Agriculture Economic Development in Ontario County Jim Ochterski (585) 394.3977 ext 402

Service to Farmers

• Timely workshops, publications, articles, and clinics addressing farm development issues.
• Researching appropriate business contacts, sources of capital and other funding for innovative agriculture-related projects, and networking existing economic development assets with primary and secondary audiences.
• Educational assistance and consultation for new or expanding farm operations.
• Referrals to appropriate resources and agency programs for all agriculture enterprises - dairy, livestock, field crops, produce, pasture, forest-based products, and horticulture.
• Assistance with identifying grants and grant writing for farms; business plan development for agriculture or farm product processing businesses.
  
• Site visits to provide advice and referrals as circumstances permit.
  
• Tips on farm and forest tax management, farm labor, agriculture laws and policies, farmland preservation, energy management, and dealing with neighbor pressures on farmland.
  
• Assistance with developing and accomplishing direct marketing objectives, web site creation, farm market sales, and other innovative marketing plans.

Services to Agriculture Technology Businesses

• Educational assistance and consultation about agriculture issues, challenges, and trends in Ontario County and the Finger Lakes region.
  
• Referrals to appropriate resources, specialists, and agency contacts for all agriculture technology concerns - dairy, livestock, field crops, produce, pasture, forest-based products, and horticulture.
  
• Educational opportunities for farm operators to review technology developments and applications, particularly for technologies that enhance market access, improve food and farm product safety, diversify farm income, increase farmer self-reliance, solve regional farm production problems, or advance community sustainability objectives.
  
• We can arrange opportunities for technology businesses to meet with interested farm operators and other agriculture and food industry contacts, usually in educational workshop settings. We appreciate the cooperation of businesses that wish to educate potential customers about technology applications.
  
• When appropriate, we will circulate technology business contact information to a wide range of farm owners in Ontario County.

Cornell Cooperative Extension will not distribute contact information for specific farms and cannot in general endorse an individual agriculture technology business entity.  Also, Cornell Cooperative Extension will not promote technologies that decrease the ability of farmers to make their own decisions or accept a debt burden without verified income opportunities or decreased expenses.

Profile of Agriculture in Ontario County (84 kb .pdf file)

Ontario County resource links:

Extension Agriculture Economic Development Plan in Ontario County (128 kb .pdf file)

Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty: FLCB is a networking and education program that connects restaurants and farms in the Finger Lakes of New York in a mutually-beneficial relationship.  See what restaurants are using local products on their menus, and discover which farms are ready to supply your dining establishment.

Ontario County Office Of Economic Development / Industrial Development Agency: This is the primary economic development office, with an efficient and professional team.  They really will show you how to grow a business where agriculture and related processing entities are a welcome part of the community.

Cornell Agriculture Food and Technology Park: The "Tech Farm" is a 72-acre research and development park, adjacent to Cornell University's Agricultural Experiment Station located in Geneva, NY.  The focus here is on innovations in agriculture, food science, and bio-based industries like beverage technology, precision agriculture, transgenic technology, wine and viticulture.

New York State Agricultural Experiment Station : The campus of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, New York, is an integral part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Cornell University.