A plan that protects our farmland

June 13, 2013 By

As Jefferson County considers revising its Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, taxpayers may ask what this plan is and why we need it. Farmers may ask the same question. A plan can be a critical resource and blueprint for our agricultural industry, which is important to our overall economy. Jefferson County’s existing plan was completed in 2002. Agriculture was a lot different then than it is now.

Jefferson County’s population also was different. In 2002, the county’s population was in decline. As of July 2001, the population was estimated at 109,535. As of July 2012, the population estimate for Jefferson County was 120,262. This represents the ninth-largest numerical gain and the largest percentage gain for all counties in the state since 2010. Natural increases, or more births than deaths, and net migration, international and domestic, contributed to the increase. Jefferson County’s population increase leads to more vehicle traffic, more houses and, because of the influx of many soldiers who are not from agricultural areas, a lot more people who do not understand or necessarily appreciate what farming brings to a community. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: , , , , ,

Can IDAs help our farms grow?

May 31, 2013 By

New York law mandates that it is the state’s policy to “… promote the economic welfare, recreation opportunities and prosperity of its inhabitants and to actively promote, attract, encourage and develop recreation, economically sound commerce and industry, and economically sound projects identified … through government action to prevent unemployment and economic deterioration by the creation of economic development agencies, which are declared government agencies … to grant such industrial development agencies the (necessary) rights and powers.”

The law grants counties authority to create industrial development agencies. It also gives IDAs the purposes and powers to “… promote, develop, encourage and assist in acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, equipping and furnishing of industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, commercial, research and recreational facilities.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: , ,

A much-needed boost: Energy grant helps Milk Street upgrade, expand

May 31, 2013 By

Cow 4006 gets friendly with John W. Ferry, partner at Milk Street Dairy, during a visit from National Grid Economic Development program manager Joseph E. Russo, during a press event Wednesday at the farm in Tylerville. Milk Street Dairy constructed this building and four others with the help of a $50,000 investment from National Grid's 3-Phase Power Incentive Program. Justin Sorensen/NNY Business

High-tech modern equipment at large dairy farms can’t be operated without enough electricity. But farmers often can’t afford to upgrade their electrical service to provide three-phase power — a predicament that sometimes stops them from expanding operations to boost milk production.

But when the three partners at Milk Street dairy farm in Rutland decided to expand in 2011, they found out National Grid was willing to provide a $50,000 grant from its 3-Phase Power Incentive Program. That financial assistance from the utility helped the farm to finish a $2 million expansion project last year. Five new buildings were erected on the farm at 17272 County Road 161, including a free-stall dairy barn that will allow the farm to nearly triple its herd. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: , , ,

Managing our natural resources

April 9, 2013 By

During the Dust Bowl era of the early 20th century, millions of tons of soil eroded off the land into the sea. The United States saw the productivity of farms literally washing away. Farms went out of business, and many of the businesses in local communities that depended, directly and indirectly on farms, followed. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: , , , ,

A change for the Jefferson County ag industry

March 6, 2013 By

On Feb. 12, the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation’s board of directors held their last meeting, during which board members moved to dissolve the not-for-profit local development corporation. While no one desired that the corporation cease to exist, it was a direction caused by outside influences with no concern for agriculture. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: ,

Agri-biz future is getting brighter

February 4, 2013 By

For eight years, high school students have converged on Jefferson Community College to participate in Workforce 2020. Thanks to the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services and the Workforce Investment Board, 1,500 students from 17 high schools attended this year’s event on Jan. 9. They met with representatives from 100 businesses and government agencies to discuss career opportunities and participate in mock interviews. Agriculture was well represented by the students and the businesses and agencies present. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: , ,

What are the rules of the game?

January 7, 2013 By

I am sitting at my desk on Friday, Dec. 21, writing this agricultural outlook for 2013. First, we survived the end of the world, or at least so far; that’s the good news. However, the bigger question is, will we survive our federal government? I’m not sure, at least not today. This is unfortunate because our farms could be in a fantastic position to grow their businesses. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: ,

A dairy machine that will astound

December 15, 2012 By

Where would the north country be without the dairy machine? We have more than 30,000 machines located in nearly 230 businesses. The machines employ green technology to manufacture several products. Their annual economic impact totals about $400 million.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With:

Ag districts key to farm viability

November 12, 2012 By

Because farming is heavily land dependent, agriculture is easily susceptible to restrictive land use regulations. Average farms in Jefferson County operate on approximately 200 acres with many farming more than 1,000 acres. Fees, taxes, zoning restrictions, junk laws and other land-use regulations can impact a farm to the point where it could struggle to stay in business financially or lose its ability to farm its land.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: ,

Military partners for a ‘good fence’

October 13, 2012 By

There is an old saying that a “good fence builds strong neighbors.” In Jefferson County, protecting that fence also builds good neighbors. A series of partnerships is strengthening two industries and protecting part of what makes our community unique.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Agri Business, Agri-Business, Columns Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Older Posts