On Oct. 10, the Ulster County Government publicized its 2024 Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan draft, a document mapping out the county’s plans for sustaining and advancing the agriculture of the region. Its main objective is to “address the challenges facing agriculture in the county while capitalizing on opportunities to ensure the economic viability, sustainability and resilience of the agricultural sector” and is the product of much collaboration between the government, farm community and local community at large.
Lands designated for agricultural and farm use can be found all around New Paltz and surroundng areas, and are facing increasing threats with the changing of our climate. The importance of preserving farmland is paramount for a place like Ulster County, which relies heavily on its agriculture for everything from its food to its economy.
“Agriculture is the second largest sector of the economy after tourism, and the tourism sector itself is very dependent on agritourism,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “Our diverse mix of small and mid-sized farms is also so important to our quality of life, the beauty of our landscapes and to our long-term food security in the face of a changing climate.”
“With drought and water issues affecting many areas of the country and globe that currently supply our stores with much of the food they sell, it is only becoming more important to our food security that we protect our farmland and keep farming viable in our county,” Metzger added.
In order to address these growing concerns about the county’s farmlands, the 2024 Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan identifies actions both government officials and local farmers can take to protect farmland, while simultaneously fostering a commitment to agricultural planning. While the initial Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan created in 1997 did not need to address many of the issues of our contemporary world, the 2024 plan incorporates recent relevant concerns in order to keep the county on track to preserve its agricultural sector.
“This updated plan shines a bright light on our interconnection with these challenges and reflects a strong county commitment to environmental sustainability and resilience that is absent from the 1997 plan. Addressing such issues as soil health, water conservation and energy efficiency are crucial to the long-term viability of our farms, and our farmers need support and assistance to address these challenges,” said Metzger. “The plan also speaks to the importance of supporting a diverse and inclusive agricultural economy, which the 1997 plan did not address. The draft plan includes recommendations on these issues and creates a pathway forward.”
The 2024 Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan is a community effort and the Ulster County Government encourages all to review the draft plan and provide feedback. The plan can be found at https://participate.ulstercountyny.gov/ag-protection-plan.