HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG Minutes 2025-03-25
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Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 6:00 pm
In Person at Ithaca Town Hall (Aurora Conference Rm) and via Zoom Video Conference
Final Minutes
Members Present: Matthew Stalker (AJ Teeter Farm), Claire Forest (Forest Family Farm).
Christianne White (Steep Hollow Farm) & Lee Ginenthal (Der Rosenmeister Nursery) via Zoom.
Town Representatives: Mike Smith (Senior Planner) & Rich DePaolo (Town Board Member).
Guests: Isa Schell.
1. Farmers Round Robin – What’s happening on your farm? How is the season going/went?
Issues/concerns? Announcements?
Matt reported the pigs are going to butcher, pork cuts available at the A.J. Teeter Farm. 9 Calves
to date for the spring season. New laying hen chicks arriving. Awaiting the weather to break to
fix fence and progress with spring work.
Claire reported mowing her raspberry plants just at the right time during the winter solstice at
Forest Family Farm. Fencing needs to be repaired to help keep the deer out.
Lee reported picking up 1 ton of potting mix to get started in the greenhouse on Der
Rosenmeister Farm. The supplier for some of his product is in Ontario and the possibility of the
impending tariffs and the cost being passed to the consumer was mentioned as a potential
concern. The timing of the shipment from the particular supplier (chosen for high quality and
large selection that cannot be matched in the U.S.) could be received ahead of the desired
shipping date to avoid the higher cost for this time. To avoid this import issue in the future, Lee
will begin to produce his own stock and purchase less for re-sale. His selection and profit will be
limited based on quantity of sales and licensing of some varieties.
Also noted was Federal grant funds for some fellow colleagues been eliminated causing concern.
He gave an example of a local cemetery and uncertain grant funding. Specific farmer from Ovid
example was given as well. Matt shared his experience with potential grant and now going with
re-used materials and not relying on funding. Lee asked what the Town’s stance is on the impact
with on farmers from grant funds that were previously in place and no longer available? Rich
replied that in a general sense, the town has heard about grant funds that have been reduced or
could be and there has been no specific mention of ag, he could see how farms could be affected
based on discussions this evening. Rich continued that everyone is early into these grant changes
and federal funding, and it is helpful to hear how the direct impacts locally are being received.
He then shared about the towns purchase of property to transfer to NYS Parks for completion of
the Black Diamond Trail. The property was purchased based on an appraisal and now that the
transfer of the property is closer to happening, the NYS offer is much lower than the purchase
price previously paid. The town chose to accept the offer to continue the progress of the trail
completion while the funds offered were still available rather than delay while a third party could
be pulled in that could offset the difference, but with no guarantee.
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Christianne reported that things are good on Steep Hollow Farm. Her focus will be treating more
hemlock trees on the farm in the spring and fall. Her neighbors are considering treating their
hemlock trees as well and she is encouraging and spreading the word about the declining
population of the species and how their declining health and reduction changes the eco system
and the effects are irreplaceable. She explained general details on the tree treating process to the
committee, related costs and shared the name of a local expert (Zeb Strickland) in the field who
tracks and maps the treated trees as part of the service. She will also share an article with
resources and further information related to saving the hemlock trees. Her property was chosen
by County Assessment for further information related to the soil boundaries although the sizes of
fields and farmed land has not changed. Using modern GIS mapping and tools, the new maps
show less acreage of ag fields, the theory is that in the early 1990’s the estimates for the mapping
by the county were not verified and could have been more generous. She is unsure if there will
be a change in the farms assessment in the future. The valuation seems to differ between
valuable soils and forest land, etc. There will likely be future impact on new development based
on the new soil maps.
The overall increase in property assessment was discussed, reasoning’s include sales of
neighboring property sales, building improvements, among other things. Claire mentioned
checking with assessment to make sure the ag exemption form is signed each year for farms, by
March 31st.
2. Persons to be heard- no one raised their hand on zoom, no guests present in the room.
3. Chair (Matthew) and Coordinator (Mike) reports / updates:
Mike updated on the two PDR (Purchase Development Right) applications before the town
board. The first conservation easement purchase is complete on Hayts Rd. and the second is
progressing along for anticipated purchase this year on Sheffield/Hayts/Bundy Rds.
Cornell Cooperative Extension announced bringing back the Open Farm Day this summer, 5-6
Farms to be open for tours in late July. Caroline, Dryden and S/E corner of Ithaca if interested.
The Tutelo Park Plan Walk web page was shared on screen from the town’s website. Mike
explained that County funding was received to help with an Ethnobotanic Trail at the park. Signs
have been made to identify and describe 11 plants and are currently being installed by the parks
staff. The signs will have a QR code that links to the same town web page where more
information is available including videos with the native language used.
4. Ithaca Town Board (Rich) report / update:
Rich shared information that was shared about upcoming funding for non-point source water
quality grants that may be available with a short deadline of May to municipalities and not-for
profits, administered through TC Soil and Water. These funds may be a place for stream bank
stabilization and run off projects to be potentially funded, for example Christianne could contact
them for the hemlock issue. A contact from DEC was provided as well for grants
(DOWGRANTS)
Taxation and calculating value of large-Scale Solar projects was mentioned. The Town invited
the County Assessor to the next planning committee meeting to clarify how the projects are
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valued due to the need for a local law or resolution for the town to require a PILOT (Payment in
Lieu of Taxes) similar to the action recently taken by the county. This would ensure the town
would receive some payment on property that could be otherwise tax exempt.
The potential multi use housing neighborhood development on west hill, near the existing
Conifer Development has raised some resident concerns about potential traffic issues. An
alternate access is being looked into between Conifer Drive and Bundy Road that is privately
owned and currently vacant land. Installing new infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer
makes land more desirable and could increase development even further in the future and is
something to be aware of.
The County Ag Summitt being held the next day in Groton (March 26th) was mentioned. The
Town Planning Director is attending and part of the presentation panel for the afternoon.
5. Acceptance of minutes – Claire moved to accept the November minutes; Lee seconded.
The November 26, 2024, minutes were accepted.
6. Other Business: Lack of quorum for resolutions.
• Recommendation of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2025 and approval of the 2025 Meeting
Schedule. Matt was willing to continue until July or when a formal vote could be taken.
He will continue to recruit other local farmers to come and join the committee.
• Training/Educational opportunities- Mike continues to send out opportunities as he
receives them, from Cornell Small Farms or other helpful sources. The town has
allocated funding for committee members if interested in attending something.
Christianne attended a Grazing workshop. She noted after taking a course, you are
offered to watch the repeats or participate again if wanted to that is a big incentive. She
shared a take away helpful/tool website of https://forages.org/ from the course and found
it useful and worth the look.
Next meeting July 29, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
7. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
Minutes were drafted by Planning Admin Staff Abby Homer