SENECA CO., N.Y. — Seneca County invites the general public, farmers, owners of farmland and agriculture related businesses to complete an online survey about agriculture in the County. The survey can be access online at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SenecaAgPlan or by requesting a paper copy by calling Harriet Haynes at 315-539-1723. The survey will take about 15 minutes.
The County is seeking input from a variety of people in the County. Farmers, farmland owners, and agri-businesses are strongly encouraged to participate because this information will be used both to develop a new county-wide agricultural and farmland enhancement plan, and for an effort to review the NYS Certified Agricultural District boundaries. The public is also encouraged to take the survey so that we can understand local food consumer preferences and needs. Seneca County received a grant from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to develop this Plan with the Seneca County Agriculture Enhancement Board (AEB) serving as the Steering Committee for the project. Work on updating the plan began in June and will be completed in 2021. The AEB is being supported by Seneca County Department of Planning and Economic Development, Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The results of the survey will help inform the Agriculture Enhancement Board understand the current state of farming in Seneca County, what issues need addressing, and what ideas the agricultural community has to enhance agriculture to remain viable into the future. The plan will focus on the specific needs of farming and farm-related businesses and farm operations in Seneca County, especially that related to ag-economic development needs.
The greater the participation in the survey, the better the new Plan will be able to focus on the specific strategies needed to improve the sustainability and profitability of farms and farm-related businesses here. In addition to the survey, the County will be doing a series of interviews with farmers, ag support businesses, educators, and others.
Please complete the survey by Monday, November 30th, 2020. Use the link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SenecaAgPlan
Also, look for a link to take the survey from the County homepage at www.co.seneca.ny.us, from the Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension webpage at www.senecacountycce.org, or at the Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District’s webpage at www.senecacountyswcd.org. If you prefer to use a paper version of the survey, copies are available by request by calling (315) 539-1723.
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 contact us at 315-539-9251 or email seneca@cornell.edu.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Seneca County
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