Happy Holidays from your friends at the Watershed Agricultural Council!
MEET THE NEW PLANNERS
We would like to welcome two “new” faces to our staff.
Ben Hepler- Conservation Planner
“I started with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County in November of 2017 as a Nutrient Management Planner. I thoroughly enjoyed drafting plans and working with the farmers of the NYC Watershed through educational events. I applied for the Whole Farm Planning position to continue my work and love of agriculture. At home, my family and I run a cow/calf operation and finish about 70 head for the freezer trade market. My wife and I also keep a small flock of Katahdin sheep.”
Camberly VanValkenburg- Assistant Conservation Planner
‘While working to earn my degree from SUNY Morrisville, I spent three summers with the Delaware County Soil and Water Stream Program as an intern. Staying close to home on my family hay farm, I am excited to join WAC as an Assistant Conservation Planner where I will be helping the Whole Farm Planning, Nutrient Management, and Precision Feed Management teams with various tasks such as sampling and data collection efforts.”
ATTENTION EAST OF HUDSON FARMS IN THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
Westchester County, through its partnership with the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB), is in the process of reviewing its Agricultural District No. 1, which will be completed by July 19, 2025. The County and AFPB are requesting the help of participating farms and encouraging new enrollment to promote the continuation of farming and the preservation of agricultural land in the County!
We kindly ask that farms currently enrolled in the District, and those requesting enrollment, complete a brief survey. This will help ensure your contact information is up-to-date, and we have a understanding of your current agricultural practices. The survey is located at https://arcg.is/1G4jmf2 or scan the QR code.
The District currently includes the following municipalities: Cortlandt, Yorktown, Somers, North Salem, Lewisboro, Bedford, Sleepy Hollow and the portion of Mount Pleasant west of the Taconic State Parkway. 130 farms are within the District, which totals approximately 9,254 acres. Farming activities range from small scale operations under 25 acres, to farms greater than 250 acres. As part of its 2025 review, the County and AFPB are recommending the inclusion of Pound Ridge, North Castle, New Castle and Ossining, which were historically included.
If you have questions, concerns or would like additional information on the District, please contact Jesenia Laureano, Associate Environmental Planner at (914) 995–2085 or [email protected].
Check out the December 2024 News here for more program highlights and opportunities!