PLAN OF WORK FOR (Assoc.(s) or Area): Otsego County

MAJOR PROGRAM TITLE: Agriculture Vitality

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Context/Situation: Agriculture plays a large role in the overall economy of Otsego County. Factors such as low market prices, taxes, the increasing age of farmers, inability to sell farms and lack of young people to take on farm ownership have added to the decline of farming in recent years. There is a need to assist farming and related businesses through economic development activities to maintain the viability of the industry in the area. There is also a need to provide up-to-date technical information to assist producers to enhance their productivity, reduce the cost of production and increase their profit margin.

Broad Program Goals (Overall Purpose/Outcome Statements):

1. To provide the producers of the agriculture industry informational resources to assist them to remain a viable, profitable business.
2. To enhance farm transfer programs so that needs of retiring and new farm operators are met and farms and farmland are protected.
3. Improve awareness and recognition of the importance of the economic, social, and environmental roles in Otsego County.
4. To promote agricultural literacy and education in and about agriculture throughout the education community.

Objectives (Specific Outcomes for Specific Audiences):

1. Work with the Central New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team to assist producers in the area maximize their production levels, examine other farming alternatives and promote best management principles.
2. Provide leadership for Grow Otsego! (Formerly OCCAD, Otsego County Coalition for Agricultural Development), a group of organizations and producers formulated by CCE-Otsego County to identify ag related issues and potential solutions.
3. Provide leadership in the implementation of the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan approved by the NYS Ag and Markets and the Otsego County Board of Representatives.
4. Work with Otsego County Department of Economic Development, Tourism, Grow Otsego!, Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE), NY Farm Bureau and other regional organizations to improve the vitality of the agriculture industry through the development of an agriculture marketing package to new and relocating agricultural producers.
5. Promote the agriculture industry and "buy local" initiatives to the general public through special events including farm tours, ag days for children, and displays at the county fair, farmers markets and festivals.
6. Work with the NY Ag in the Classroom Program and the NY Association of Agricultural Educators to implement ag education in the Otsego County public and private schools.
7. Assist the Otsego County Planning Department in planning issues relating to agriculture including, but not limited to, the formal review of Agriculture Districts in the County.
8. Respond to the immediate needs of agriculture producers in the event of natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstances.

How will goals be met? (Educational Strategy):

• Conduct informational seminars and tours for producers.
• Provide one-on-one assistance to producers when circumstances warrant.
• Develop brochures and news articles.
• Facilitate organizations and/or producers working together (Grow Otsego!).
• Advocate for needed changes to assist producers, i.e., new farmers market formats, implementation of the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan.
• Maintain a dialogue with producers to ensure needs are being met.
• Press releases, brochures, fact sheets and bulletins from CCE.