Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
for Jefferson County’s Agricultural Industry 2003 – 2013.

2005 Revision

 Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation
P.O. Box 838 21170 NYS Rte 232
Watertown, NY 13601 Phone (315) 782-1806
Fax (315) 782-1944

Email: coordinator@comefarmwithus.com

Purpose of this Strategy.

 This strategy was created to provide a written roadmap to guide those individuals, agencies and organizations interested in developing the agricultural economy of Jefferson County.  It is our hope that this plan may provide some direction for efforts to improve our industry.  We fully recognize that over a ten year period, it is highly probable that where we envisioned the industry going, and where it actually ends up could be far apart.  This plan should not be regarded as the authority set in stone, but a fluid guide that can be altered as appropriate to accommodate changes in the industry.

How the Strategy was developed.

 The Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation, a local development corporation focused on agriculture, was created by an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Jefferson County Board of Legislators. The Corporations mission is to assist in the retention, growth and promotion of Jefferson County’s agricultural industry.  The Corporation has utilized valuable tools such as the proceedings of the 1998 Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference, The Jefferson County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, and the 2002 Jefferson County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan to guide it in its efforts.

In 2003, the Board of Directors of the Corporation underwent a process to develop a vision for agriculture. The vision was used as the basis for the strategy.  Goals and objectives were identified that assist in achieving the stated visions.  The Board of Directors then approved the Strategy and sent it to the Jefferson County Board of Legislators for their comments and acknowledgement.

In March of 2005, The JCADC Board of Directors reviewed and revised this Strategy in cooperation with the Jefferson County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy five year review process.

Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation
Board of Directors

Appointed Voting Directors 7 + 2  Term of Office

3 Dairy Farmers
Doug Murray: 01/01/2005 – 12/31/2007
Nancy Robbins: 01/01/2004 – 12/31/2006
Elizabeth Lassen: 12/10/2002 – 12/31/2005

1 Non-dairy farmer
Deb Johnston: 12/10/2002 – 12/31/2005

2 Ag Business representatives
Bob Laisdell, Jr: 12/10/2002 – 12/31/2005
Jan Martusewicz: 01/01/2004 -  12/31/2006

1 Ag Lending Institution Representative
Aaron Kimmich: 01/01/2005 -  12/31/2007

2 Members at large selected by the Board of Directors at their discretion
John Jennings, Dairy Manufacturing: 01/01/2005 -  12/31/2007
Position 2 – vacant      01/01/2004 – 12/31/2006 

Ex-officio Voting Members (4)

President of Jefferson County Farm Bureau or designate
Darryl Murrock

Chairperson of Jefferson County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board
Doug Shelmidine

Executive Director of Jefferson County Job Development Corporation
Jim Fayle

Chairperson of Jefferson County Board of Legislators or designate
Barry Ormsby

Ex-officio Non-Voting Members 7

Chairperson of Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation
District or designate
Harry Potter/Brian Wohnsiedler

President of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County Board
of Directors or designate
Elizabeth Walker/Richard Halpin

USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee Representative
Joe Wood

Executive Director of the Development Authority of the
North Country or designate
Kevin Jordan

Executive Director of the NYS Commission on Tug Hill or designate
John Bartow/ Kevin Smith/ Katie Malinowski

Economic Development Program Administrator for the Empire State
Development Regional Office or designate
Judy Tomlinson

Jefferson County Administrator or designate
Robert Hagemann, III

Our Vision of Jefferson County’s
Agricultural Industry in the Next 5-10 Years

The Agricultural Industry will be characterized by:

• A strong agricultural economy led by the dairy industry.

• Fewer but larger dairy farms.

• A higher number of employees per farm.

• Increased use of technological advances on the farm.

• Farms will be expected to continue better waste handling practices.

• Further advancements in the use of methane digesters and other waste handling processes on the farm.

• Further advancements and better use of grass based operations are expected.

• Increased development pressure will continue to occur on farms near areas of higher population density.

• Marginal farmland will be available for more non-traditional, non-dairying agricultural activities.

• Dairy manufacturers will need to continue advancing cost saving measures to compete in a highly competitive global market.

• The need for creative, more aggressive economic development initiatives to allow our dairy manufacturers and producers to compete on a nationwide and global scale will increase.

• A larger number of entrepreneurs will look to develop diversified agricultural based enterprises — some supporting traditional dairying operations, others will focus on non-dairy operations.

 Ranked Goals for the Agricultural Industry.

The following goals were developed by the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation. The first 5 goals were ranked in order of highest priority to lowest priority. The remaining goals are listed as other priorities.

1. Assist farms seeking to improve viability of their business.

2. Maintain and improve our manufacturing base.

3. Provide adequate financial resources for the industry.

4. Assist the agricultural industry in adopting new, improved, or proven technology or techniques in agricultural production or manufacturing.

5. Strengthen the diversity of our agricultural industry.

Other priorities:

Continue to participate in the Come farm With Us Farm Marketing program.

• Implement components of the Jefferson County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan and other objectives that address farmland protection.
   

• Support North Country Agricultural Research Institute
   

• Improve agri-tourism opportunities in Jefferson County.
   

• Maintain and improve communication with agricultural industry, non-farm public, elected officials and other agencies.