Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neil and Dutchess County Legislature Chair Gregg Pulver hosted today’s 2023 Agricultural Advisory Committee Forum at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. They were joined by members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, which includes local farmers, agri-business representatives, agricultural and land conservancy organizations, and others to discuss issues and policies surrounding Dutchess County agriculture and farming.
Rep. Marc Molinaro, County Clerk Brad Kendall, County Legislators Don Sagliano and Tony D'Aquanni and Village of Red Hook Mayor Karen Smythe joined more than 50 local farmers and representatives from various agricultural and land conservancy organizations at today’s forum. Following the forum, members of the ThinkDIFFERENTLY 4-H program for children of all abilities had the opportunity to show their animals at its Fair Flourishing Farmer’s Showcase.
Land in agriculture comprises over 101,000 acres in Dutchess County, which is almost a fifth of the County’s total acres. Accounting for nearly $44 million in market value products, local agriculture is one of the County’s primary industries.
County Executive O’Neil said, “Our Agricultural Advisory Committee members continue their valiant work to ensure agriculture remains as vital to Dutchess County today as it did in our community’s formative years. Dutchess’ agrarian heritage is interwoven into the fabric that makes our county so distinct, and our current farmers keep that rich history alive – producing world-class food and making a major impact on our local economy. The Agricultural Advisory Committee’s advocacy, coupled with the hard-working farmers they represent, will help ensure farming in Dutchess County endures for years to come.”
Members and attendees listened to updates from Eoin Wrafter, Commissioner of the County’s Department of Planning and Development, and Matt Sabellico, Chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee. The County’s Agriculture Navigator, Jen Fimbel updated those in attendance on the State of Agriculture in the County, and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Farmland Protection Specialist Jeff Kehoe discussed the Agricultural Districts program and the differences between it and Agricultural Assessment.
Chairman Pulver, a multi-generational farmer in the Town of Pine Plains, said, “Farming, by its very nature, is both challenging and rewarding, and being a farmer has become a more daunting task in recent years. Strident backers of farming, the members of our county’s Agricultural Advisory Committee continue their advocacy on various fronts for those who undertake this admirable and important vocation. We thank the committee members for their continued support of agriculture in Dutchess County, and we look forward to their continued success safeguarding our community’s legacy of farming for future generations.”
