Catskill Mountainkeeper

Land use training specialists from the NYS Department of State will lead this course, designed for planning and zoning board members and anyone interested in agricultural land use issues.  Farming communities face many challenges that threaten both the rural landscape and New York’s rich agricultural heritage. Development pressures to convert farmland and changes in the agricultural industry have resulted in a staggering loss of family farms and farmland, as well as agricultural support businesses.  This course offers a two-tiered approach to farmland preservation: first, an overview of land use tools that can help protect farmland and preserve rural landscapes; second, a look at strategies that support the local agricultural economy.  For more information or to register, contact the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management at 845-807-0527 orplanning@co.sullivan.ny.us.