Keep Putnam Farming

What is an Agricultural District?

An agricultural district is a geographic area consisting predominantly of viable agricultural land. Agricultural operations within the district are the priority land use and afforded benefits and protections to promote the continuation of farming and the preservation of agricultural land.  In Putnam County we have one Agricultural District #1 that covers the entire county due to its small size; it didn’t make sense to have multiple agricultural districts. So instead of covering a defined land area, our agricultural district is parcel by parcel.

Putnam County has designated the month of April as the annual period during which landowners may request tax parcel inclusion into our Agricultural District #1.  During this process, parcels of land may be added; no tax parcels can be removed.  The only time that tax parcels may be removed is during the NYS required programmatic eight-year review of the entire agricultural district.  The Putnam County agricultural District #1 was created in 2003 and went through an eight-year review in 2011.  The next time the eight-year review will take place is in 2019.

• Agricultural District Fact Sheet
• Agricultural District Annual Enrollment Process and Procedures
• Agricultural District Enrollment Form
• Agricultural District Timeline
• Agricultural District Disclosure Form & Agricultural Data Statement
• Agricultural District Law: A Current Summary
• Agricultural Assessment and Agricultural Districts – What are the Differences
• Frequently asked questions
• Example of a Business Plan (coming soon)

NYS Agriculture and Markets Law – Agricultural Districts Law Article 25AA

Important Contact information:

• Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board
  C/o Putnam County Soil and Water
  Conservation District
  841 Fair Street
  Carmel, NY 10512
  Phone: (845)878-7918
  Email: soilandwater@putnamcountyny.gov
  www.putnamcountyny.com/keepputnamfarming
• NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
  10B Airline Drive
  Albany, NY 12235
  Phone: (518) 457-3738
  Email: bob.somers@agriculture.ny.gov
  www.agriculture.ny.gov

Farmers Market Brochure

Click on the above link to see our Farmers Market Brochure. Here you will find a list of all Putnam County’s Farmers Markets and Farm Stands. Each section will provide you with their address location, phone number and hours.

(New) Hudson Valley Reginal Farmers Market

15 Mt. Ebo Road So. (off Rte. 22)

Brewster, NY 10509

Every Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

HudsonValleyFarmersMarket.org

• Keep Putnam Farming Report 5.9.16

Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Putnam County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board are partnering with Glynwood to gain a better understanding of existing agricultural conditions in Putnam County in an effort to create greater awareness of available local agricultural products and services and make them available to all residents.

Purpose

To engage residents with farmers in Putnam County – connecting farmers and neighbors – to better understand existing agricultural conditions and build relationships that will result in the development and implementation of actions to: strengthen the economic viability of the agricultural sector; foster improved neighbor relations; enhance awareness of local agricultural products and services; expand availability of local food; and provide access to these products for all residents of Putnam County.

Challenges identified by Putnam County farmers include:

• Lack of recognition by local municipalities and the County of agriculture as an industry for economic development and tourism.
• Lack of industry support for small farms, (i.e., needed capital, farm products and equipment repairs).
• Limited availability of farmland for expansion of existing farms or for farmers wanting to begin farming in Putnam County.
• Costs incurred by farmers of doing business in the County versus the level of income generated by farming activities.
• Lack of a cohesive farmers’ network that provides opportunities for farmers to collaborate with each other and regionally helping to make their operations more efficient.
• Lack of understanding by residents of the challenges faced by farmers that can lead to disputes with neighbors.
• Lack of an integrated marketing plan to promote local products and benefits of agriculture.

The Keep Farming program will work with Putnam County farmers to determine existing economic trends in the County and how this data can be used to better inform community planning efforts.

Putnam County and Glynwood have partnered to bring this initiative to Putnam County along with the following agencies:

Collaborating Organizations and Agencies

• Putnam County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board
• Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District
• Putnam County Planning Department
• Putnam County Department of Health
• Putnam County Economic Development Corporation
• Putnam County Tourism
• Putnam County Executive
• Putnam County Legislature
• USDA
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County
• Town Representatives
• Community Representatives

Glynwood is an agricultural nonprofit organization based in Cold Spring, NY working to ensure that farming thrives in the Hudson Valley.  Glynwood accomplishes this by farming, training farmers, promoting regional food, and collaborating to realize its vision.  Please visit www.glynwood.org for more information.

Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan For Putnam County

CLICK HERE TO SEE REPORT