Welcome to the Schoharie County Office of Agricultural Development. Our office works to strengthen and grow the agricultural community of Schoharie County. We connect farmers, farm-based food businesses, agribusinesses and entrepreneurs to services in our County and across the region. We facilitate and coordinate resources with the other farmer focused support agencies serving Schoharie County producers, like Cornell Cooperative Extension, SUNY Cobleskill, the Farm Bureau, CADE, Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, FSA, NRCS, Soil and Water District and others. We provide direct technical assistance to farmers and food producers by connecting them with grant and funding opportunities, research agricultural needs of the County, and act as representative capacity for the agricultural community of Schoharie County within the local government.
Our office also periodically sponsors farmer-focused events and holds workshops on relevant ag topics.
Current projects include:
- Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board / Ag Districting
- Schoharie County Farmers’ Market Needs Assessment (ongoing)
- USDA Farm to School Planning Grant for Cobleskill Campus Child Care Center
- Ag Solutions and Networking Event Co-Host / Planning Committee
- NYS Farm to Early Education Network Committee
Statewide, County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Boards serve a vital role as part of New York State’s long-standing effort to use voluntary, incentive-based programs to protect farming and farmland. Our office also coordinates this Board.
If you are a farmer or food producer in need of support, have questions about farming in Schoharie County, and/or would like to learn more about applying for funding opportunities – please contact Caroline Myran, Agricultural Development Specialist.
Resources:
Agricultural Resources for Schoharie County Farmers and agribusinesses
2017 Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Map
Office Information:
Contact: Caroline Myran
Email: Caroline.Myran@schohariecounty-ny.gov
Location: 276 Main Street – Suite 2, PO Box 396, Schoharie, NY 12157
Phone: (518) 295-8785
Fax: (518) 295-8788
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) Members:
Jerry Lape – Board Chair
Dan Zeh – Farmer
Karl Westphal – Agricultural Preservation Member
Vern Durie – Agribusiness member
Lisa Thom – County Real Property/ Tax Director
Shane Nickle – County Planning & Community Development Services Director
Claude Coons – Chairman of the County Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Liz Callahan – Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Schoharie and Otsego
Earl Van Wormer III – County Board of Supervisors
Jessica Beretz – Farmer
Agricultural Advisors:
Because of their collective expertise, the Boards may review and comment on proposed local comprehensive plans. The AFPB can also help a local government avoid enacting or administering local laws which unreasonably restrict farm operations in agricultural districts and run afoul of the agricultural districts law. Similarly, agricultural data statements, required when approval for subdivision, site plan, special use or use variances are sought within 500 feet of a farm operation in an agricultural district, can be referred to the Boards for review and comment.
The Schoharie County AFPB may provide local “expert” analysis in cases when a farming practice is in question. This informal peer review can head off a request for a formal “sound agricultural practice” opinion. The Boards can also provide local expertise to the Commissioner to assist in a sound agricultural practice determination. In addition, the Board can mediate in disputes.
The Schoharie County AFPB can also serve as a liaison to town and planning Boards and to help educate non-farmers about the economic, social, and environmental benefits that farming and farmland bring to our community.
Agricultural Districts:
Applications for land to be considered for inclusion to a county agricultural district are accepted annually at the Schoharie County Planning and Development Agency from January 30-February 28.
The purpose of agricultural districting is to encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production. The program is based on a combination of landowner incentives and protections, all of which are designed to forestall the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses. Included in these benefits are preferential real property tax treatment (agricultural assessment and special benefit assessment), and protections against overly restrictive local laws, government funded acquisition or construction projects, and private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices.
The Landowner Application for Inclusion to an Agricultural District should be returned to Schoharie County Office of Agricultural Development, PO Box 396, Schoharie, NY 12157 during the open enrollment period.