Please consider the importance of farming as you consider plans for inherited lands

Editor's note: New York State Senators Jen Metzger (SD-42) and James Skoufis (SD-39) sent a joint letter to representatives of the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Church of St. John the Evangelist in Goshen, and the Hamptonburgh Cemetery Association to urge the organizations, which are the beneficiaries of the estate of Joan Kozareski of Goshen, to preserve the land as farmland. Their Oct. 9 letter follows:

As Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Agriculture representing the Towns of Goshen and Hamptonburgh, and as a member of the same Committee representing the Village of Washingtonville, we write to you about the land left to your organizations from the estate of Joan Kozareski. These lands have been farmed for several generations, and for nearly two decades have been actively farmed as Wagon Wheel Farm in Goshen and as Overlook Farm in Hamptonburgh. Together they supply fresh produce to local farmers’ markets and communities in Orange County and the Hudson Valley. During her lifetime, Ms. Kozareski never subdivided the land, never sold lots, and never entertained offers from developers, but instead leased the land for agriculture.

Retaining prime farmland for agricultural use also reflects the goals of the community and Town and County governments. The number one goal of the Town of Goshen Comprehensive Plan is to “protect and enhance the agricultural activities and rural character of the town.” Both the County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Plan and the County Open Space Plan recognize agriculture as a high priority in Orange County, and the County supports economic development strategies that help keep farms in business and keep farmland in the hands of farmers.

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of New York State’s economy, helping to protect the environment, preserve open space, and provide a highly valued quality of life for our communities. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of agriculture in our state, many New York farmers today are struggling economically. We and our colleagues in the State Legislature are working diligently to chart a sustainable path for New York agriculture’s viability long into the future.

In recent years, Orange County has been experiencing tremendous development pressure, which is putting irreplaceable farmland at great risk. While these concerns may not be the mission of your organization, we hope you will consider supporting steps that will preserve this land for agriculture.

We respectfully urge you to take into consideration the local and county planning goals, and the importance of farming to the economy and rural fabric of the area, as you consider any plans for this property. There are specific options available to landowners who work with local and regional land trusts in order to realize these conservation objectives, and we would gladly connect you with these organizations.

Thank you for everything that your organization does, and for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Senator Jen Metzger, 42nd District

Senator James Skoufis, 39th District