SENECA CO., N.Y. — The Seneca County Agricultural Enhancement Board (AEB) and its Steering Committee have completed work to develop a county-wide plan designed to enhance agriculture in the County. The public is invited to review the draft on Seneca County’s Planning and Community Development website at https://www.co.seneca.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Full-Ag-Enhancement-Plan-Draft-12-9-21.pdf. The plan can be accessed through a search engine by typing ‘Seneca County Planning and Community Development’ and scrolling to the ‘Comprehensive Plan’ block and then scrolling to the ‘Full Ag Enhancement Plan Draft 12.9.21’ link. Paper copies have also been placed at all Town Offices and local Libraries for those unable to access the internet to prefer to read the detailed 165 page document in paper form.
Everyone is invited to attend one of two public presentations to learn more about the plan. The first presentation will be on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 in the Lecture Hall at the Seneca County Health and Senior Services Building (the old BonaDent Building) in Waterloo. The second opportunity will be on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the South Seneca Middle/High School Auditorium on Main Street in Ovid. Both presentations will begin at 7 pm.
Given the concerns about increasing COVID rates, appropriate protocols including masks and social distancing will be implemented, and the presentation on the 12th will be available via Zoom. It will also be recorded and posted for future viewing. Please contact Judy Wright of CCE of Seneca County or 315-539-9251 ext. 109 by 12 noon on 1/12/22 to register and receive the Zoom link. The draft plan and its maps are also available to download at https://we.tl/t-ROuKdYIde5.
Agriculture has been and continues to be a mainstay of the Seneca County economy. It is the dominant land use, covering nearly 119,000 acres – about 57% of the County’s total land area. The 516 farms identified in the Census of Agriculture generate $90.8 million per year in sales, a figure that increased 47%, adjusted for inflation, between 2002 and 2017.
For the past year, with grant support from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Seneca County Board of Supervisors, the plan documents the strength of agriculture in Seneca County, yet some challenges exist and these are identified and addressed in the plan.
The public is encouraged to read the plan and provide any feedback to the AEB through Judy Wright of CCE of Seneca County at jlw24@cornell.edu or 315-539-9251 ext 109. Written comments can be mailed to Judy Wright, CCE Seneca County, 308 Main Street Shop Centre, Waterloo, NY 13165. The draft Plan can be viewed and downloaded from Seneca County’s website at https://www.co.seneca.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Full-Ag-Enhancement-Plan-Draft-12-9-21.pdf. After the AEB submits the plan to the County, the Board of Supervisors will be holding a public hearing to gain other feedback prior to formal County adoption.
With over 100 years of serving the people of the County, Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension puts to practical use the scholarship and research of Cornell University and the national land grant system in the areas of agriculture and food systems sustainability; nutrition, food safety and security, and obesity prevention; 4-H youth development, and children, youth , and families; environment and natural resources, sustainable energy and climate change; and community and economic vitality. The office is located at 308 Main Street Shop Centre in Waterloo. For more information about this and other programs, please visit our website: www.senecacountycce.org, our Facebook pages: @CCESeneca, @senecacounty4hny, @WildHarvestTable, @CCEsenecaF2S, and contact us at 315-539-9251 or email seneca@cornell.edu.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Seneca County
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
MARYSVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) Beef Exhibitor Show Total (BEST) program wrapped up the 2021-2022 BEST season on May 7 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. More than 800 BEST exhibitors and families gathered to watch youth receive awards for their show success, cattle industry knowledge, photography skills, community service efforts and […]
SENECA CO., N.Y. — The Seneca County Agricultural Enhancement Board (AEB) and its Steering Committee have completed work to develop a county-wide plan designed to enhance agriculture in the County. The public is invited to review the draft and attend one of two public presentations to learn more about the plan. The first presentation will […]
SENECA CO., N.Y. — Sample a great Farm to School recipe; get your gardening questions answered from a Master Gardener; find out how to get an energy audit and learn about heat pumps; have your pressure canner gauge checked and get information about food preservation; learn about climate change and recycling; enjoy a Seneca County […]
MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Awards and prizes filled the stage as families gathered to commemorate an unusual year at the annual Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) awards banquet held on May 1 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus. Over 350 BEST exhibitors were awarded for their show success, cattle industry knowledge, […]
