This report is of significance for the Town of Meredith for two reasons:
1) the report supports livestock/grass-based enterprises as a solution to our need for economic stimulus and 2) the report reinforces the Town's need for a farmland protection plan.
The report focuses on recommended actions in research, education, extension, and policy to realize the potential of our grasslands as a farming resource that will spur rural economic development, grow the regional food supply, and enhance environmental outcomes for all citizens of NYS.
Over 3 million acres of NYS grasslands are not currently being used for agricultural production. This presents an opportunity for the state to encourage economic development on these lands that will lead to job creation, enhance regional and local food security, and contribute to sustainable agriculture enterprises. Several barriers exist to the increase utilization of grasslands for livestock production. Two barriers are farmers’ limited access to these underutilized grasslands and capital to develop agricultural enterprises.
Topics discussed in the report include: Why increased livestock utilization of NY’s grasslands makes sense; Livestock production and marketing opportunities; Barriers to increased livestock utilization of NYS grasslands; and Recommendations and inventory of grasslands management resources of NYS landowners & farmers.
“Green Grass, Green Jobs: Increasing Livestock Production on Underutilized Grasslands" is available as a free download from the Cornell Small Farms website at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. Free hard copies are also available and may be requested by contacting Violet Stone at 607-255-9227 or vws7@cornell.edu.
This report is exactly in line with grassland habitat issues. As summarized in "A Plan for Conserving Grassland Birds in New York" issued by Audubon New York on May 8, 2008, NY has seen a huge decline in its grassland bird species. Quite simply....farming making use of the grasslands is not only good for the economy, but engenders biodiversity as well. Its a win win for New York.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input. There are also terrific programs like USDA's Wildlife habitat Incenitve Program (WHIP) that pay landowners for clipping grasslands every three years to keep grassland habitat in pace for nesting birds. The GGGJ report shows we can keep habitats in place, and put people to work,by keeping the grass green.
ReplyDelete