AFPB

Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB)

Wyoming County is the #1 county in New York State in total agricultural production and milk production. With 700 active farms, agriculture is extremely important to the economic and social fabric of the County. 

It’s the County’s policy to conserve, protect and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural land for the production of food and other agricultural products. It’s also the County’s policy to conserve and protect agricultural lands as valued natural and ecological resources, which provide needed open spaces, as well as buffers for water quality and habitat for wildlife.

The Board’s mission is to enhance economic viability of the agricultural industry and preserve and protect the viable farmland in Wyoming County. The socio-economic vitality of agriculture in this County is essential to the economic stability and growth of many local communities and the County as a whole. Additionally they:

· Encourage farming through local initiatives which create favorable conditions that allow farmers to operate economically viable enterprises;

· Advise the County Soil & Water Conservation District on establishing, modifying, continuing, or terminating agricultural districts;

· Review Notice of Intent filings pursuant to Agriculture and Markets Law 25AA Sections 305.4 and 305-a; 

· Support, implement, and update the goals of the Wyoming County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan; and

· Advise and recommend concerning Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) applications to the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets. The PDR grants pay a farmer to place a conservation easement on the farm in order to protect productive farmland and limit non-agricultural development.  The farmer retains ownership of the land, use, and management of the farm; however, the land will have permanent restrictions on commercial, residential and industrial uses in perpetuity. The Board works with the Genesee Valley Conservancy to administer the County’s PDR program.

AgriculturalFarmland Protection Board (AFPB)

This Board is consisted of area farmers, a representative from the County Board of Supervisors, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Real Property Tax, Genesee Valley Conservatory, Wyoming County Soil & Water, Agri-Businessman and the County Planner.  They meet quarterly with discussions including the negative/positive aspects of farming and try to find a solution so that area farmers may be able to continue to expand and succeed in their industry. 

FARM MEMBERS (4 yrs. term)                                                               TERM TO EXPIRE

Roger Almeter                                                                                         12/31/2023

Vacant                                                                                                    12/31/2022

Eileen Downs                                                                                           12/31/2023

Angela Brunner                                                                                        12/31/2023                           

AG. LAND PRESERVATION REPRESENTATIVE(4 yrs. term) 

E. Joseph Gozelski                                                                                     12/31/2023        

AGRI-BUSINESSMEN (4 yrs. term) 

David DeGolyer                                                                                         12/31/2024

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENTS** 

Abby Griffith and Don Gasiewicz                                                                  12/31/2022

CHAIRMAN, COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Ex-Officio)

Daryl Heiby                                                                                               Co-terminus* 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEMBER(Ex-Officio)***

Jim Brick                                                                                                   Co-terminus*

COUNTY PLANNING (Ex-Officio)

James Bragg                                                                                              Co-terminus*

DIRECTOR, REAL PROPERTY TAX SERVICES (Ex-Officio)

Sarah Lippincott                                                                                         Co-terminus*

All members are voting members./*Co-terminus with the member term in the ex-officio position/** Membership ends if no longer with CCE   

***Ex-Officio, annual appointment by Chairman of Board of Supervisors    

Wyoming County PDR 2022-2023 Pre-Application

Farmland Protection Pre-Application Workshop 2022