NORWICH – The Chenango County Board of Supervisors has approved the funding of a new grazing program through Cornell Cooperative Extension to benefit farmers and the ag industry.
Because agriculture is still the leading industry in the county – bringing in $100 million per year – and dairy farms in the area have steadily declined in the last 10 years, assisting farmers in all aspects is critical to the economic stability of the county, according to Ken Smith, executive director at the county’s branch of the Extension located in Norwich.
Smith said the new grazing program is a welcome asset in the agricultural industry and will ultimately contribute to the economic development of the area.
Large dairy farms commonly keep cows sheltered, bringing them food because it’s easier and sometimes, more economical, he explained. However, for smaller farms, grazing is an advantageous process that reduces costs to a small dairy farmer. In addition, Smith said 10 percent of the county’s dairy farms are organic and grazing is mandated.
“For agricultural purposes, Chenango County is best suited for growing grass and pastures,” he said.
Grazing is the most profitable to smaller farmers because it diminishes the need for some heavy equipment, reduces animal injury and it allows new dairy farmers to more easily enter the dairy industry.
The new position and program will initially be funded through the county’s set-aside economic development fund, according to Supervisor Dennis Brown (D-Pharsalia).
“We worked hard to get the (grazing) program,” Brown said, saying that the funding has already been allocated. “There are a number of people using the land they have for agriculture purposes ... If someone does use the grazing program and they’re a full time farmer and they end up with more money in their pocket at the end of the year, they’ll spend it locally,” he explained. “If a farmer lives in Chenango County and farms in Chenango County, they’ll spend their money in Chenango County.”
Brown also pointed to the amount of land being sold to outside buyers in recent years. He argued that rather than selling land, it could be cultivated to support livestock. His argument was backed by Smith’s explanation that some farmers divvy up and sell their land in smaller sections of acreage, thereby making the land less useful in the agriculture industry.
Smith hopes to fill a staffing position for the grazing program within the next two months to help farmers complete a financial analysis and examine various factors to determine if grazing is a profitable alternative.