Partnering with Farm Families to Protect Agricultural Land

Three local farm families have been working with Otsego Land Trust to protect their agricultural land through New York State’s Farmland Protection Implementation Grants. The state program ensures that high-quality farmland will remain in agricultural use by purchasing the development rights from the respective farmers. Miller’s Organic Dairy in Richfield and Warren, Howard Young’s family farm in Cherry Valley, and the Marthers beef farm in Decatur reflect the diversity of local agriculture and the importance of the local food supply. With a commitment not to convert farmland to non-agricultural use, these three families have taken a major step toward ensuring the environmental health of the region.

Marthers Beef Farm, Decatur. Photo Credit: Justin Williams