Local Farms Receive Farmland Protection

Members of the Rensselaer County Legislature welcomed the completion of three farmland protection projects, with more than 1,200 acres combined protected for future generations, Majority Leader Ken Herrington and Legislator Alex Shannon announced.
The farmland protection efforts include farms in the towns of Pittstown, Hoosick and Petersburgh, along with some acreage in the Washington County town of Jackson. State, County and local officials joined representatives from the Agricultural Stewardship Association today in announcing completion of the lengthy process required to protect properties.
Herrington led efforts to develop the County’s farmland protection program about a decade ago. Since then more than 3,500 acres have been protected in the County thanks to the program.
“We are very happy to see more farmland and open space be protected for future generations. This program is important to quality of life in our county and we welcome completion of these projects,” said Herrington.
The three farmland conservation projects, totaling 1,273 acres, received funding through the New York State Farmland Protection Program. The County farmland protection program makes the County eligible for funding.
The farms protected include the Cannon Cattle Ranch, owned by Matt and Peggy Cannon, a 358-acre dairy farm that includes 115 milking cows and 90 young stock in Pittstown, the Hooskip Farm, a 342-acre farm in Petersburgh owned by John and Mary McMahon that includes 115 cows and the Stearns Brothers Farm, consisting of two parcels in Petersburgh and Hoosick, along with an adjoining parcel in Jackson, that includes 539 acres and 198 cows. The protection agreement for the Stearns farm will allow for the farm to be transferred to a new owner.
Under the program, development rights and easements are purchased to protect the farms and provide resources for continued operation of the farms.
“The County farmland protection program benefits the environment in safeguarding some of the more notable and beautiful farms and open spaces in the County. Some of these properties have been farmed for hundreds of years and are important to the heritage of our county,” said Legislator Alex Shannon, a member of the Legislature’s Environmental Committee.
“This is a great example of a partnership between the State, County and local governments to protect farmland and ensure small family farms have a chance to operate for future generations,” said Vice Chairman of the Legislature Stan Brownell.
“Farming remains a major business in Rensselaer County, and the support from the farmland protection program helps ensure farming remains a major part of our economy,” added Legislator Lester Goodermote.
Brownell and Goodermote represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh and Hoosick in the Legislature.