Local Agriculture & Land Use Leadership Institute

TARGETING RESIDENTS OF ONONDAGA, ONEIDA AND MADISON COUNTIES:

While farmers are out in the fields growing our food, decisions are made in town halls that impact the future of local agriculture. A new program plans to help residents develop leadership skills for participating in local planning meetings and speaking up for the farms in their community.

“Tragically, New York has lost 4,500 farms, the equivalent of one farm every three and a half days, since the early 1980s,” said David Haight, New York State Director at American Farmland Trust. “Communities must do more to protect farmland and help local farmers achieve economic security to ensure that farming continues into the future – farms and farmland can’t be taken for granted.”

American Farmland Trust and Cornell University established the Local Agriculture & Land Use Leadership Institute to develop community leaders with the skills and knowledge to strengthen the economy and protect farmland. The Institute will train farmers, extension educators, planners, nonprofit professionals, local officials and concerned citizens about policies and programs that communities can use in protecting farmland and keeping farmers on the land. Open to all interested residents, the Institute is recruiting 30 residents of Oneida, Madison and Onondaga counties for five, day-long training sessions from November 2015 through February 2016.

Each session will foster leadership skill development as well as the technical aspects of land use planning, farmland protection, and agricultural economic development. Participants will learn from classroom presentations, panels of guest experts, site visits, interactive activities and case studies relevant to the three-county region. Participants will also receive certificates of program completion that can be applied for land use training credits required by the State of New York for planning and zoning board members.

The $100 fee covers instruction, materials, refreshments, and other costs. Partial scholarships are also available. For more information and to apply for the Local Agriculture & Land Use Leadership Institute, visit the Local Agriculture and Land Use website

Special thanks to the Central New York Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties for their financial support of the Institute’s training program being offered in Onondaga, Madison and Oneida Counties.

Last updated May 28, 2019