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Long Island Farmers – Stewards of the Environment
Important Documentation
Suffolk County Agricultural Stewardship Program ~ Approved by the Suffolk County Legislature, Resolution 520-2003 set goals to develop a strategy to lower nutrients and pesticide loading to the groundwater and surface waters of Suffolk County, while maintaining its strong agricultural industry. Components of the 5-year plan, as outlined to fully implement the agricultural stewardship program, include research, education, implementation and monitoring.
Developing a voluntary Suffolk County Agricultural Stewardship Program is a collaborative effort including Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District and utilizing Agricultural Environmental Management practices directed by New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets and the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Based on a “whole farm plan” program, farmers will work with these agencies to receive crop-specific guidelines on pest, nutrient, soil, water and pesticide management; education regarding Best Management Practices; cost-sharing conservation plan implementation.
The Suffolk County Agricultural Stewardship Program offers farmers the guidance and cost-sharing tools to mitigate runoff and incorporate best management practices in order to improve and protect Long Island’s groundwater and surface waters.
Pesticide Container Recycling Program ~ See News Release for complete information …
Agricultural Environmental Management Program ~ Educating farmers on best management practices, soil and water conservation plans and finding a means by which to implement them, the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program is a partnership of state, federal and local agencies, conservation representatives, private sector businesses and farmers working towards productive farms and healthy watersheds in New York State. Local leadership is provided by County Soil & Water Conservation Districts; state level leadership is provided by New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets and the New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee. For more information on the AEM program, visit the Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District web site at www.co.suffolk.ny.us/swcd or the New York State site, www.nys-soilandwater.org.
CleanSweep NY Program ~ A program nearly everyone would like to see repeated on a regular basis is CleanSweep NY, a pesticide turn-in/collection operation last held in November, 2002. This pesticide collection program was free of charge for growers; non-growers including horticultural services, golf courses, parks, boatyards and the like were charged a fee of $1.25 per pound over 100 pounds.
Funded by a consent order and coordinated by the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture & Markets, Cornell Cooperative of Suffolk County, Long Island Farm Bureau, Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District and Long Island Cauliflower Association, over 200 participants delivered in excess of 115,000 pounds of unwanted, unusable and outdated pesticides for proper disposal.
90% of the 2002 participants recommended this collection/disposal program should be held every year or every other year. Given the success of the November 2002 collection, it is anticipated another pesticide collection/disposal program will soon be scheduled. The willingness to participate in an orchestrated, proper disposal program and the secure manner in which these pesticides were transported demonstrates the fact that Long Island growers and commercial pesticide applicators are working to do their part to protect the Long Island environment.
Membership Information ~ Join us in preserving the rural way of life.  |
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