(Ithaca, NY) Farmers, rural landowners, and local government officials are invited to attend the 2021 Tompkins County Agriculture Summit to hear updates from agencies whose work funds, supports or impacts our area’s agriculture and rural communities. Presenters at this year’s summit include representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, New York State Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, Tompkins County Soil & Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County (CCETC) and the Tompkins County Health Department.
Presenters will discuss changes to their programs due to Covid-19, including decreases or shifts in funding availability and new programs meant to serve the agricultural community during the pandemic. Many farm support programs continue despite it all, and presenters will go over those programs as well. Graham Savio, Agriculture Team Leader at CCETC, will share an introductory overview of a ‘Payment for Ecosystem Services’ (PES) pilot program under development through CCETC and a number of community partners. A presenter from the County Health Department will give an update on the state of the Covid vaccine rollout for farmers and farmworkers. Finally, there will be an opportunity for farmers to provide input about programming and resources being developed around solar development.
The 2021 Tompkins County Agricultural Summit will be held online via Zoom on Wednesday, March 24th from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. Register online at: http://bit.ly/2021AgSummit to receive the Zoom link for the meeting. If you are unable to attend but would like a recording of the meeting, please register and you will be provided with a video link a few days after the event.
The 2020 Ag Summit is organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County, the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board and the Tompkins County Farm Bureau. Questions about the Summit may be directed to Mila Fournier, Agriculture Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County, at ymf5@cornell.edu or (607) 272-2292 ext. 194.
