GENESEE COUNTY

GENESEE COUNTY AGRICULTURE AND FARMLAND PROTECTION BOARD

September 19, 2016 Meeting

Genesee County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan

The following represents the input received at the September 19, 2016 meeting at the Genesee County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board. Each Board member in attendance provided their perspective:

  1. The increase in development pressures is an issue that is beginning to create problems.
  2. Seeing more “For Sale” signs.
  3. Development value of land is rising.
  4. Seeing more road frontage development.
  5. Good farmland should not be purchased/utilized for development (why was the new yogurt plant built on good farmland?)
  6. Need a balance of Development and Agriculture.
  7. Waterline extensions, new Districts, etc.
  8. Need to update the map in the plan that illustrates utilities. Need to include approved expansions and those in the planning process.
  9. Alabama, Oakfield, Byron, Darien, Elba, others? areextending public water or planning onextending waterlines/ expanding districts.
  10. Farms support Smart Growth, but waterlines could help with their operations.
  11. Need to look at water capacity planning (include farms in analysis), rate structures (can farms get different rates) and other Smart Growth Strategies.
  12. Lateral restrictions do not stop future growth. Houses are built with lateral restrictions in place, especially on road frontage lots. Also, if the wells fail after homes are built, they are allowed to tie into the waterline (public health issues.) The word gets out.
  13. May want to look at some sort of PDR Program that relates to lateral restrictions. If the farmer wants water, need to provide deed restrictions limiting/not allowing water for the purposes of residential development.
  14. See Town of Leroy Plan for ways to handle some of these issues.
  15. Roads and bridges are very important to agriculture. They are utilized by the farmers to access their fields, bring products to market and bring supplies to the farms. Many roads are in need of repair and maintenance programs are falling behind.
  16. Farmers need internet access; it needs to improve.
  17. Dairies are doing very well; been an increase in 8.2% in milk production. Continue to need more lands (availability a problem.)
  18. Market for the milk has had its problems.
  19. Need to help insure that these markets exist.
  20. Can the yogurt plant that is currently not being utilized be converted for milk processing?
  21. Can be a volatile market.
  22. Farmers are progressive in Genesee County.
  23. Cornell and others helping with this.
  24. Need to stay ahead of the curve.
  25. Labor laws are an issue and farmers could use help with this.
  26. Good Agricultural education system exists in Genesee County, but could always be improved.
  27. BOCES, Agriculture Academy
  28. Agriculture Career Awareness in October.
  29. GCCC/Harvest Festival coming up.
  30. Career awareness improvement is needed – start with school districts.
  31. Need to understand the broad range of jobs that are related to agriculture; for example truckers (need CDL’s: this training is being provided)
  32. Farming communities need an Agriculture Board or Committee to help resolve problems.
  33. NYS has a mediation program (see pamphlet.)
  34. Could use NYS program to train local Boards.
  35. Leroy has a good committee – farmers and non-farmers.
  36. Consultant’s noted: once the Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Plan is adopted, need a champion (Committee, Board) to help represent the plan.
  37. Implementation includes setting up tasks and budgets for the coming year, reporting on what was done the previous year and identifying all issues discussed (making recommendations to amend plan or make revisions.)
  38. This can be run like the County’s Comprehensive Plan.
  39. The Agriculture Farmland Protection Board will be this entity and will be assisted by County staff.
  40. They also need to focus on making sure the concepts and recommendations of the plan are incorporated into other regional plans.
  41. Solar is still an issue that could affect agriculture in Genesee County. The GGSG Plan has developed a sample solar law for communities (does this address the Agricultural issue?).
  42. Drainage is becoming a greater problem to farmers. Mostly has to do with regulations such as wetlands, protected streams, SWPPP’s, permitting, etc.
  43. Some are worried about whether PDR’s will be a useful tool in Genesee County. There is concern about raising taxes and the current value of farmland.
  44. May need to look at creative PDR’s.
  45. Tax credits versus standard PDR’s.

The Board was also provided a packet of information on the Agricultural Plan for their use. It was asked of the board to provide any additional comments on the plan and for County’s vision for Agriculture to Felipe over the next two weeks. It is the intent of the consultants to continue to draft the plan and have draft sections to the committee before the next meeting.