Agricultural Stewardship Association

ASA IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING FARMING FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH LAND PROTECTION, STEWARDSHIP, AGRICULTURAL VIABILITY, AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY'S WORKING FARMS AND FORESTS, CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE LAND, AND PROMOTE A VIBRANT FUTURE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY IN THE REGION. THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICE AREA COVERS NEW YORK'S RENSSELAER AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES, WITH AROUND 1,300 FARMS CONTRIBUTING APPROXIMATELY 200 MILLION IN PRODUCT SALES ANNUALLY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

LAND PROTECTION AND ACQUISITION - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE CONSERVATION OF FARMLAND AND FORESTLAND. IN ADDITION TO DONATED EASEMENTS, THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASES EASEMENTS FROM WILLING LANDOWNERS AND OPERATES PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (PDR) PROGRAMS FOR RENSSELAER AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTED LANDOWNERS WITH THE CONSERVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 2,462 ACRES ON 11 FARMS. TWO OF THESE PROJECTS WERE DONATED EASEMENTS, ONE AMENDED EASEMENT TO ADD ADDITIONAL ACREAGE AND EIGHT WERE FARMS THAT WERE AWARDED STATE OR FEDERAL FARMLAND PROTECTION FUNDING. BASELINE DOCUMENTATION REPORTS WERE COMPLETED FOR ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE CONSERVED. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ADVANCED ANOTHER 19 EASEMENTS TOTALING 5,274 ACRES, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN AWARDED STATE FUNDING. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION OWNS A 140-ACRE FORESTED PROPERTY MANAGED AS A COMMUNITY FOREST FOR RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT CONSERVATION TOOLS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL FARMS AND THE NEED TO PROTECT FARMLAND AND FORESTLAND IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS OUTREACH SESSIONS AND REGULARLY TALKS WITH SERVICE AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, SCHOOLS, MUNICIPALITIES AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND CONSERVATION AND WAYS TO KEEP FARMERS ON THE LAND.. ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC PAUSED SOME OF THE IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING, VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND OUTDOOR WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC PER OFFERED. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTINUED TO DEVELOP NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN URBAN AREAS OF THE CAPITAL DISTRICT. RECOGNIZING THAT PROTECTING FARMLAND AND FOSTERING FARMING GOES HAND IN HAND, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH OTHERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FARMERS. THIS INCLUDED TRAINING FOR FARMERS, FARM MATCH SERVICES, PEER TO PEER MENTORING AND CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF A COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND FARMLAND PROTECTION PLANS.

EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT - THE ORGANIZATION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED STEWARDSHIP VISITS TO ALL 146 EXISTING EASEMENTS IN ORDER TO FULFILL ITS ONGOING RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THE TERMS OF TIS EASEMENTS AND PROTECT THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF THE CONSERVED LAND. THE ORGANIZATION HAS UNDERTAKEN A SERIES OF INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ITS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING PURCHASING COLLECTIVE EASEMENT DEFENSE INSURANCE (TERRAFIRMA RRG) TO PROTECT ITS ORGANIZATIONAL ASSETS IN CASE OF LITIGATION. THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDED TO SEVERAL LANDOWNER QUESTIONS AND PERMISSION REQUESTS REGARDING THEIR EASEMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO COMMUNICATE WITH LANDOWNERS OF EASEMENT PROTECTED LAND AND ACTIVELY MEETS WITH NEW OWNERS TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP AND DISCUSS THE EASEMENTS. AS PART OF ITS CONTINUING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OWNERS OF CONSERVED LANDS, IT SPONSORED SEVERAL LANDOWNER WORKSHOPS THIS YEAR ON TOPICS SUCH AS SOIL HEALTH, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE , AND CHAIN SAW SAFETY. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION IN 2013 AND RECEIVED ACCREDITATION RENEWAL IN 2019. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ITS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM BY PARTICIPATING IN MEETINGS WITH LAND TRUSTS IN THE REGION AND ATTENDS TRAINING SESSIONS ON STEWARDSHIP AND EASEMENT MANAGEMENT ISSUES.