are approximately 13,899 acres of open-space
lands (based on the land-use information from Tompkins County which derived it
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
42
from aerial photos in 2007). Using the above State definition of open space, this
would include active and inactive agricultural lands, public and private
recreation lands, undeveloped forest, meadow, and brush lands, and wetlands.
The active (2,832 acres) and inactive (580 acres) agricultural lands together make
up approximately 25 % of the open space in the Town. These existing open-space
categories can be seen on the Existing Land Use / Land Cover map (Map 4 in
Appendix E).
Town of Ithaca residents value the open space of Town agricultural lands and
forestlands. In 2009, the Town of Ithaca conducted a survey of residents as part
of Town’s Comprehensive Plan update process. One of the questions in the
survey asked “how important are these aspects to your quality of life?” The
results show that Town residents highly support various open-space elements,
and Town farmland contributes much to these elements. Natural areas, nearby
state parks, Town parks and trials, and scenic views were four out of the top five
items listed by Town residents as important to the quality of life in the Town.
Scenic views were rated as either “important” or “very important” by 91 % of the
respondents. “Farmland” was also included in this question, with 70 % of the
respondents rating it as either “important” or “very important”. Additional
information regarding these results can be found in Appendix A.
Working farms help to define the Town’s rural landscape. The Town’s natural
features (along with its agricultural cropland, pastures, woodlands, barns, and
animals) contribute to the community’s identity and character and provide an
important link to the Town’s history and culture. These lands enhance the
quality of life for all residents. The protection of agricultural and farmlands
serves the greater community goal of preserving open space. Some farms also
serve as buffers to Town or State park lands.
An agricultural landowner’s stewardship of the land–whether for business or
open space–serves the greater Ithaca community. As natural resource-based
businesses, farms depend on adequate land, good soils, favorable climatic
conditions, and clean water. In turn, farmers and the land they steward confer a
variety of environmental benefits: maintaining or increasing biodiversity;
providing wildlife habitat; improving surface and groundwater quality by filtering
water; reducing flooding by slowing runoff and providing recharge areas;
improving air quality by filtering air and producing oxygen; reducing carbon
emissions by reducing reliance on foods, feeds, and horticulture products that
need to be shipped from long distances; and retaining soil for plant growth.
The open space provided by farms offers valuable opportunities for recreation.
Although most farms do not provide public access, some farmers allow their land
to be used by the public for walking, hunting, snowmobiling, or horseback riding.
Local roads near farms offer scenic views for biking, running, walking, and
driving. Ithacans who enjoy the long views across our valleys are typically
viewing the farms on opposite hills.
In addition to making the Town of Ithaca an attractive place to live, working
farms help make the Town a desirable place to visit. Wineries, U-picks, corn
mazes, and other agritourism businesses are direct draws for tourists.
In 1999, the Town of Ithaca adopted a Policies and Procedures Manual for its
new Agricultural Land Preservation Program. This PDR program was designed to
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Town of Ithaca – November 2011
43
protect the agricultural-land resources in the Town. Although the primary
purpose of the program is to protect farmland, as farmland is protected, so also
are open-space resources–including the scenic views around Town everyone
enjoys and the natural areas on farm properties.
The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council has created a Unique
Natural Areas (UNA) inventory which identifies areas in the County that have
been determined to contain significant ecological, biological, geological, or
aesthetic characteristics. Within the Town of Ithaca, small portions of 12 of these
UNAs are present on parts of active farms. In many of these cases, the UNAs
follow streams or forest boundaries and are protected through ownership by the
farm and not being otherwise developed. Preserving the UNAs located on Town
agricultural lands protects the environment.
Conversion Pressure
Population Trends
According to the 2010 Census, the Town of Ithaca (including the Village of
Cayuga Heights) has a current population of approximately 19,930 persons. The
Town’s population grew steadily in a 40-year period between 1970 and 2010,
with an average increase of 6.75% each decade, or a growth rate of approximately
0.7% per year. The Town experienced the largest 10-year increase between 1980
and 1990, where the population grew 11% in that decade (a rate of slightly more
than 1% per year). The Town’s 1993 Comprehensive Plan used 1980-1990 data
to project a population growth rate for the 20-year period between 1990 and
2010. Recent Census population information estimated that the Town grew
another 6.5% between 2000 and 2010–consistent with past trends.
The Town’s population historically has been concentrated on East Hill, although
development has occurred in recent years in other areas of the Town. The
population in the South Hill area of the Town grew 11.2% and the West Hill area
experienced a 22% population increase between 2000 and 2010. According to the
2010 Census information, around 51% of the Town’s population was
concentrated on East Hill (including the Village of Cayuga Heights), while
approximately 35% resided on South Hill and 14% lived on West Hill (including
Inlet Valley).
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Development Trends
According to the 1993 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan, there was a dramatic
growth in the number of housing units in the Town between 1960 and 1990; the
number of housing units increased from 2,770 units to a total of 6,197 units in
that 30-year period. The 2000 Census reported 7,526 total housing units in the
Town—nearly 18% of all housing units in Tompkins County and a 9% increase
from the 2000 figure. The most recent American Communities Survey data
estimated that the Town had a total of 7,420 housing units.
Town of Ithaca building-permit records in the last 30 years show a total of 2,039
new housing units constructed between January 1980 and January 2010
(including independent senior units but not student housing or assisted-living,
nursing-home, or hospice units). Specifically, 831 new housing units were added
in the Town between 1980 and December 1989, 539 between 1990 and
December 1999, and 669 between 2000 and January 2010. This amounts to an
increase of approximately 68 new housing units in the Town every year since
1980.
Like the population distribution, East Hill historically contained most new
housing units (64% of the new housing units between 1980 and 1989, followed
by South Hill at 25% and West Hill at 11%). However, the 1993 Comprehensive
Plan also noted that since the 1960s, residential development had been shifting
from East Hill to South Hill. Town building-permit records show that between
1980 and January 2010, East Hill contained 38% of the total new housing units
in that 30-year period, West Hill 33%, and South Hill 29%. This is a significant–
but not surprising–shift in housing distribution, because South and West Hills
have much more available vacant land (including agricultural lands) and
development potential than East Hill, which is mostly built-out on lands
available for residential development. The chart below shows the total number of
housing units from the Town building permit records for each location, by 10-
year segments.
Housing UNITS by Location: 1980-Jan. 2010
(2,039 total new housing units)
526
118 132
218
129
251
170
87
408
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1980-1989 1990-2000 2000-2010
Year Range# Housing UnitsEast Hill
South Hill
West Hill/Inlet Valley
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
45
Consequences of Possible Farmland Conversion
The Town of Ithaca surrounds the City of Ithaca on all sides and includes Ithaca
College, portions of Cornell University, and the Cayuga Medical Center. Its
location bordering the City and its proximity to the large educational institutions
and the hospital (which together are the major employers in the County) has
encouraged much growth spreading out into the Town. Housing is encroaching
on all farmland; as a result, farmers are affected by more traffic and more
neighborhood issues, and there is less incentive to keep farming as property
values and taxes continue to rise. Along with the increase in the number of
housing units as discussed above, according to the Tompkins County
Comprehensive Plan (December 2004):
The sale price of a single-family home in Tompkins County has soared
in the last few years, from a median of $100,000 in 2000 to $134,000 in
2003. The median sales price here in Tompkins County is 50 to 75
percent higher than it is across the County line in any direction.
With the presence of the educational institutions in the Town of Ithaca, there is a
large demand for rental housing. With limited room for expansion adjacent to the
colleges, many of the developments on West Hill will attract students and create
more development pressure on the Town’s farmland.
Development is a major concern for agriculture in the Town of Ithaca. Farmland
provides many benefits that could be lost if the land is converted to other uses.
The farmland provides the scenic backdrop and attractions that tourists enjoy.
For residents, farmland provides local-food options (through CSAs, U-pick
operations, farmers markets, and farm stands), recreational opportunities, open
space, and a significant economic value. Farmland also provides important
environmental benefits for people and wildlife.
Several consequences would occur if current
agricultural lands were converted to
development. More homes and other non-
agricultural-related development means an
increase in demand for schools, roads, water,
sewer, and other community services, which
can lead to increases in local taxes–which
puts a burden on everyone (especially
farmers). Development also comes at the
expense of some of the best agricultural land
in the Town. As development is continually
extending out in the Town from the City, more pressure is being applied to
development of the Town’s productive agricultural lands. The pattern of
development is also a concern, because it only takes a few housing lots to be laid
out in such a way as to render a once-productive field unusable.
New commercial and residential development affects the amount of farmland
available for agricultural use in the Town. The development has the potential to
make it more difficult for farmers to travel from field-to-field with their farm
equipment along local roads. Another concern is that even though the Town has
a right-to-farm law, residential development in close proximity to farm operations
often leads to conflicts and complaints.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
46
Vision Statement
The Town of Ithaca recognizes that agriculture is an integral part of the
Town’s economy and environment, provides locally grown food and other
agricultural products, and enhances the quality of life for Town residents.
The Town proactively promotes a diversity of farm types, seeks the long-
term preservation of the Town’s agricultural-land resources, supports the
economic viability of the farming community and the profitability of each
farm, values the local public agricultural research and educational
resources, and encourages the general public to understand and support
local agriculture.
Goal 1: Promote the availability of locally grown foods and other
agricultural products for all residents including limited income families
a) List active growers on the Town’s website and through the development of
a guide to local farms
b) Facilitate GPS registration of the locations of agritourism and retail sales
of local farm products
c) Identify any additional land-based agriculture products that are available
for local consumption, including biomass products, firewood, local lumber
and other agriforestry products
d) Explore revisions to Zoning and other Town Laws (e.g., Sign Law) to
accommodate farm stands, year-round farm markets, greenhouses, value-
added product operations, home food
production, U-picks, CSA, and agritourism
sites
e) Explore revisions to Subdivision and Site
Plan requirements to require or encourage
community gardens in larger new housing
developments and provide community
gardens (including raised beds, irrigation
water, and other facilities to encourage
participation of all residents) on Town
lands and elsewhere
f) Plant appropriate low-growing perennial
herbs and fruits in public spaces for public
consumption–possibly associated with
community gardens
g) Identify locations for and facilitate
additional small-scale farmers’ markets,
including “mobile markets” and CSA
distribution sites
Vision Statement, Goals, and Recommendations
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
47
Goal 2: Retain and encourage a diversity of economically viable farm types
a) Work with other organizations to promote short-term property-tax
abatements for new startup farming operations and for the initial
plantings of crops that take multiple years until first harvest
b) On the Town’s website, include links to educational resources, services,
business loans, and programs that support farmers
c) Review and revise regulations pertaining to structures to accommodate
farm operations (e.g. Sprinkler Law, use of rough-cut timber, property-
maintenance law)
d) Work with towns that have adjoining agriculture lands to write consistent
zoning and other regulations
e) Explore mechanisms for listing agricultural lands available for lease or
purchase for agricultural uses
f) Connect farmers with existing funding programs, or pursue the
development of programs, for subsidizing fencing (including deer fencing),
lime, drainage tile, and the restoration of barns and other old agricultural
buildings
g) Assist farmers in exploring new farming and marketing ideas and
opportunities
h) Identify under-utilized farming and forestry resources in the Town
i) Participate in regional efforts promoting sustainable biomass for energy
production
j) Revise Zoning and other Town
Laws to encourage on-farm
sustainable energy production
k) Encourage shared farm
infrastructure development
(storage and processing
facilities, slaughter and
processing facilities, mobile
markets, locations for CSA
drop-off and pick-up, etc.)
l) Work with State, Tompkins
County, and Town highway
officials regarding speeding,
safe movement of domestic
animals across roads, and
other traffic issues
m) Encourage and support the intergenerational transfer through
inheritance, sale, or lease of agricultural properties to future generations
of farmers. Educate farmers (e.g., through the sponsoring of seminars)
about farm-transition issues, estate planning, and related issues
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
48
n) Implement, or advocate at the State or County level, a grant or revolving-
loan program to assist farmers who are putting land back into active
agriculture
o) Review and revise the Town’s Commercial, Light Industrial and
Agricultural Zones to ensure that the necessary agriculture-related
businesses would be permitted, and to encourage those types of
businesses to locate in the Town of Ithaca
Goal 3: Ensure long-term protection of agricultural-land resources for
agriculture, open space, and scenic resources
a) Enhance zoning as a tool to control non-agricultural development on or
adjacent to agricultural land
o Consider enlarging setbacks for non-farm residential dwellings in
the agricultural zone to provide spatial and vegetative buffers
between the houses and agricultural activities (such as crop
production, animal pasturage, and hunting)
o Require vegetative buffers on the non-agricultural land, so that
farm lands have maximum space and so that e.g., trespassing
prevention, residential pesticide movement onto the farm lands,
and dust control are enhanced
b) Investigate an agricultural Lease of
Development Rights program and/or a
program to allow the Town the right of first
refusal for outright purchase of agricultural
properties
c) Continue implementation of the Town’s
current agricultural conservation-easement
acquisition (PDR) program for appropriate
agricultural parcels that have been targeted in
the Policies and Procedures Manual for the
Agricultural Land Preservation Program
d) Limit extension of municipal sewer and water
in agricultural areas
e) Cooperate with Tompkins County on
Agricultural District designations
f) Explore alternative methods to deed
restrictions for monitoring the subdivision of
farm properties in the Town’s Agricultural
Zone
g) Reactivate and support the Town of Ithaca’s Agriculture Committee
h) Advocate at the State level for increased funds to be allocated for farmland
protection initiatives
i) Educate individual landowners who rent (or could rent) land to farmers
about the importance of that land to the overall farming landscape in the
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
49
Town of Ithaca and the importance of keeping that land in active
agricultural use
j) Identify lands owned by local colleges or New York State that are of high
priority to retain in agricultural/open space designation and work with
those institutions to locate development in a way that minimizes the loss
of agricultural land
k) Work with Tompkins County and CCETC to recruit farmers actively to the
Town
l) Review the Town Agricultural Zoning, the Town’s Agricultural Easements
Target Areas, and the boundaries of the Tompkins County Agricultural
Districts for inconsistencies; address inconsistencies as is deemed
appropriate
m) Promote practices that slow runoff and enhance absorption of pollutants
when constructing and maintaining roadside ditches
Goal 4: Encourage public understanding and involvement
a) Continue support for agricultural and gardening programs for youth (e.g.,
community gardens, 4-H Clubs, Dairy Princess)
b) Encourage the Tompkins County AFPB to send information on
agricultural districts and protected agriculture activities to real-estate
agents and mortgage writers annually
c) Encourage farmers to communicate with their neighbors on changes in
their operations
d) Feature a variety of farm profiles and other agricultural topics in the Town
newsletter and on the Town’s website
e) Have the Town (or Tompkins County or the Town Agriculture Committee)
sponsor an award to farmers or others who actively support local
agriculture, awarding, e.g., a
“Farmer of the Year” or
“Farmer Appreciation Award”
to highlight agriculture
f) Provide maps that show the
coincidence of the prized scenic
views and natural areas with
agricultural lands
g) Encourage Cornell University
to host more tours of farm-
research facilities in the Town
h) Heighten public awareness regarding speeding and other traffic issues
affecting farmers (e.g., domestic-animal and equipment movements)
through the use of the Town’s website, newsletter, and signage
i) Provide a copy of the Town’s right-to-farm law to applicants for building
permits on land in and adjacent to the Town’s Agricultural Zone
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
50
j) Explore mechanisms to require real-estate agents and mortgage writers to
notify prospective buyers of their adjacency to or location within the
Town’s Agricultural Zone and the County’s Agricultural Districts and
provide them with a copy of the right-to-farm law
k) Develop and place signs to recognize farms (e.g., this farm is protected) or
to provide interesting facts or details about the farm
Goal 5: Promote wise land use and waste management on agricultural
land
a) Connect farmers with SWCD, Natural NRCS, and FSA for funding for
buffers, etc.
b) Encourage ongoing relationships between farmers and resources such as
Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation District for farm
management and sound farming practices
c) Connect farmers to resources for forest and woodlot management
d) Advocate at the State and Federal level for increased funds to be allocated
for farm conservation practices, farm management and sound farming
practices, and forest and woodlot management
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
51
This section prioritizes the recommendations for short-term, medium-term, long-
term, and ongoing activities and identifies the responsible parties to assist with
implementation. Town agencies (including the Planning Department, existing
Boards and Committees, and a re-established Town Agriculture Committee) will
play a vital role in the implementation and success of the Plan. A critical and
primary implementation step for the Town Board is to authorize and encourage
the Agriculture Committee to take an active role in implementing the Plan on
behalf of the Town Board. So that the ideas presented in this Plan can become a
reality, it is recommended that the Town Board commit to the following strategies
immediately after adoption:
1. Strengthen the relationship between Town farmers and Town staff
Encourage farmer representation on the Town Board, Planning Board,
Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Board
Designate a Town staff person to be a farmer contact
Educate Town of Ithaca staff and decision makers regarding the needs,
benefits, and operational aspects of agriculture and how these are
affected by the Town’s permitting processes
Ensure that Town staff is respectful and courteous in dealing with the
agricultural community
2. Support the implementation of the Town of Ithaca Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Plan
Adopt the Town of Ithaca AFPP as part of the Town of Ithaca’s current
Comprehensive Plan update
Encourage the Town’s Agriculture Committee to take an active role in
the implementation of the AFPP
Actively seek State, Federal, private, or other sources of funding to
assist in implementing the recommendations in this AFPP
Use the Implementation Chart below as a list of implementation
activities and to establish time frames and expectations for
implementation
This AFPP calls for a variety of policy decisions, program initiation, regulatory
changes, coordination with other organizations and agencies, and the provision
of educational resources. Short-term recommendations (highlighted in orange)
are those that could be implemented immediately, within the first year. Medium-
term recommendations (highlighted in blue) are those that could be implemented
following the completion of short term items (1 to 5 years). Long-term
recommendations (highlighted in green) are those that would take considerably
more time to research and implement, perhaps 5 to 7 years following plan
adoption. Ongoing recommendations (highlighted in red) are actions that are to
be incorporated into the ongoing activities of the Town Departments, Boards, and
Implementation Plan
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
52
Committees. The prioritization of these recommendations may change based on
the availability of Town staff and grant opportunities.
Within the Implementation Chart, several of the recommendations are especially
critical to supporting agriculture in the Town. These are recommendations that
can be addressed solely by the Town without depending on other organizations
and would have the most impact on agriculture in the Town of Ithaca. Although
it would be ideal for all of these recommendations to be classified as “short-term”
and be done immediately, many of these involve significant time to prepare and
could be related to other updates to Town laws. These recommendations are
identified with a “ ı ” in the Chart.
The recommendations provided in the Implementation Chart have been organized
by each goal and then by implementation timeframe. The table lists the
individual recommendations, the proposed timeframe for implementation, and
the responsible organization or agency. The initials of the primary responsible
organizations or agencies involved in the recommendations are listed below and
at the end of the Chart.
Responsible Organization / Agency:
AC = Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee
CCETC = Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
DEC = New York State Department of Conservation
NYS = New York State
SWCD = Soil and Water Conservation District
TC = Tompkins County / Tompkins County Farmland Protection Board
TCCOG = Tompkins County Council of Governments
TOI = Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Town of Ithaca – November 2011 53 Town of Ithaca Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Implementation Chart Recommendation Implementation Responsibility Goal 1: Promote the availability of locally grown foods and other agricultural products for all residents including limited income families 1-a List active growers on the Town’s website and through the development of a guide to local farms Short / Ongoing TOI, AC, CCETC 1-b Facilitate GPS registration of the locations of agritourism and retail sales of local farm products Medium / Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC 1-c Identify any additional land-based agriculture products that are available for local consumption, including biomass products, firewood, local lumber and other agriforestry products Medium CCETC, TOI, TC 1-d ı Explore revisions to Zoning and other Town Laws (e.g., Sign Law) to accommodate farm stands, year-round farm markets, greenhouses, value-added product operations, home food production, U-picks, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and agritourism sites Medium TOI, AC 1-e Explore revisions to Subdivision and Site Plan requirements to require or encourage community gardens in larger new housing developments and provide community gardens (including raised beds, irrigation water, and other facilities to encourage participation of all residents) on Town lands and elsewhere Medium TOI 1-g Identify locations for and facilitate additional small-scale farmers’ markets, including “mobile markets” and CSA distribution sites Medium / Ongoing TOI, CCETC, AC 1-f Plant appropriate low-growing perennial herbs and fruits in public spaces for public consumption-possibly associated with community gardens Ongoing TOI Goal 2: Retain and encourage a diversity of viable farm types 2-b On the Town’s website, include links to educational resources, services, business loans, and programs that support farmers Short / Ongoing TOI 2-c ı Review and revise regulations pertaining to structures to accommodate farm operations (e.g. Sprinkler Law, use of rough-cut timber, property-maintenance law) Medium TOI, AC 2-e Explore mechanisms for listing agricultural lands available for lease or purchase for agricultural uses Medium TOI, TC, CCETC 2-j Revise Zoning and other Town Laws to encourage on-farm sustainable energy production Medium TOI, AC 2-k Encourage shared farm infrastructure development (storage and processing facilities, slaughter and processing facilities, mobile market, locations for CSA drop-off and pick-up, etc.) Medium / Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, AC 2-o Review and revise the Town’s Commercial, Light Industrial, and Agricultural Zones to ensure that the necessary agriculture-related businesses would be permitted, and to encourage those types of businesses to locate in the Town of Ithaca Medium / Ongoing TOI, AC
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Town of Ithaca – November 2011 54 Recommendation Implementation Responsibility 2-a Work with other organizations to promote short-term property-tax abatements for new startup farming operations and for the initial plantings of crops that take multiple years until first harvest Long TOI, TC, NYS 2-f Connect farmers with existing funding programs, or pursue the development of programs, for subsidizing fencing (including deer fencing), lime, drainage tile, and the restoration of barns and other old agricultural buildings Long TOI, TC, NYS, CCETC, SWCD 2-n Implement or advocate at the State or County level, a grant or revolving loan program to assist farmers who are putting land back into active agriculture Long / Ongoing TOI, TC, NYS 2-d Work with towns that have adjoining agriculture lands to write consistent zoning and other regulations Ongoing TOI, CCETC, TCCOG 2-g Assist farmers in exploring new farming and marketing ideas and opportunities Ongoing TOI, CCETC, AC, TC, NYS, SWCD 2-h Identify under-utilized farming and forestry resources in the Town Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, DEC 2-i Participate in regional efforts promoting sustainable biomass for energy production Ongoing TOI, TC, NYS, CCETC, AC 2-l Work with State, Tompkins County, and Town highway officials regarding speeding, safe movement of domestic animals across roads, and other traffic issues Ongoing TOI, TC, NYS 2-m Encourage and support intergenerational transfer through inheritance, sale, or lease of agricultural properties to future generations of farmers. Educate farmers (e.g., through the sponsoring of seminars) about farm transition issues, estate planning, and related issues Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, AC Goal 3: Ensure long-term protection of agricultural-land resources for agriculture, open space, and scenic resources 3-g ı Reactivate and support the Town of Ithaca’s Agriculture Committee Short / Ongoing TOI, AC 3-l Review the Town Agricultural Zoning, the Town’s Agricultural Easements Target Areas, and the boundaries of the Tompkins County Agricultural Districts for inconsistencies; address inconsistencies as is deemed appropriate Short TOI, CCETC, TC 3-a ı Enhance zoning as a tool to control non-agricultural development on or adjacent to agricultural land Medium TOI, AC 3-f Explore alternative methods to deed restrictions for monitoring the subdivision of farm properties in the Town’s Agricultural Zone Medium TOI, AC 3-j Identify lands owned by local colleges or New York State that are of high priority to retain in agricultural/open space designation and work with those institutions to locate development in a way that minimizes the loss of agricultural land Medium / Ongoing TOI 3-b Investigate an agricultural Lease of Development Rights program and/or a program to allow the Town the right of first refusal for outright purchase of agricultural properties Long TOI, TC, AC 3-c ı Continue implementation of the Town’s current agricultural conservation easement acquisition (PDR) program for appropriate agricultural parcels that have been targeted in the Policies and Procedures Manual for the Agricultural Land Preservation Program Ongoing TOI, TC, AC
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Town of Ithaca – November 2011 55 Recommendation Implementation Responsibility 3-d Limit extension of municipal sewer and water in agricultural areas Ongoing TOI 3-e Cooperate with Tompkins County on Agricultural District designations Ongoing TOI, TC 3-h Advocate at the State level for increased funds to be allocated for farmland protection initiatives Ongoing TOI, NYS 3-i Educate individual landowners who rent (or could rent) land to farmers about the importance of that land to the overall farming landscape in the Town of Ithaca and the importance of keeping that land in active agricultural use Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, AC 3-k Work with Tompkins County and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCETC) to recruit farmers actively to the Town Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, AC, SWCD 3-m Promote practices that slow runoff and enhance absorption of pollutants when constructing and maintaining roadside ditches Ongoing TOI, CCETC, TC, NYS, SWCD Goal 4: Encourage public understanding and involvement 4-d Feature a variety of farm profiles and other agricultural topics in the Town newsletter and on the Town’s website Short / Ongoing TOI, AC 4-e Have the Town (or Tompkins County or the Town Agriculture Committee) sponsor an award to farmers or others who actively support local agriculture awarding e.g. a “Farmer of the Year” or “Farmer Appreciation Award” to highlight agriculture Short / Ongoing TOI, TC, AC, SWCD 4-f Provide maps that show the coincidence of the prized scenic views and natural areas with agricultural lands Short TOI 4-g Encourage Cornell University to host more tours of farm-research facilities in the Town Short / Ongoing TOI, CCETC 4-j Explore mechanisms to require real-estate agents and mortgage writers to notify prospective buyers of their adjacency to or location within the Town’s Agricultural Zone and the County’s Agricultural Districts and provide them with a copy of the right-to-farm law Short / Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC 4-k Develop and place signs to recognize farms (e.g., this farm is protected) or to provide interesting facts or details about the farm Medium TOI, AC 4-a Continue support for agricultural and gardening programs for youth (e.g., community gardens, 4-H Clubs, Dairy Princess) Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, AC 4-b Encourage the Tompkins County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to send information on agricultural districts and protected agriculture activities to real-estate agents and mortgage writers annually Ongoing TOI, TC 4-c Encourage farmers to communicate with their neighbors on changes in their operations Ongoing TOI, CCETC, AC 4-h Heighten public awareness regarding speeding and other traffic issues affecting farmers (e.g., domestic-animal and equipment movements) through the use of the Town’s website, newsletter, and signage Ongoing TOI, TC, NYS, CCETC, AC 4-i Provide a copy of the Town’s right-to-farm law to applicants for building permits on land in and adjacent to the Town’s Agricultural Zone Ongoing TOI
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Town of Ithaca – November 2011 56 Recommendation Implementation Responsibility Goal 5: Promote wise land use and waste management on agricultural land 5-a Connect farmers with Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Farm Service Agency (FSA) for funding for buffers, etc. Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC 5-b Encourage ongoing relationships between farmers and resources such as Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation District for farm management and sound farming practices Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, SWCD 5-c Connect farmers to resources for forest and woodlot management Ongoing TOI, TC, CCETC, DEC 5-d Advocate at the State and Federal level for increased funds to be allocated for farm conservation practices, farm management and sound farming practices and for forest and woodlot management Ongoing TOI, NYS Implementation Legend: Short-Term (0 - 1 years): Recommendations that could be implemented immediately, within the first year. Medium-Term (1 - 5 years): Recommendations that could be implemented following the completion of short term items. Long-Term (5 - 7 years): Important recommendations that would take considerably more time to research and implement. Ongoing: Recommendations to be incorporated into the ongoing activities of the Town Departments, Boards and Committees. ı: Identifies recommendations that are critical to supporting agriculture in the Town. Responsible Organization / Agency: AC = Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee CCE = Cornell Cooperative Extension DEC = New York State Department of Conservation NYS = New York State SWCD = Soil and Water Conservation District TC = Tompkins County / Tompkins County Farmland Protection Board TCCOG = Tompkins County Council of Governments TOI = Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
57
The Town of Ithaca Town Board is responsible for adopting and maintaining the
Town’s AFPP. The Town Board will hold a public hearing, make a determination
of environmental significance, and take steps to adopt the AFPP. As part of this
adoption process, the Town Board may request that the Town of Ithaca Planning
Board, Conservation Board, and Agriculture Committee review the AFPP and
provide comments. The AFPP will also be submitted to both the Tompkins
County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board and the Commissioner for
the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for approval.
The Town of Ithaca is currently working on an update to its 1993 Comprehensive
Plan. It is anticipated that the goals and recommendations from the AFPP will be
incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan update and that this document in its
entirety will be included as an appendix to the Comprehensive Plan. The updated
Comprehensive Plan also is expected to be adopted by the Town of Ithaca Town
Board.
As agriculture in the Town continues to change, new concerns or opportunities
might be discovered that will need to be addressed through revisions to the
AFPP. The AFPP should be reviewed by the Agriculture Committee and the Town
Board at least every 5 years to ensure its relevancy. As part of this regular
review, the Agriculture Committee and the Town Board will need to determine
when revisions to the AFPP are necessary and appropriate. The Town Board shall
determine and authorize all changes to be made to the AFPP, including changes
to text, maps, figures, etc.
Adoption and Maintenance
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
58
“If you tickle the earth with a hoe, she laughs with a harvest.”
Douglas William Jerrold
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendices
Appendix A
Comprehensive Plan Town Residents Survey Summary (selected questions)
Appendix B
Sample of Farmer Interview Form
Appendix C
Definitions from NYS Agriculture & Markets Laws
Appendix D
List of farm operations that were interviewed and/or researched
Appendix E
Maps
Appendix F
March 4, 2009 Agricultural Focus Group Meeting (Agenda & Notes)
November 17, 2009, May 1, 2010, and March 22, 2011 Farmer Meetings
(Agendas & Notes)
Appendix G
Proposed Charter of the Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee
Appendix H
Farming on the Edge – Sprawling Development Threatens
America’s Best Farmland – Map of New York State
Appendix I
Agricultural and farmland Protection Plan Approvals
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
“Life on the farm is a school of patience; you can’t hurry the
crops or make an ox in two days.”
Henri Fournier Alain
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix A
Comprehensive Plan Town Residents Survey Summary
(selected questions)
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
TOWN OF ITHACA RESIDENT SURVEY RESULTS
INTRODUCTION
The Town of Ithaca hired Cornell University’s Survey Research Institute to conduct a
telephone survey of town residents. The goal of the survey was to determine how residents
feel about the town, its character, municipal services offered, and its future goals and
spending. The results of the survey, along with other public input, will help to inform and
assist the town as it proceeds in the update of its Comprehensive Plan.
Residents were selected to participate in the survey based on their telephone number.
Telephone numbers for the survey were randomly selected using a “random-digit dial”
sample of telephone exchanges covering the Town of Ithaca including the Village of
Cayuga Heights. This method of selecting phone numbers was chosen because of the
ability to obtain unlisted and cell phone numbers that would be missed had the numbers
been selected from a phone book. Excluded from the project were residents of dormitories
on the Cornell University and Ithaca College campuses. The telephone survey was
conducted over a 3.5 week period in January of 2009. In total, 359 surveys were
completed.
The survey questionnaire was divided into five topic areas, including: quality of life,
growth and development, quality of municipal services, spending priorities, and laws and
policies.
What follows is a summary of data from two questions that specifically included
references to Town agriculture.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Quality of Life Aspect Very
Unimportant %
Unimportant
%
Important
%
Very
Important %
Natural areas 1 4 28 67
Quality of public schools 2 11 25 62
Nearby state parks 1 8 39 52
Town parks & trails 2 7 39 52
Scenic views 1 8 40 51
Policies guiding growth & development policies in
Town
2 10 47 41
Ability to buy locally produced farm products 3 14 36 46
Living in close proximity of your place of employment 3 14 40 44
Availability of services near your neighborhood 2 14 47 38
Proximity of CU and IC 2 19 40 39
Recreational use of Cayuga Lake 4 18 41 37
Predominantly residential nature of Town 2 17 49 32
Sense of community with your neighborhood 3 19 43 35
Historic sites, structures and markers 2 25 48 25
Downtown Ithaca as the hub of the area 6 22 45 26
Farmland 8 21 46 24
Sense of community with the Town 5 30 49 16
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.9
3.2
3.6
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Natural Areas
Quality of public schools
Nearby state parks
Town parks & trails
Scenic views
Policies guiding growth & development in Town
Ability to buy locally produced farm products
Living in close proximity to your place of employment
Availability of services in your neighborhood
The proximity to Cornell & Ithaca College
Recreational use of Cayuga Lake
The predominantly residential nature of the Town
A sense of community with your neighborhood
Historic sites, structures and markers
Downtown Ithaca as the area hub
Farmland
Average rating on a 4 point scale (1 = Very unimportant, 4 = Very important)Quality of life aspects 1. Quality of Life: How important are these aspects to your quality of life?
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Spending Priorities Strongly Oppose % Oppose % Support % Strongly Support %
Improving road shoulders for
bikes
4 8 43 44
Protecting farmland from
development
3 15 43 39
Managing deer populations 7 14 35 44
Scheduling pickup of large
items
3 15 49 34
Increasing bike/walk trails 5 20 43 32
Increase the number of
designated natural areas
5 24 47 24
Increasing the number of
sidewalks
6 26 45 23
Increasing the number of
parks
8 32 46 13
Decrease neighborhood traffic 8 34 43 14
4. Spending Priorities: How do you feel about the Town spending money on the
following activities?
3.3
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.6
2.6
2.8
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Improving road shoulders for bikes
Protecting farmland from development
Managing deer population
Scheduled pickup of large items
Increasing Bike/walk trails
Incr. number of designated natural areas
Increasing number of sidewalks
Increasing the number of parks
Decrease neighborhood trafficSpending Priorities
Average ratings on a 4 point scale (1=Strongly oppose, 4=Strongly support)
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix B
Sample of Farmer Interview Form
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Interviewer(s): __________________________________________________________ Date: _____________
Farm Name: ____________________________ Phone: _______________ Email: ___________________
I. The Farm and Farmers
Family members involved in the operation; relationships and roles (note those participating in interview):
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
What is the current operational structure of your farm? (ex. family owned and operated, multi-generational,
transitioning, land rented to someone who farms it, etc.)
How are decisions about your operation made? Who makes them?
Describe the farm’s operation (primary as well as supporting or additional activities):
Crops (acres, what, how used): Livestock (number, what): Other:
Other products:
Farm land base:
Acres owned:
Town of Ithaca Total: _____ Tillable: _____ Pasture: _____ Wooded: _____
Elsewhere: ___________ Total: _____ Tillable: _____ Pasture: _____ Wooded: _____
Elsewhere: ___________ Total: _____ Tillable: _____ Pasture: _____ Wooded: _____
Acres rented, total: _____
Owner #Acres Ag Assess? Town Owner #Acres Ag Assess? Town
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
|
____________________________________________|______________________________________________
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Farm Name: ____________________________
Do you rent farm land from others? If so, do you have trouble finding land to rent? Or, do you have requests to
rent more land than you can work?
Farm Infrastructure: what farm structures do you have and how are they used?
What is the farm’s gross annual income?
Do you consider your self a full time or part time farmer?
Do you or other family members work off farm? If so, who and how many hours are worked off farm? What is the
importance of this income to your livelihood?
What is the annual investment in the operation?
Describe the most recent investments:
Not counting family members listed above, how many, if any, employees do you have? Are they full or part time,
and what do they do?
Salary
Employee FT/PT Range Area(s) of Responsibility
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the annual farm payroll?
What agriculture programs do you participate in? (AEM, CRP, EQUIP, CAFO, Forest Planning, etc.)
What are your thoughts on agriculture’s impact on the environment (ex. erosion and impacts on streams, use of
fertilizers and pesticides, crop rotations, general water-quality issues, sustainable ground cover).
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Farm Name: ____________________________
In the foreseeable future what, if any, changes do you see in the farm’s operation and/or management or
ownership? (ex. will you get bigger or smaller, install more infrastructure, transfer the farm to the next generation,
sell out, etc.) Why?
Do you anticipate any stumbling blocks for your future farm plans?
Are there any parts of your land you think could, or you expect to, be developed without impacting your operation
or agriculture in the Town, and if so, why? (ex. poor soils, hard to farm, too much development-related pressure,
etc.) If yes, when do you think this might happen?
What is your farm’s history of buying and selling land? Has additional land ever been purchased? When and
how much? Has land ever been sold? When, how much, and for what purpose?
II. Agriculture in the Town
What do you think are the most significant issues with farming in general? In the Town, specifically?
Do you think development pressure on farmland is an issue in the Town? If so, in what ways?
How would you characterize development around or near your farm? (ex. not much, steady, scary fast, etc.)
What, if any, problems do you experience as a result of nearby or other rural development (ex. trouble accessing
land, traffic, neighbor complaints, etc.)?
Should the Town encourage continuation of farming in the Town? If so, what could or should the Town do to
ensure it does?
Should the Town encourage or limit the conversion of farmland to residential or other development?
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Farm Name: ____________________________
What should be the criteria for maintaining land in agriculture?
What types of farming are best suited in the Town? Should the Town encourage specific types of agricultural
enterprises? If so, how?
In 10 or 20 years, how will agriculture and farming in the Town be different from today?
If the Town wants to maintain farmland for open space benefits to the general population, should there be a
payback to those willing to maintain open space for others to enjoy?
Are there protections or incentives not currently provided that would be appropriate and helpful to farming in the
Town?
If public investments are made in agriculture (subsidies, grants, loans, tax relief, etc.), should farmers accept
some restrictions on land use (erosion control, restrictions on size of feed lot operations, sale of lots for
development, etc.)?
What are your interests in the purchase or lease of your development rights?
Are there any town infrastructure improvements that would help your operation?
What are your impressions of:
The Town’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program (PDR)
Agricultural Zoning
The Agriculture Committee
Would you willing to serve on a sub committee to help with the development of the Town’s plan for agriculture?
This would mostly likely involve a bit of reading and a few meetings.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix C
Definitions from NYS Agriculture & Markets Laws
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Selected definitions taken from various New York State Agriculture & Markets
Laws (as of October 28, 2011).
"Agricultural product" shall mean any agricultural or aquacultural product of
the soil or water, including but not limited to fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy
products, meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, fish and fish
products, grain and grain products, honey, nuts, preserves, maple sap products,
apple cider, and fruit juice.
"Agricultural tourism" means activities conducted by a farmer on-farm for the
enjoyment or education of the public, which primarily promote the sale,
marketing, production, harvesting or use of the products of the farm and
enhance the public's understanding and awareness of farming and farm life.
"Community garden" shall mean public or private lands upon which citizens of
the state have the opportunity to garden on lands which they do not individually
own.
"Crops, livestock and livestock products" shall include but not be limited to
the following:
a. Field crops, including corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, hay, potatoes and dry
beans.
b. Fruits, including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries and berries.
c. Vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage, carrots, beets and
onions.
d. Horticultural specialties, including nursery stock, ornamental shrubs,
ornamental trees and flowers.
e. Livestock and livestock products, including cattle, sheep, hogs, goats,
horses, poultry, ratites, such as ostriches, emus, rheas and kiwis, farmed deer,
farmed buffalo, fur bearing animals, wool bearing animals, such as alpacas and
llamas, milk, eggs and furs.
f. Maple sap.
g. Christmas trees derived from a managed Christmas tree operation whether
dug for transplanting or cut from the stump.
h. Aquaculture products, including fish, fish products, water plants and
shellfish.
i. Woody biomass, which means short rotation woody crops raised for
bioenergy, and shall not include farm woodland.
j. Apiary products, including honey, beeswax, royal jelly, bee pollen, propolis,
package bees, nucs and queens. For the purposes of this paragraph, "nucs" shall
mean small honey bee colonies created from larger colonies including the nuc
box, which is a smaller version of a beehive, designed to hold up to five frames
from an existing colony.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
"Farm operation" means the land and on-farm buildings, equipment, manure
processing and handling facilities, and practices which contribute to the
production, preparation and marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products
as a commercial enterprise, including a "commercial horse boarding operation"
as defined in subdivision thirteen of this section, "timber processing" as defined
in subdivision fourteen of this section and "compost, mulch or other biomass
crops" as defined in subdivision sixteen of this section. For purposes of this
section, such farm operation shall also include the production, management and
harvesting of "farm woodland", as defined in subdivision three of this section.
Such farm operation may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land,
which parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous to each other.
"Farm product" means any agricultural, dairy or horticultural product, or any
product designed for food manufactured or prepared principally from an
agricultural, dairy or horticultural product and the commercial raising, shearing,
feeding and management of animals on a ranch.
"Land used in agricultural production" means not less than seven acres of land
used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale
of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of ten
thousand dollars or more; or, not less than seven acres of land used in the
preceding two years to support a commercial horse boarding operation with
annual gross receipts of ten thousand dollars or more. Land used in agricultural
production shall not include land or portions thereof used for processing or retail
merchandising of such crops, livestock or livestock products. Land used in
agricultural production shall also include:
a. Rented land which otherwise satisfies the requirements for eligibility for an
agricultural assessment.
a-1. Land used by a not-for-profit institution for the purposes of agricultural
research that is intended to improve the quality or quantity of crops, livestock or
livestock products. Such land shall qualify for an agricultural assessment upon
application made pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision one of section three
hundred five of this article, except that no minimum gross sales value shall be
required.
b. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation for the
production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products, exclusive of
woodland products, which does not independently satisfy the gross sales value
requirement, where such land was used in such production for the preceding two
years and currently is being so used under a written rental arrangement of five
or more years in conjunction with land which is eligible for an agricultural
assessment.
c. Land used in support of a farm operation or land used in agricultural
production, constituting a portion of a parcel, as identified on the assessment
roll, which also contains land qualified for an agricultural assessment.
d. Farm woodland which is part of land which is qualified for an agricultural
assessment, provided, however, that such farm woodland attributable to any
separately described and assessed parcel shall not exceed fifty acres.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
e. Land set aside through participation in a federal conservation program
pursuant to title one of the federal food security act of nineteen hundred eighty-
five or any subsequent federal programs established for the purposes of
replenishing highly erodible land which has been depleted by continuous tilling
or reducing national surpluses of agricultural commodities and such land shall
qualify for agricultural assessment upon application made pursuant to
paragraph a of subdivision one of section three hundred five of this article,
except that no minimum gross sales value shall be required.
f. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding
two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of
an average gross sales value of ten thousand dollars or more, or land of less than
seven acres used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the
production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross
sales value of fifty thousand dollars or more.
g. Land under a structure within which crops, livestock or livestock products
are produced, provided that the sales of such crops, livestock or livestock
products meet the gross sales requirements of paragraph f of this subdivision.
h. Land that is owned or rented by a farm operation in its first or second year
of agricultural production, or, in the case of a commercial horse boarding
operation in its first or second year of operation, that consists of (1) not less than
seven acres used as a single operation for the production for sale of crops,
livestock or livestock products of an annual gross sales value of ten thousand
dollars or more; or (2) less than seven acres used as a single operation for the
production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an annual gross
sales value of fifty thousand dollars or more; or (3) land situated under a
structure within which crops, livestock or livestock products are produced,
provided that such crops, livestock or livestock products have an annual gross
sales value of (i) ten thousand dollars or more, if the farm operation uses seven
or more acres in agricultural production, or (ii) fifty thousand dollars or more, if
the farm operation uses less than seven acres in agricultural production; or (4)
not less than seven acres used as a single operation to support a commercial
horse boarding operation with annual gross receipts of ten thousand dollars or
more.
i. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation for the
production for sale of orchard or vineyard crops when such land is used solely
for the purpose of planting a new orchard or vineyard and when such land is also
owned or rented by a newly established farm operation in its first, second, third
or fourth year of agricultural production.
j. Land of not less than seven acres used as a single operation for the
production and sale of Christmas trees when such land is used solely for the
purpose of planting Christmas trees that will be made available for sale, whether
dug for transplanting or cut from the stump and when such land is owned or
rented by a newly established farm operation in its first, second, third, fourth or
fifth year of agricultural production.
k. Land used to support an apiary products operation which is owned by the
operation and consists of (i) not less than seven acres nor more than ten acres
used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale
of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of ten
thousand dollars or more or (ii) less than seven acres used as a single operation
in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
livestock products of an average gross sales value of fifty thousand dollars or
more. The land used to support an apiary products operation shall include, but
not be limited to, the land under a structure within which apiary products are
produced, harvested and stored for sale; and a buffer area maintained by the
operation between the operation and adjacent landowners. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this subdivision, rented land associated with an apiary
products operation is not eligible for an agricultural assessment based on this
paragraph.
"Value added" shall mean the increase in the fair market value of an agricultural
product resulting from the processing of such product.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix D
List of farm operations that were interviewed and/or researched
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Farms/Farmer Interviewed/Research
Twenty-four agricultural operations were interviewed and/or researched during 2009 and
2010 by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County and the Town of Ithaca.
A.J. Teeter Farm/Alan & Debbie Teeter Hay and beef livestock
Bob Drake Sr. & Jr. Field crops
Buttermilk Farm/Claire Forest Orchard and berries
Cayuga Landscape/Dave Fernandez Landscaping, nursery stock
Cornell University Research, education
Earlybird Farm/George Sheldrake Greenhouse, roadside stand
Eddy Hill Farm/Nelson Eddy Sr. & Jr. Jackie Eddy Hay, dairy heifer boarding
Eddydale Farm/Steve Eddy Farm stand, greenhouse
Genex Breeders Bovine semen production
Hilker Haven/Bill Hilker Hydroponic produce
Indian Creek/Steve Cummins U-pick tree fruit, farm stand
Jackman Vineyards/Alex Jackman Vineyard vegetables
Kellogg Christmas Tree Farm/Bob Kellogg Christmas Trees
Kestral Perch Berries CSA, U-pick berries
Laughing Goat Fiber Farm/Gary & Lisa Ferguson Fiber sheep and goats
Little’s Greenhouse, Jack Little Greenhouse
Six Mile Creek/Nancy & Roger Battistella Vineyard, winery
Steep Hollow Farm/Christianne White & Tom McMillan Corn maze, chickens
Jan & Sue Suwinski Equine
Sweyolakan Farm/Jamie Baker Dairy
Tree Gate Farm/Dean Koyanagi & Sharon Tregaskis Tree fruit, vegetables
George Voss Hay
Russ & Paula Wedemeyer Equine
West Haven/John Bokaer Smith & Todd McLane CSA, tree fruit, vegetables
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix E
Maps
Map 1: Type of Agricultural Operations
Map 2: Agricultural Lands Owned vs. Rented
Map 3: Existing Protected Properties
Map 4: Existing Land Use / Land Cover
Map 5: Agricultural Soils
Map 6: Agricultural Districts
Map 7: Zoning
Map 8: Agricultural Easement Target Areas
Map 9: Farmland Targeted for Protection
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Type of Agricultural Operations
µ
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MAP 1
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi llage of LansingTown of
Lansing
To wn of Uly s ses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town o f Danby Town of Dryden[_
[_
[_
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
College Agriculture / Research
Farm Stand[_
Cattle Farm
Goats / Sheep
Horse
Large Scale Field Crop
Non - Agricultural
Vineyard
Nursery and Greenhouse
Small Scale Field Crop (fruits & vegetables)
D ry d e n R d
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Bostwick Rd
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Agricultural Lands Owned vs. Rented
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MAP 2
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenFarmer Owned
Agricultural Land
Cornell University / NYS
Owned Agricultural Land
Farmer Rented
Agricultural Land
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Hayts Rd
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King Rd WKing Rd E
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Existing Protected Properties
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MAP 3
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenEldridge
Wilderness
Buttermilk Falls
State Park
Sweedler
Preserve at
Lick Brook
Robert H. Treman
State Park
Finger Lakes Land Trust Owned/Easement Property
The Nature Conservancy Owned Property
Town of Ithaca Parks & Trails
City of Ithaca Owned Property
Cornell University Owned Property
New York State Owned Property
New York State Parks
Town of Ithaca Ag. Conservation Easement
Natural Resource Conservation Service
Ag. Conservation Easement
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Existing Land Use / Land Cover
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MAP 4
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenAgriculture - Active
Agriculture Inactive
Undeveloped - Forest
Undeveloped - Meadow & Brush
Residential
Commercial
Institutional - Educational
Institutional - Health
Institutional - Cultural
Institutional - Government
Institutional - Public or Private Services
Recreation - Public & Private
Disturbed or Barren Land
Industrial
Utilities & Transportation Facilities
Cemetery
Wetlands
Waterbody
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Agricultural Soils
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MAP 5
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenUSDA Prime Farmland
Farmland of Statewide Importance
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Agricultural Districts
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MAP 6
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenAgricultural District 1
Agricultural District 2
Tompkins County
Agricultural Districts
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Zoning
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MAP 7
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenLakefront Residential (LR)
Low Density Residential (LDR)
Medium Density Residential (MDR)
High Density Residential (HDR)
Mobile Home Park (MHP)
Multiple Residence (MR)
Vehicle Fuel and Repair (VFR)
Office Park Commercial (OPC)
Neighborhood Commercial (NC)
Community Commercial (CC)
Lakefront Commercial (LC)
Agricultural (AG)
Conservation (C)
Planned Development Zone (P)
Light Industrial (LI)
Industrial (I)
AG
AG
AG
C
C
C
C
C
C
LDR
LDR
LDR
LDR
LDR
LDR
MHP
MDR
MDR
MDR
C
P3
P4
P10
P8
P12
P7
P1
P9
P2
P11
P5
MDR
LC
LR
OPC
OPC
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Agricultural Easement Target Areas
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Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenNote: Formal delination of areas
to be protected will occur on a
parcel by parcel basis.
Target Areas for
Purchase of Agricultural
Conservation Easements
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Bundy Rd
Hayts Rd
Bostwick Rd
King Rd WKing Rd E
C
o
d
din
gto
n
R
d
Burns RdEllis Hollow Rd
For e st H o me Dr
Hanshaw Rd
Sheffield RdC
ulv
e
r R
d
Sandbank Rd
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Farmland Targeted for Protection
µ010.5
Mile
FINAL
MAP 9
Map Produced by:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department
November 2011
Data Source:
Town of Ithaca
Planning Department &
Tompkins County Information
Technology Services GIS Division
City of Ithaca
Village of
Cayuga Heights
Vi lla ge o f LansingTown of
Lansing
Town of Ulysses
Town of EnfieldTown of Newfield Town of D anb y Town of DrydenNote: Areas identified are approximate.
Privately Owned and
Operated Farmland
Cornell University and
State Owned Agricultural
Research Land
D ry d e n R d
79
79
89
96
13
96B
Bundy Rd
Hayts Rd
Bostwick Rd
King Rd WKing Rd E
C
o
d
din
g
to
n
R
d
Burns RdEllis Hollow Rd
For e s t H o me Dr
Hanshaw Rd
Sheffield RdC
ulv
e
r R
d
Sandbank Rd
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix F
March 4, 2009 Agricultural Focus Group Meeting (Agenda & Notes)
November 17, 2009, May 1, 2010, and March 22, 2011 Farmer Meetings
(Agendas & Notes)
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
TOWN OF ITHACA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
AGENDA FOR AGRICULTURAL FOCUS GROUP
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 10am
Location: Ithaca Town Hall – Aurora Conference Room
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Agenda: Introductions
Meeting Purpose - Comprehensive Plan Update and Development of an
Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan
Review purpose of Plan update, process, and Committee progress to date
Review status of Agricultural Section in 1993 Comprehensive Plan (goal,
objectives, and recommended actions)
Sample Discussion Questions:
- What are the most significant issues with farming in the Town?
In 10 or 20 years, how will agriculture and farming be different
from today?
- Is development pressure on farmland an issue in the Town?
- Should the Town encourage the continuation of farming in the
Town? What should be the criteria for maintaining land in
agriculture? What types of farming are best suited for the Town,
and should the town encourage specific agriculture enterprises?
- Should the Town encourage or limit the conversion of farmland
to residential or other development?
- If the town wants to maintain farmland for open space benefits
to the general population, should there be a payback to those
willing to maintain the open space for others to enjoy?
- What should the Town do to ensure farming continues in the
Town?
- What is your impressions of the Town’s Agricultural Land
Preservation Program (PDR), Agricultural Zoning and the
Agriculture Committee?
- Are there protections or incentives not currently provided that
would be appropriate and helpful to farming in the Town?
Conclusion – future contact and feedback
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Comprehensive Plan
Agricultural Focus Group Meeting
March 4, 2009
Attendees:
Diane Conneman, Comp Plan Committee, Town Conservation Board Chair
Debbie Teeter, Town Ag. Committee Chair, CCE-Tompkins, (Town Farmer)
George Conneman, Town Planning Board
Jamie Baker, Sweyolakan Farms (Town Farmer - dairy)
Scott Doyle, Tompkins County Planning
Rod Howe, Town Planning Board Chair, CCE
Nirav Patel, Town Conservation Board, Dept. of Natural Resources Cornell
Jason Engel, Cardinal Design (Farmland Protection Implementation Grant Consultant)
Craig Schutt, Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District
Hollis Erb, Comp Plan Committee, Town Planning Board
Steve Cummins, Indian Creek Orchards (Town Farmer)
Monika Roth, CCE-Tompkins
Alex Jackman, Jackman Vineyards (Town Farmer)
Taryn Thompson, Ithaca Times
Meeting Summary:
Town Farmer 1:
Agricultural district only on west side
Development pressure is there, but PDR funding from the state is a long shot
Property tax, more help – more than ag incentive
Town Farmer 2: lease of farming rights – short periods
Town Farmer 1: programs to help put up fences – town program would help (Michigan
orchard program)
Help with other capital projects – town contributions
Concerned about traffic speed at the Dubois Road / Trumansburg Road (Route
96) intersection, a flashing light is needed and speed limit should be reduced
Town Farmer 3: last dairy in Town – 1000 acres, 200 cows right now
Need to milk more to stay in business, may purchase another farm but more
than 200 cows would put into the CAFO process
No neighbor complaints about spreading manure – done daily
Big budget – don’t like taxes, but a small issue (one week’s income)
Dealing with people on road is issue – big equipment as farm grows – daily
issue – 35 loads of manure a week – decent shoulders are required
Went fine with building permit for a barn – wasn’t aware that one was needed
Agency: traffic is issue throughout County, including Town of Ithaca
Education campaign
Mobile sign (that tells you your speed)
Pamphlets
Town Farmer 2: lots of education needed for the farming/residential areas
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Include pamphlets in some mailing
Agency: seasonal movement of equipment
Concentrate education during special times
Agency: Town welcome bag to include Agricultural information
Town Farmer 1: taxes, substantial if tax relief could be increase
Provide open space – a service that benefits residents
Agency: goal – local food production
Small scale
Need deer fences and water - ponds
Infrastructure items
Town Farmer 4: there are no tax breaks available when one buys farm/ag property, start
up is hard without income coming in – long lead time with vineyard to start having
money coming in; need to find ways to encourage new farmers
Agency: transfer between generations – farm link (online program)
Cornell Cooperative Extension: land link – similar program on small/local scale
Rural land owners that wants to see it farmed
Beginner farmer place to look
Agency: bigger issue – How does comprehensive plan interact with Agriculture?
State of agriculture in Ithaca – why are we doing this?
Is agriculture integrated into overall comprehensive plan – is it a priority
What role does agricultural preservation play in the watershed, ecosystem
How is agricultural integrated into neighboring towns
PDR can make Town attractive to farmers coming to area
Agency: Zoning
Education
Policy
Technical assistance
Would like to see a good mix of farm sites with emphasis on small ones
Consumer base – Ithaca is unique to support agricultural, especially small ones
Many: cost of services – pay more than what the farmers get
Town Farmer 4: Agriculture is fundamentally valued in Ithaca compared to other
communities
Consumer preference guides small farms with direct sales
Preserve current farms/ag land as a placeholder for the future – some other form
of agriculture might be viable then
Agency: energy issues – biofuels – not necessarily farmers, but land that can be used for
energy crops; Enfield has an energy collective
Town Farmer 2: the Town should work hard to be farmer friendly - previous bad
experiences
Farm liaison – one contact at the Town to help work through Town approvals
and permits
Good sense of what the farmers are about – staff to go talk with each farmer
Farmers are not selling best soil for development – but something not worth
keeping – wet area / slopes
Not intention for farmers to sell land – zoning language
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Zoning not as bad as originally thought – deed restrictions is the real issue -
permanent
Agency: very diverse types of farming in Town
Support existing, but be able to modify as time goes – may be very different in
future
Town Farmer 1: draw farmers to land around area is important
Exchange for tax relief – maybe school tours offered
Farmers market – need a seven day sales location
Only one day a week – the Farmers Market sits vacant rest of week – not worth
it
Needs regular store “type” hours – Town influence might help
Needs more markets – farmers markets
Designated Town pull-off
Off site locations for farmers to gather for sales – (ex: Chemung Bank)
Agency: market the farm district as a farmers market
agricultural tourism
bring people out of City/Villages, closer to source with sales
like the wine trail – make a destination – “agriculture clusters”
Agency: tax break for town restaurants to serve food from the Town
Town Farmer 4: appraisals – value of agriculture land is different depending on the uses
Agency: lose very big chunks – gaps are created which make farming tough, enable
young buyers – with Town help – help with purchase
Agency: asked opinion about Carrowmoor – conversion of farmland
Town Farmer 2: development has to happen somewhere; concentrate development within
close proximity to City is preference – infill, not leapfrogging
Town Farmer 1: no, prefer development to occur in City – fill City first
Agency: transfer of development rights should be explored - Lysander, NY is local
example
Agency: this conversation is good start
PDR program is good
Keep in mind neighboring towns – farmers cross lines
TC Soil & Water: farming helps with environmental issues – stormwater, lake, erosion
Part of Agriculture Environmental Management program – Town could
encourage participation in plans
Town Farmer 1: Agriculture makes jobs – buy lots of products/services
General concern - signage for farms
Positive benefits from agriculture in the Town of Ithaca:
(in no particular order)
Demand for local produce/products
Green space
Decreased stormwater runoff compared to residential developments
Placeholders for the future – other land based occupations, including energy production
Provides employment in the community
Less demand on services (water, sewer, schools)
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Comment from Kristie Rice after meeting:
Maybe reduced or no fee for truly farm/agriculture related applications –
various building permits
Encourage farmers to come in for proper approvals
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town of Ithaca
Agriculture and Comprehensive Plans Review and Update
Farmer Meeting
November 17, 2009
7:00-9:00 p.m.
7:00 - 7:15 p.m. Coffee and Desert
7:15 - 7:30 p.m. Welcome and Introductions
7:30 - 8:00 p.m. Overview of farmer interview information (10 minutes each):
Interview process and summary
Ideas from farmers
Farmer-identified issues and opportunities
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Next Steps (20 minutes each):
Group discussion: what’s missing?
Identify priorities
Determine strategies
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan
Farmer Meeting – November 17, 2009 – 7pm
Town of Ithaca Board Room
16 attendees (11 Farmers & 5 Town Representatives)
MEETING NOTES:
- for the Town to have open space, need to find a way to make it affordable for the
large tract owners (can’t have farmland without farmers)
- Town could help with funding for Forest Management Plans
- Educational related items are very important, notice how many items on the lists
relate to some type of education, CCE can be an important part of this
- Gas drilling is a hot topic, how is the Town participating
o Anti-drilling frequently has anti-farmer feelings (negative stereotype of
farms)
- liaison at the Town sounds good, it could be proactive by sending emails out on
various topics instead of just waiting and be responsive
o the Towns youth employment works well and could be a model for the
farmer liaison, good personal touch
o farmers don’t know who to talk with, they want to do it right, but unsure
how and who to see, and when
- use the Town’s Ag Committee as a resource
o network with others, pull information together
o find way to get together with other farmers to share information – mentor,
maybe start a email list for help
- create a town general list – email list – list serve – coffee catch – come together
with farming being the common interest
- Town to develop a aquifer or water shed map to assist farmers
- make sure the development of the plan relates to other surrounding municipalities
(Ulysses and Enfield) and any plans they are putting together – more regional
planning
- development issues – how secure is the Ag. District?
- Right to Farm Law – both Town Ag Zoning and County Ag District help farming,
but are there farms without one or both of these protections in the Town (should be
reviewed), how consistent are the Ag Zoning and Ag Districts?
- farmers need to feel comfortable coming to the Town when there are problems
o General Town employee attitude towards farming (code enforcement)
- does the Town know what is happening with Route 13 plans? Town could pass
along relevant information to affected farmers when available (liaison activity)
- Danby Biofuels project – some farmers might like to learn more and possibly work
with them in the Town of Ithaca
- right now the primary source of information and support comes from Cooperative
Extension (Monica Roth) or a close group of farmers – could there be other ways?
- maybe look at rural and urban ties from other communities for possible planning
ideas
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
- agri-tourism is very big – bring urban people out to farms
o some are wondering what agri-tourism can be done in the Town with
current regulations
o maybe plan could look at what should be done or allow for what might be
involved with tourism in the future
o what might be needed to do certain types of tourism
NEW ITEMS ON THE BOARD TO INCLUDE WITH IDEA LIST:
- Town to assist with Forest Management Plans (funding or guidance)
- Natural Gas Leasing – Town to assist with a landowner coalition
- Networking opportunities that the Town (or others) could assist with
- Possibilities for regional approach to farmland protection
- Town staff liaison person – be proactive as well as responsive
- Ag Tourism guidelines
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Farmer Meeting
May 1, 2010
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Ithaca Town Hall
1. Coffee and Snacks
2. Welcome and Introductions
3. Summary of how we got to this point
4. Review vision statement
5. Review goals with key recommendations highlighted
- anything not understood, something missing, etc.
6. Interest in Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Lease of Development
Rights (LDR)
7. What’s next – how do we finish the Plan?
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan
Farmer Meeting – May 1, 2010 – 8:00 a.m.
Town of Ithaca Board Room
15 attendees (9 Farmers & 6 Town/CCE Representatives)
MEETING NOTES:
Farmer: Farm types – include Open Space in vision statement.
Farmer: Better land resources – questioned why the word “better” is used.
Farmer: Goals from ’92 Plan – not met – tax relief.
Farmer: State school tax works great.
For agriculture to work you need farmers – there is lots of development in his
area.
He has rental properties in the area which help to support his farming.
Needs to encourage stewardship of the land and agriculture.
Farmer: What about a mobile vehicle down at Cass Park – sell produce, pumpkins.
Farmer: What is the definition of Agritourism that the Town is using? (Hollis read Ag &
Markets definition)
Education of Town representatives is need.
Farmer: Zoning should protect farmland, but town is not currently protecting agriculture
around her place
Existing regulations are being ignored by the Town.
Maybe talk with farmers that went out of business – ask them why?
Farmer: How does the hotel affect the farm? (to Farmer)
Farmer: Maybe the Town should publicize how to challenge Town decisions (for
Farmer). Farmer responded that she knows how, and did challenge Town.
Town: ’93 Comp Plan – growth is following plan. New plan will guide new zoning.
Farmer: Hotel could offer opportunities for Farmer. Provide contacts for different kitchen
/ restaurants. Could Town help farmers with small crops to get them to the
kitchens.
Town: Balancing act – farmers don’t want development around them, but farmers also
want to be able to build or sell land if needed.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town: Town was consistent with zoning regarding the Hotel project? (Town – yes)
CCE: Make sure people understand zoning, can work both ways.
Direct marketing, different types of agricultural operations might fit in different
zones.
Farmer: In the Town, she has been getting different answers from staff.
Farmer: Where plan recommendations refer to real estate agents, why not also include
mortgage writers.
Farmer: Under recommendation 4 (e), add local businesses or Legislatures for awards.
Farmer: Questioning the difference in the two recommendations that related to real estate
agents.
Farmer: Economic multiplier – amount that comes out of Ag. Add to plan for public
understanding.
Farmer: Contiguous land use is important.
Hydrology, road side ditch maintenance, ditches flowing fast, plant material could
slow it down, work with State, County and Town Highway Departments.
Framer: Recommendation 2(e) – the purchase or lease should be “for agricultural use”.
Farmer: Recommendation 3(h) – Add similar language under goal 5.
Farmer: Appreciate work, output. Another Framer agrees.
Town: Asks about the Agriculture Committee – task suggestions from the farmers.
Farmer: Every farm operation should have a representative on the committee, all types.
Town: Ag Committee should have Town staff support, link to other Boards.
Farmer: One problem, can’t have meetings without farmers, but Town needs to conduct
business, needs quorum (can’t wait for several months during summer when
farmers are busy).
CCE: Committee should include: rural landowners, landowners that rent to farmers, need
staff support.
Farmer: Youth Commission format works, maybe an example of how Ag. Committee
could be organized.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town: Every farmer involved in Committee, but maybe an executive committee could be
formed to act on business as representatives of the full Committee when full
Committee can’t meet.
CCE: Farmers have limited time. If on Ag Committee, won’t participate in other
Town Boards.
CCE: Ag Committee ideas, look at County Protection Board format.
Farmer: Concentrate development, preserve Ag.
Get City people out to see Agriculture and understand it.
PDR vs. LDR:
CCE explained both concepts -
Farmer: Would commitment to only 2-3 years for LDR.
Farmer: PDR – future generations would curse you for placing permanent restrictions on
the farm, 25 years seems to long for LDR.
Farmer: What about 5 years?
Farmer: Would be happy with the LDR, even if it just covers the taxes (Another Farmer
agrees).
Farmer: Good to pursue PDR, but could create liability for future generations or if an
emergency came up and needed to sell.
Farmer: Existing PDR program doesn’t require it to be actively farmed, would like that to
be for LDR if used here.
Farmer: Disagrees, for LDR the land should be active, the lands needs to produce to be
taken off the tax roll.
CCE: Look into existing older PDR programs in the Northeast. What has happened when
those properties have sold? Was it difficult to sell, what was the sale value?
Farmer: Soil type should not be only factor in determining what to protect.
Town: Not convinced of LDR yet. In terms of a public investment, he likes PDR. Need
to preserve land for future, unsure of future, will LDR be able to preserve.
Farmer: Could PDR offer payment over time?
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Farmer: Thank you, interesting document.
CCE: There is a general concern over Town staff and their understanding of Ag
regulations.
Farmer: There are issues, and the Town does have a reputation related to agriculture,
specifically with the equestrian community.
Farmer: Building Department needs to listen.
Farmer: Understand that Building Department staff is busy, but how staff responds could
be different.
Farmer: Ag Committee could be a venue to help Town staff understand farming. Could
work both ways though. Maybe a presentation from the Building Department to
offer a better understand, inform farming community.
Town: Maybe a statement in Comp Plan could be included - something regarding “being
friendly to agriculture / residents, and adopt / update regulations”.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Farmer Meeting
March 22, 2011
7:00 pm
Ithaca Town Hall
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Summary of Plan
3. Discuss section on Agricultural Lands to be Protected (pg 30),
including Map 9 (Appendix E)
4. Review goals with key recommendations highlighted (pg 37)
5. Summary of proposed Agricultural Committee Charter (Appendix G)
6. Comments / Question on other sections of the draft Plan
7. What’s next – additional review/edits and then approved by:
- Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board
- Town of Ithaca Town Board
- NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Town of Ithaca
Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan
Farmer Meeting – March 22, 2011 – 7:00 pm
Town of Ithaca Employee Lounge
12 attendees (8 Farmers & 4 Town / CCE Representatives)
MEETING NOTES:
Introductions
The Town gave a quick overview of the draft Plan, highlighting certain pages and
headings. Discussed the “Farm Operation” definition, and what if horse operation is not
considered “commercial”, but a private operation. Also, one farmer felt that the zoning
definition of a farm may exclude some operations with the 3 acre limitation.
The Town provided a summary for the Agricultural Lands to be Protected section and
pointed out the proposed boundaries on the map. A farmer asked “protected from what”?
What is meant by protection? CCE further explained the section and purpose, how the
State requirements fit in, and shouldn’t feel threatened by the “protection” idea.
The Town explained the goals and highlighted several of the recommendations. Some of
the questions and discussion include:
Farmer: under Goal 1, it was questioned the term “as practical” in
recommendations e and f
Farmer: under Goal 2, emphasized the importance of changing the sprinkler law
(recommendation c), need for code enforcement staff to be cooperative
and easier to work with
Farmer: under Goal 2, asked for clarification on recommendation g
Farmer: under Goal 3, recommendation d, how to balance where municipal water
and sewer already exists and where to limit extension, is already in front
of their property
Farmer: there are financial pressures – taxes
Farmer: under Goal 3, recommendation f, emphasized that there had to be
something besides the deed restriction, maybe a map at Town Hall to
monitor, something more flexible for the future, no objection to the fixed
ratio idea though
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Farmer: under Goal 4, similar to recommendation e, maybe use signage to
recognize farms (ex. this farm is protected) or other details/interesting
facts about the farm, if the farm is open to the public (farm stand),
something the public can see, try to recognize as many farms as possible –
must be something to say about every farm
No comments on Goal 5
Implementation Plan (pg41)
Farmer: add another bullet under the first item – Town staff to be respectful and
courteous
Farmer: maybe invite members of Code Enforcement staff to an Agricultural
Committee meeting to help understand issues and concerns
CCE started the discussion regarding the proposed new Agriculture Committee Charter.
CCE explained previous problems with Ag Committee (lack of attendance, lack of agenda
items, little Town support) and also highlighted the positives of the proposal.
Several farmers expressed concern with the idea of sending a representative in their place
to a meeting. Several did not have people who understood the business well enough or that
they trusted to appreciate the value of the farm. When it was pointed out that no one had to
send a replacement, it was thought that it might work on some occasions.
Concern was expressed with losing the right to vote if one missed two meetings when there
might be a legitimate reason to miss a meeting and be excused. Options for electronic
hook-ups to the meeting or recording a meeting to be listened to at a later time were
thought to have some merit as another option fro keeping up-to-speed on issues that were
discussed.
Farmer: Ag Committee was previously more informal, this will make it more than
advisory
It seems good having the incentive for attendance
Farmer: like it being more formal – more leverage on issues
Town: asked about the liaison’s section.
Farmer: may be helpful to liaison’s to hear/see how the actions/decisions might
affect farmers
Farmer: feel that having a charter like this – interest and attendance will go up, this
may inspire farmers to work and provide feedback, having a proactive
group is good
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Discussion continued on what the Ag Committee can do and work on
Farmer: asked for clarification of the Towns Ag Zoning and the density restriction
The Town explained the current zoning
The Town encouraged everyone to provide comments on the draft and are available to
meet or talk with anyone, if interested.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix G
Proposed Charter of the Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Proposed Charter of the Town of Ithaca Agriculture
Committee
1. Purpose
The purpose of the Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee (hereafter “Agriculture
Committee”) shall be
To advise the Town of Ithaca Town Board (hereafter “Town Board”) regarding
agricultural policy in the Town
To review and suggest updates to the Town's Agricultural and Farmland Protection
Plan; in particular, to assist with or take the lead in developing recommendations
relating to areas assigned to the Agriculture Committee in the Agricultural and
Farmland Protection Plan
To serve as a clearinghouse for relations between farm operations in the Town of
Ithaca and the Town's Town Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals,
Conservation Board, Planning Department, Code Enforcement, and other agencies of
Town Government
To provide a forum for concerns about Town policy, issues with Town staff, or other
matters relating to farming in the Town for possible referral to the Town Board
To conduct research into farm-related subjects that may result in policy
recommendations to the Town Board
To provide input for annual additions to the County Agricultural Districts and input to
the eight-year review of County Agricultural Districts
To provide educational resources for sharing information among farmers and to
educate Town residents and officials about farming and farmland
To undertake other appropriate tasks requested by the Town Board.
2. Membership
2.1 Organizational membership
The member organizations of the Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee are farm
operations in the Town of Ithaca appointed by the Town of Ithaca Town Board. Farm
operation means a commercial enterprise located in the Town of Ithaca that engages in the
production, preparation, or marketing of fruit; vegetables; field crops; nursery stock or
flowers; livestock or livestock products, including commercial horse boarding and
breeding operations; Christmas tree farming; timber processing; the production of
compost, mulch, or other biomass crops; and the management and harvesting of farm
woodlands.
2.2 Adding or removing member organizations
Following creation of the Agriculture Committee, member organizations shall be added or
removed only by resolution of the Town Board or by withdrawal tendered in writing from
the designated contact to the chair of the Agriculture Committee.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
2.3 Designated contacts
A person from each member organization shall be appointed by the Town Board as the
designated contact person for that organization. Following creation of the Agriculture
Committee, the designated contact for a member organization shall be reassigned only by
resolution of the Town Board.
2.4 Member representatives
Member organizations of the Agriculture Committee shall be represented at meetings by
one or more persons designated by the contact person for each member organization.
Representatives need not be the same for every meeting. Each member organization shall
have no more than one vote regardless of the number of representatives it sends to
meetings. No person shall represent more than one organization during any single meeting.
2.5 Associate members
The Town Board may, in addition to the organizational members of the Agriculture
Committee, appoint one or two citizens interested in local agriculture or local food
production to serve as associate members of the Committee. Associate members may
participate fully in the activities of the Committee but shall not have a vote in any decision
of the Committee except as specified in Section 3.6, “Quorum.”
2.6 Liaisons
The Town of Ithaca Town Board, the Town of Ithaca Planning Board, the Town of Ithaca
Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board shall each appoint
one of their members to serve as a liaison to the Agriculture Committee. The appointment
of liaisons shall also be solicited from Cornell University agricultural operations and
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County. Liaisons shall not have a vote in any
decision of the Agriculture Committee except as specified in Section 3.6, “Quorum.”
2.7 Staff support
The Town of Ithaca Planning Department shall assign one or more members of its staff to
support the business of the Agriculture Committee. Support shall include, but not be
limited to, attending meetings of the Committee; preparation of meeting minutes based
upon collation and review of meeting notes; ensuring that meeting minutes and other
materials produced by the Committee for public consumption are published on the Town
website; and reviewing progress achieved regarding the items delegated to the Committee
by the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan and reporting on the same at the annual
community meeting of the Committee and to the Town Board. Assigned staff need not be
the same for every meeting, and notwithstanding the requirement for staff support, a
meeting of the Committee shall not be considered invalid due to lack of staff attendance.
3. Procedure
3.1 Chair and vice-chair
The chair and vice-chair of the Agriculture Committee shall be elected by the member
organizations of the Agriculture Committee at each annual community meeting. Any
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
person chosen by the Agriculture Committee may serve as chair or vice-chair. The chair
and vice-chair shall have no vote independent of their status (if applicable) as a
representative of a member organization. If the chair is unable to attend a meeting, the
vice-chair shall serve in his or her stead; if both are unable to attend a meeting, a chair pro
tem shall be elected by the voting member organizations attending the meeting to serve for
the duration of the meeting. The chair shall consult with Town staff in setting agendas but
shall not be bound by decisions of the staff in choosing agenda items. The chair or vice-
chair may be removed from office by vote of two-thirds of the voting members.
3.2 Voting status
To promote continuity of participation, member organizations shall gain or lose voting
status depending upon their meeting attendance as follows:
a. Every member organization shall attain voting status upon appointment by the
Town Board.
b. A member organization shall lose its voting status following the third consecutive
meeting in which it has not participated by sending a representative.
c. A member organization that has lost its voting status shall regain voting status
following the second consecutive meeting in which it has participated by sending a
representative.
3.3 Committee mail list
The Town shall provide an electronic mail list for use of the Committee. Subscribers to
the mail list shall be the Designated Contacts for the member organizations (one per
organization).
3.4 Electronic mail ballots
The chair of the Committee may, at his or her sole option, conduct formal business by
email, it being understood that much business can be conducted by common consent. Any
proposed action put formally before the membership via email by the chair that meets with
no objection from the voting members within a week (default letter ballot) shall at the end
of that week be considered adopted by a unanimous vote of the voting members. Votes on
other issues conducted by email shall be considered adopted upon reaching the criterion for
approval specified for that type of question.
3.5 Meetings
The Agriculture Committee shall regularly meet at least four times in each calendar year.
Meetings shall be scheduled in advance by the members and may be conducted face-to-
face or via telephone conference. All meetings shall be open to visitors from the public.
Meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order Revised regarding the operation of
committees, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with or in conflict with this enabling
document, with other policies adopted by the Town Board, or with provisions of law.
Except as specified in Section 3.6, “Quorum,” a member must have voting rights to make
or second a motion.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
3.6 Annual community meeting
The Agriculture Committee shall hold at least one meeting a year to which all members of
the local farming community are invited to attend as guests.
3.7 Sessions
A session of the Agriculture Committee shall be defined as the period beginning at the start
of the annual community meeting and extending to the start of the following annual
community meeting.
3.8 Quorum
A quorum of the Agriculture Committee shall consist of representatives from a number of
voting member organizations greater than half the total number of voting member
organizations. In the absence of a quorum, participants at a meeting may engage in
informal discussion, but they may not conduct any formal business with the exception of
setting a time and date for the next meeting and adjourning to the date set. For this purpose
only, each attending member organization, associate member, and liaison organization
shall have one vote. Meetings without quorum shall still count towards attendance for
purposes of gaining, maintaining, or losing voting rights.
3.9 Proxies
A voting member organization unable to send a representative to a meeting of the
Agriculture Committee may, by certification in writing to the chair of the Agriculture
Committee, assign its vote to another voting member organization for the duration of that
meeting. Assignment of a proxy shall not persist in effect beyond the end of the meeting at
which the certification is received and shall not be considered attendance for purposes of
determining voting status or establishing the presence of a quorum.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
Appendix H
Farming on the Edge – Sprawling Development Threatens America’s Best
Farmland – Map of New York State
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Appendix I
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Approvals
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011
TOMPKINS COUNTY
AGRICULTURE & FARMLAND PROTECTION BOARD
615 Willow Avenue Ithaca, New York 14850
Telephone (607) 272-2292 Fax (607) 272-7088
November 16, 2011
Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board Resolution approving
the Town of Ithaca Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan
Whereas, the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board has reviewed
the Town of Ithaca’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan and, in summary, it
includes the following information:
The Town of Ithaca has diverse farm enterprises that range from small-scale fruit and
vegetable producers, livestock farmers, and ornamental-horticultural businesses to a
few farmers engaged in larger-scale dairy and commodity field crop production
Farm operations in the Town own and operate a total of approximately 3,412 acres
The goals of the plan are 1) promote the availability of locally grown foods and other
agricultural products for all residents including limited income families; 2) retain and
encourage a diversity of economically viable farm types; 3) ensure long-term
protection of agricultural-land resources for agriculture; 4) encourage public
understanding and involvement; 5) promote wise land use and waste management on
agricultural land.
Some key recommendations of the Plan include revitalizing the Towns Agriculture
Committee, revise Zoning and other Town Ordinances to address agricultural issues
(farmstands, signage, greenhouses, agritourism, value-added product operations,
sprinkler law, etc.), develop a agricultural page on the Towns website, and continue
implementation of the Towns current agricultural conservation easement acquisition
program
Specific growth potential in the Town is seen for local-food sales, niche crops, and
value-added production systems
Be it therefore resolved, that the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection
Board approves the Town of Ithaca’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan and
further recommends Town of Ithaca and New York State approval.
Approved without dissent, November 16, 2011
Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board
he mission of the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board shall be to encourage farming in the County
through local initiatives which create favorable conditions that allow farmers to operate economically viable enterprises.
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
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“There are only three things that can kill a farmer: lightning,
rolling over in a tractor, and old age.”
Bill Bryson
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Town of Ithaca – November 2011