Your October Monthly Harvest from NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets is here!

10/04/2023

𝓘𝓷 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓘𝓼𝓼𝓾𝓮
• Statewide News
• Taste NY Updates
• NYS Grown & Certified Updates
• Funding Opportunities
• Spotlight: Department Tours Columbia County Farms

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺-𝘁𝗼-𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵
October is National Farm-to-School Month, an annual opportunity to celebrate everyone who works hard each day to make sure that New York kids have access to farm fresh, healthy, local foods to power them at school. Our Farm-to-School program is one of New York agriculture’s best success stories, helping to increase the volume and variety of locally grown and produced food in schools, providing new markets for New York’s farmers, improving student health, and educating young people about agriculture. Check out more about the program at https://agriculture.ny.gov/farming/farm-school.

Additionally, our 30% NYS Initiative supports our Farm-to-School efforts by increasing the reimbursement schools receive for lunches from 5.9 cents per meal to 25 cents per meal for any district that purchases at least 30 percent of total food cost for their school lunch program on New York State products. We are proud that these programs continue to support local farmers and provide healthy choices for children at school and thank all of our partners across the state who make programs like these possible.

Just as important as providing fresh, delicious local produce for our students is ensuring they are safely distributed and prepared. USDA just released five new fact sheets on Food Safety in Farm-to-School programs. Check them out, along with their other Farm-to-School fact sheets, here.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 #𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝘿𝙮𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙁𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙜𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 2023 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝘼𝙀𝙈-𝙇𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙
The Department kicked off #ClimateWeek with a trip to Dygert Farms in Palatine Bridge to announce that the 13th generation dairy farm was awarded the 2023 New York Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM)-Leopold Conservation Award.

Commissioner Ball joined the Sand County Foundation and the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District to award the Dygert family the prestigious accolade, which honors a farm and its nominating Soil and Water Conservation District for their efforts to protect the environment through soil and water preservation.

The Dygert family was also celebrating another monumental achievement: their tricentennial anniversary! Through collaboration with the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District, the farm’s planner, and the State’s AEM Program, the Dygerts have adopted many conservation practices to cycle on-farm nutrients for crop production, continually build soil health, and protect water quality while helping to ensure farm viability for future generations.

We congratulate the Dygerts on their much-deserved award and were grateful for the opportunity to honor them for their efforts, especially as they celebrate 300 years of their family farm. Learn more about the event here.

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 $𝟭𝟯.𝟴 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲
Environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability have always gone hand in hand. During #ClimateWeek, Governor Kathy Hochul announced over $13 million was awarded to protect clean water across the state and help New York’s farmers continue their work to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The funding, which is awarded through the Department’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control program, will go toward 33 agricultural water quality conservation programs across the state.

Funding has been awarded to 22 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, on behalf of the farms, which will support on-farm environmental planning and implementation of best management practice (BMP) systems to keep nutrients and other potential pollutants from entering waterways, promote soil health and aid farms to be more resilient to climate change driven extreme precipitation. BMPs include a variety of measures, including installing vegetative buffers along streams, planting cover crops, enhancing nutrient management through manure storage, and other conservation measures.

Learn more about the program and see a full list of the projects here.

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 $𝟲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟮,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
Continuing the Department’s #ClimateWeek announcements, Governor Hochul also announced that more than $6 million is being awarded through the 19th Round of the Department’s Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program. The eight awarded projects will protect over 2,000 acres of valuable farmland across the State, helping to keep agricultural land in production, ensure the long-term viability of New York’s farming operations, and protect the State’s potential for carbon sequestration on these agricultural lands furthering the ability for the State to meet its climate goals.

This round of funding comes after the Department passed the major milestone of protecting over 100,000 acres through the FPIG Program. Preserving the rich farmland of New York State has long been one of the Department’s top priorities, helping to ensure a solid agricultural industry and healthy landscape for the next generations.

We congratulate all the awarded projects on their achievements, thank them for their work helping New York meet its climate goals, and encourage all eligible farms across the state to apply. Grant applications are accepted on a continuous basis, until all funds have been awarded. Learn more about the awardees and the FPIG Program, including how to apply, here.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
It’s hard to believe that the 2023 Great New York State Fair is in the rearview mirror but the Department has rounded up some great highlights for one more look at one of our very best Fairs yet!

“For 175 years, The Fair has showcased the very best of New York agriculture, while providing an inclusive, family-family forum for fairgoers. The strength of this New York tradition is felt by all who passed through the gates during the 2023 Fair,” said Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “In anecdotes, we can measure this through the number of smiles seen on faces, the number of selfies taken with animals and the exciting new Dinosaur exhibit, the number of meals eaten at The Fair, and the number of thrills experienced on The Midway.”

• Flavorful New York State
Year after year, fairgoers rave about the showcase of food presented at the Great New York State Fair, and they say it’s one of the things they miss most throughout the year. In addition to trying creative, innovative fried concoctions, each Fair presents ample opportunities to buy and sample some of the best homegrown and homemade New York food and beverage products from across the state:

◘ 272,055 cups of perfectly chilled milk were poured at The New York State Milk Bar, operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Chocolate Milk continues to be the most popular selection. An estimated 11,900 gallons of Chocolate Milk were poured over the course of 13 days in the Dairy Products Building. By comparison, 1,575 gallons of White Milk and approximately 1,415 gallons of Strawberry Milk were poured.
◘ The Taste NY Pop-Up Market, relocated to the space across from the Pure New York Maple Center, showcased 140 products from more than 40 vendors. Here, fairgoers rediscovered beloved flavors, found new favorites, and even shopped for gifts. The proof is in the 1,857 transactions tracked at the Pop-Up Market. New to The Fair this year, to coincide with its 10th Anniversary Celebration, Taste NY introduced the Tasting Yard positioned at Suburban Park. In The Fair’s 13-days, seven breweries from around the state poured 2,800 pints for concert-goers.
◘ Across the Horticulture Building, the New York Pure Maple Booth was also a popular destination, where 3,800 pounds of Maple Syrup was used to make favorite treats, including Maple Ice Cream (11,625 cones and dishes were served!), Popcorn (1,400 bags were sold!), and Maple Sugar candies (1,100 pounds were sold!). Patrons purchased 143-dozen Maple frosted donuts, 1,000 Maple lollypops, 5,000 bags of Maple Cotton Candy, and 400 packages of Maple Dog Biscuits for their furry family members.

• Agriculture, Animals and Education
Agriculture is an integral component of The Great New York State Fair. Through Agriculture Career Day – which aims to get students excited about career opportunities in agricultural fields – and exciting activities like the “Career Challenge” – an interactive, educational scavenger hunt – it’s estimated that 209 young leaders learned more about the industry. This represents a 33% increase over the number of participants in 2022.

◘ The Agriculture Office at the State Fair filed more than 10,000 competitive entries for youth, animals, flower, produce, and fine arts competitions.

• Other highlights include:

◘ 34 new “uddermiracles,” or baby calves, were introduced to the world at the Dairy Cattle Birthing Center. The Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary at The Fair this year. Including the 18 bulls and 16 heifers born during the 2023 Fair, The Center has welcomed more than 350 baby calves into the world.
◘ 4,200 pounds of compost was donated to the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA), from participating restaurants in The Eatery Building. Vendors had the ability to opt in to this first-of-its kind program.
◘ 312 animal themed State Fair t-shirts were sold at State Park at The Fair. The Fair launched a pilot program to sell merchandise, and its line of animal-themed t-shirts featuring cows, goats, and llamas sporting funny sayings, sold out. Stay tuned! An official merch store could be in The Fair’s future!

For a full list of highlights, please visit the Fair’s website.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets and the State Fair division want to thank the 932,699 patrons who passed through the gates, and recognize the work of state agencies and other partners who helped deliver a memorable experience for all visitors, exhibitors, vendors, and others. We can’t wait to see what is in store for next year!

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁
As the State continues to focus on building the agricultural workforce pipeline, Commissioner Ball was pleased to join State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, Senator Michelle Hinchey, the Department of Labor Commissioner Reardon, industry partners, SUNY campus presidents, and agriculture and technology experts for the first Agriculture Technology Workforce Readiness Summit early last month.

Hosted at SUNY New Paltz, the summit provided an opportunity to talk about workforce development and training opportunities for agriculture with a focus on some of today’s priorities, such as climate change and diversity. Attendees discussed the need for strong partnerships between higher education and the industry, the need for new degree programs in agriculture to support the workforce development pipeline, and more.

Commissioner Ball said, “Building a strong agricultural workforce pipeline is a critical component of a resilient food supply chain and the continued success of our agricultural industry. We have tremendous programs in New York when it comes to agricultural education for our young people, but we need to make sure we are connecting the dots from secondary education to higher education and beyond. We are committed to doing that, and with the Governor’s leadership and with the help of our partners, we are committed to expanding our work and ensuring agricultural training and education programs are readily available for current and future generations. I want to thank SUNY Chancellor King and Senator Hinchey for spearheading this first-ever Agriculture Technology Workforce Readiness Summit; our conversations today will help guide us as we tackle growing a highly skilled agricultural workforce moving forward.”

Read more about the summit here.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The Department has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input from stakeholders that will help the Department shape a first-of-its-kind agricultural workforce development program in the State and inform a potential Request for Proposal (RFP) for the initiative. Funding for the program was allocated in this year’s New York State Budget and builds on the State’s goals of strengthening New York’s food supply chain through the attraction and retention of a skilled agricultural workforce.

New York’s agricultural and food industries need to continue to attract and retain future generations of skilled workers who are prepared for a career in an industry that is rapidly developing alongside emerging technologies and ever-changing consumer demand. The Department is interested in working closely with those in the agricultural and food sectors to create a program that will identify clear pathways for jobseekers and connect them to high-quality employment opportunities in agriculture, ultimately helping to strengthen and grow the State’s food supply system.

The program will identify internships and apprenticeships across the industry and, working with our educational institutions like the SUNY system, ensure that the necessary skills and standards required by the industry are being taught to students. The program will also focus on working with workforce development entities to match and place the new workforce, including migrant individuals and asylum seekers, directly with industry opportunities.

The RFI and additional information can be found on the Department’s website at https://agriculture.ny.gov/request-information-new-york-state-department-agriculture-and-markets-agriculture-workforce. Statements of interest will be accepted via email to Antonia Giuliano, Senior Policy Advisor for Food and Dairy, at antonia.giuliano@agriculture.ny.gov.

Responses are due by November 1, 2023, and questions about the RFI must be submitted by email by October 4, 2023.

$𝟳𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺
In September, Commissioner Ball announced that $700,000 is available to New York’s farmers’ markets through the second round of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. Grant funding will help farmers’ markets across the state to make significant improvements by enhancing infrastructure, online sales, and delivery systems.

The program will provide $400,000 for larger markets (40 or more vendors), with awards ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, and $300,000 for smaller markets (less than 40 vendors), with awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Eligible applicants include registered not-for-profit organizations; local municipalities; business improvement districts; public benefit corporations; and Indian tribal organizations that have experience operating at least one farmers’ market. For more information on the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program and how to apply, visit agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0317-new-york-state-farmers-market-resiliency-grant-program.

Funding for the program was included in the 2024 New York State Budget and builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to ensure a resilient food system in New York State. Awards for Round 1 of the program were announced earlier this year.

𝗖𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲
Celebrate cider and New York’s apple industry during Cider Week, which runs from October 6 through October 15 at participating locations across the State.

Cider Week in New York is sponsored by the New York Cider Association, and continues the tradition of a showcasing the diversity and quality of New York’s cider industry and New York agriculture.

For a full listing of events across the State, visit https://ciderweeknewyork.com/events-2/.

𝗨𝗦𝗗𝗔 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Attention dairy farmers: the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced assistance is available for eligible dairy operations through the Milk Loss Program (MLP). Assistance is available to help compensate for milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather events that inhibited delivery or storage of milk, such as power outages, impassable roads, or infrastructure losses, between 2020 and 2022.

Signup for the MLP, which is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), runs through October 16, 2023. Learn more about the program, including eligibility and how to apply, here.

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗬 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲
The Department continued its celebration of the Taste NY program’s 10th anniversary with a special event at the Olana State Historic Site on Saturday, September 16. In partnership with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Parks), The Olana Partnership, and the New York State Bridge Authority, the event was a celebration of local food, beverages, and art in the historic Hudson Valley region, and showcased the selection of Taste NY products available in Olana’s Museum Store. The Olana Partnership, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit cooperative partner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at Olana State Historic Site, opened its Taste NY offerings in the Olana Museum Store in 2017. All proceeds support the interpretation, restoration, and protection of the site.

The visit coincided with the annual Skywalk Arts Festival, presented by Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley in partnership with the New York State Bridge Authority. The annual festival celebrates centuries of art and scenery at the Hudson River Skywalk, which connects the Olana State Historic Site with the Thomas Cole National Historic Site via the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. Learn more about the event.

𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 & 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀
As we head into “cozy season,” and curl up with blankets and sweaters, we encourage you to think about where you’re buying your fiber and fabric from! The Grown & Certified program has 11 certified animal fiber producers – which is the newest category in the program – and you may be able to find their products at a craft fair or a fall festival near you!

Our Grown & Certified team stopped by the Adirondack Wool & Arts festival earlier this month to learn more about fiber production and meet some of the New York producers sourcing and supplying local fleece, wool, yarn, and fabrics to our communities! The festival included sheep shearing demos, a variety of crafting and production workshops, and of course, opportunities to purchase warm, cozy, locally-made wool and fleece products. We encourage you look out for upcoming festivals, including the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival running October 21-22 in Rhinebeck, and stay warm this autumn by supporting your local producers! Eligible animal fiber producers can learn more about how to apply for the Grown & Certified program here.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
• RFP 0314 – Marketing and Advertising for New York State County and Local Fairs
Applications are due October 18, 2023.

• RFA 0307 – FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program
Applications are due November 1, 2023.

• RFP 0317 – New York State Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program
Applications are due November 15, 2023.

• RFP 0305 – Land Trusts Grants Program Round 5: Farmland Protection Outreach Activities
Applications are due November 17, 2023.

• RFA 0294 – Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Round 19 – Agricultural Conservation Easement Projects
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

• RFA 0263 – Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

• RFA 0262 – County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

• RFA 0238 – Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Round 18 – Conservation Easement Projects
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

• RFA 0181 – Source Water Buffer Program
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

For more information on these or other funding opportunities, please visit our Funding Opportunities page.

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿
This month, the Department joined the New York Farm Bureau on its annual legislative farm tour. The tour featured stops at five local producers in Columbia County, including Boschee Farm in Livingston, Dutch Hollow Farm in Schodack Landing, Samascott Orchards in Kinderhook, Little Seed Gardens in Valatie, and Chatham Berry Farm in Chatham.

• Boschee Farm is an equine center in the heart of the Hudson Valley dedicated to providing people with opportunities to experience the horse-human connection. While dressage is the farm’s background and focus, owner Lyndee Kemmet is passionate about applying training methods that will provide horses and riders alike with a foundation from which they can pursue any equestrian discipline.

• Dutch Hollow Farm is a family-owned dairy farm known not only for their premium quality, high butterfat content milk, but also for their love of Jersey cows. The Chittenden family exclusively uses the smaller, more social brown cows for their dairy production, milking a team of 700 cows three times a day, every day, producing around 47,000 pounds of milk, or about 5,000 gallons every day.

• Samascott Orchards grows hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables ranging from berries to kiwis and cucumbers to pumpkins, selling all of them out of their on-site farm store and offering many of them to pick-your-own customers. The multi-generational, family farm has grown over the last century from a humble, 180-acre property to now accommodating over 1,000 acres of land, primarily focused on the over 70 varieties of apples they grow and sell, along with in-house pressed cider.

• Little Seed Gardens is a certified organic, 100-acre family farm nestled between two creeks in the town of Chatham, where owners Claudia Kenny and Willy Denner tend vegetables, cover crops, livestock, and pastures. They believe in growing and sharing food in ways that strengthen the living communities they serve, and as part of that commitment, offer CSA shares and weekly newsletters with recipes and farm news.

• Chatham Berry Farm is a multi-generational, family-owned farm and business that has been providing Columbia County residents healthy, local food for over 40 years. Their year-round farm store offers a variety of gourmet and local foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, local cheeses and milk and dairy products, home-grown organic and hydroponically grown greens, local honey, maple syrup, fresh bread and baked goods, and more. The farm is also home to the Greenhouse Cidery, which features home-brewed small batch cider and other local New York craft beverages.

Thank you to our partners at New York Farm Bureau for bringing us along on another great tour, and thank you to all the farmers and families for taking the time to discuss the issues that matter most to you!

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