WHALLONSBURG – The Adirondack Land Trust is hosting a free informational session for farmland owners on Tuesday, November 15 at 6 p.m. at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall, located at 1610 NY-22, Essex, NY. The event, “How do conservation easements impact farm operations?” features the following panelists:

·       James Graves, Owner/Operator, Full and By Farm, Essex

·       Alice Halloran, Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District

·       Jeff Kehoe, Ag Protection Planner, NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets

·       Ashlee Kleinhammer, Proprietor, North Country Creamery

·       Megan Stevenson, Land Protection Manager, Adirondack Land Trust

Farmland owners are invited to join the session to learn about conservation easements as a land protection tool, hear from farmers with direct experience managing operations on lands under conservation easement, and ask state, county, and nonprofit professionals questions.

This event is supported by a Farmland Access Outreach Grant through NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and offered in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County.

If you have questions about the event or conservation easements, you can contact Megan Stevenson at (518) 576-2400 or megan.stevenson@adirondacklandtrust.org.

Adirondack Land Trust’s mission is to forever conserve the forests, farmlands, waters and wild places that advance the quality of life of our communities and the ecological integrity of the Adirondacks. The land trust has protected 27,149 acres since its founding in 1984, including more than 7,000 acres of agricultural lands. To learn more, visit adirondacklandtrust.org.

Photo at top: Champlain Valley agricultural lands by Erika Bailey/Adirondack Land Trust. Photo provided by Connie Prickett of Adirondack Land Trust.