The meeting will take place at 10am om Thursday, May 13th at:

Dutchess County Tourism

3 Neptune Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Deborah Garry at: deborahgarry@bbggadv.com

An old fashioned bucket brigade was put to an interesting use Thursday, as thousands of summer flounder were moved hand over hand, in ten gallon buckets, from the back of a truck into the incubation tanks at the Local Ocean indoor aquaculture fish farm in Greenport.

The young business, which took in its first delivery of 45,000 gilt head sea breams in July, recently received permits to raise flounder and three other species of fish at its facility from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

While support from the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation, U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets helped get Local Ocean their permits faster, the flounder couldn’t wait.

The dark colored flounder were bred at the Great Bay Hatchery in New Hampshire and grew larger and larger while the permits waited for DEC approval. Now around four to five inches, the flounder have to be delivered in two shipments, the first arriving Thursday. Workers scooped the diamond shaped flat fish out of tanks in the truck with a net, dropped them in buckets and ran them inside to waiting tanks.

Local Ocean Partner Raymond Mizrahi said getting their complex, one-of-a-kind business up and running so quickly is a testament to the support of community and local politicians and organizations.

“Bringing in summer flounder shows the versatility of our system,” Mizrahi said. “This marks the start of what will be a population of seven to ten species in the next year. “

With its new permits Local Ocean is now able to raise and farm sushi grade flounder, black and white sea bass and yellow tail tuna in its enclosed loop filter system. The technology in use at the facility, in an old Kaz warehouse, is only in operation in two locations in the world — Greenport, and the business’ first location in Israel.

Water goes through patented filters which break down waste and excessive nutrients before the water is pumped back into the large blue tanks.

“The big news is rather than just prohibiting things DEC worked to move this through faster,” Hudson Valley Agribusiness Executive Director Todd Erling said. “It will be ground breaking to establish these permits in this area for the first time.”

Local Ocean will raise 40,000 flounder for market and plans to receive its first batch of sea bass in early December. The types of fish being raised at Local Ocean were specifically selected for their desirability in nearby markets and there are plans to ship fish live to some locations, increasing their value by as much as 30 percent.

The closed system filtration pools keep the fish free of toxins like mercury, and makes consumers less reliant on depleted wild fish populations.

To reach reporter Jamie Larson, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269,or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.

The event was sponsored by Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia, Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties.

Thanks to the generosity of the presenters, powerpoint files from the conference presentations are available here. To view, click the name of the presenter, below:

The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) is pleased to announce additions to the Board of Directors and the staff. Mark Doyle, a farm consultant based in Amenia, has joined the Board bringing expertise in farmland and habitat management, farm development planning and coordination and capacity building for emerging farm business opportunities.

Mary Ann Johnson, AICP has joined the staff has Project Manager for Orange and Ulster Counties. Ms. Johnson primary responsibility is to provide support for the Incubator Without Walls program, which provides comprehensive business assistance including access to qualified professionals, financing and networking. Ms. Johnson will also be coordinating business to business networks in both Orange and Ulster Counties. This program, known as the County Bounty, builds on our success is Columbia and Dutchess Counties where growers/producers and chefs/caterers have direct access to each other through a simple database.

Ms. Johnson has been active in farmland protection and economic development in Dutchess County for several years as both a volunteer and as a consultant. As a planning consultant, she has worked with communities in the Mid Hudson Valley addressing growth, development and preservation issues. She holds an undergraduate degree in business and a master’s degree in Regional Planning from the University at Albany. Additionally, Ms. Johnson is a certified planner in good standing with the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Ms. Johnson has office hours in Goshen on Mondays from 9:00 to 1:00 and is also available by appointment. She can be reached in the Goshen office at 845.615.3842 and the main HVADC office at 518.828.4718. You can reach Ms. Johnson via email at majohnson@hvadc.org. Additional information about HVADC can be obtained online at www.hvadc.org.

CHATHAM-Columbia County Bounty has gone the next step in its own growth, hiring its first part-time executive director, Vicki Simons. Bounty creates connections between local farmers and local culinary businesses as well as reaching out to consumers who want to eat food locally grown.

Bounty runs a series of events, from the upcoming May 11th Farm Tour to its popular Taste of Columbia County Bounty dinner August 3rd, a Garden of Eating Tour in mid-September, the Chili Cook-Off & Riverfront Fest October 10th, a Chef Tour in November and its extremely well-attended Speed Networking in January. The events are detailed at www.columbiacountybounty.com  and are open to everyone. Bounty membership ($25 per person, $40 per couple) is required.

Simons has been part of Bounty almost since its inception three years ago, working with co-founders Lori Selden of Mexican Radio and Chef David Robinson of Bezalel Gables Fine Catering & Events, along with partners from the Chamber of Commerce, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp. (HVADC), Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the Columbia Land Conservancy.

To get the program off the ground, Simons did the original data collection, surveying every farm, farmer’s market, restaurant and caterer in the county, collecting contact and product information to create the Bounty infrastructure. Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation supported that initial work. Last fall, Bounty left its parent organizations and set up a separate corporate entity and applied for 501C-3 status, but the organization isstill guided by those early partners.

Serving with Pres. Selden on the Executive Committee is Chamber President David Colby, HVADC Executive Director Todd Erling, and Tom Crowell, Director of Outreach and Resource Development for the Columbia Land Conservancy.

Simons resigned from the Executive Committee, where she had served as secretary/treasurer. Filling her seat now is Dominique DeVito of Hudson-Chatham Winery. Serving on the Bounty Board of Directors are Steve Hadcock of Cooperative Extension, Betsy Braley of Braeburn Farms, Chuck Abraham of Old Saw Mill Farm, and Liz Beals of Beth’s Farm Kitchen.

Simons brings to the new post a background well-versed in the local community. Along with her husband, Tony Jones, Simons owned and was editor of The Independent newspaper from 1986 to 2001, as well as the Paper. Simons and Jones still provide editorial services for local businesses and county agencies. She is vice president of the Columbia County Agricultural Society, the group that puts on the annual County Fair and hosts dozens of other events at the fairgrounds.

Simons also has experience with non-profits, not only as a board member of the Ag Society but also a long-time board member and former president of the New York Press Association, a board member of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and a former committee member of the local United Way as well as last year’s Habitat for Humanity Women Build.

“Vicki has always been an integral part of Bounty’s success and we are absolutely thrilled that she has decided to take this position,” said Selden.

“I am really excited to help guide the growth of Bounty,” added Simons. “It marries several of my interests - supporting local farming, eating healthy fresh foods, strengthening the connections between the two, and sharing that passion with others.”

Columbia County Bounty is also the model for several other county chapters. Coordinated by HVADC’s Todd Erling, Simons worked on the infrastructure for what is now Dutchess County Bounty, with Orange and Ulster counties close behind. Eventually, the expectation is a linked Hudson Valley Bounty, with Columbia leading the way.

To learn more about Bounty, its events and the opportunities to support Bounty’s work through its corporate sponsorship program, go to www.columbiacountybounty.com,  e-mail ccbounty@gmail.com, or call Simons at 518-392-9696.

Renewable Energy Forum

As a project manager for HVADC, Mary Anne is responsible for HVADC projects in Orange and Ulster Counties, and other counties in the future.  She promote HVADC’s programs and services, recruits potential clients for the virtual business incubator, and coordinates provision of support services to Hudson Valley agribusinesses.

Pattern’s annual awards recognize leaders in the Hudson Valley whose vision and/or accomplishments have had a long lasting impact on the quality of life in the region, or express the potential to do so.

Pattern for Progress, based in Newburgh and serving nine counties, is a not-for-profit policy, planning advocacy and research organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life for Hudson Valley residents.

HVADC won the Regional Achievement category based on its success in gaining support from both Orange and Columbia Counties for an industry-based vision that has quickly expanded to Ulster and Dutchess Counties.

“This organization impressed the committee with its great potential to spur rural economic growth and enhance communities in all parts of our region,” said Jonathan Drapkin, president and CEO of Pattern for Progress. “We applaud their spirit of regionalism.”

“These awards celebrate those whose vision has encompassed and benefited communities across our nine counties,” said David MacFarland, chairman of Pattern’s board.

“The HVADC Board of Directors and I thank Pattern for Progress for the recognition and honor of this award,” said Todd Erling, executive director. “We intend to follow the successful example and strength of Pattern by working to benefit the Hudson Valley community and the region’s agriculture”

The purpose of HVADC is the development, promotion, enhancement and retention of the agricultural industry and its associated economic and environmental benefits. The agency promotes the Hudson Valley as an attractive, viable region for agriculture through technical assistance, business development services and the coordination of financial and other resources.

In general, HVADC strives to enhance the bottom line of farm businesses and strengthen the agricultural industry as a whole. The range of projects assisted thus far includes processing facilities and value-added initiatives, analysis and start-up assistance for new ventures and enterprises, marketing assistance, market expansion and improvement of distribution networks for the region’s agricultural businesses.

During its start-up year of 2007, HVADC was able to direct significant resources, both professional and technical, to agricultural development projects through its Incubator Without Walls and other programs.

These projects ranged widely in concept to include the development of a farmer-owned vegetable processing facility, feasibility analysis for a local biodiesel manufacturing plant, business start-up support for a renewable fuels related biotechnology project, and fundraising for a local dairy processing cooperative.

HVADC’s Incubator Without Walls provided support for the first on-farm distillery in the state. Harvest Spirits is selling its Core vodka from the distillery right at Golden Harvest, the family farm in Columbia County.

HVADC is also working with Black Dirt vegetable growers in Orange County on diversifying crops, continuing its work on the development of a statewide feedstock system to support biodiesel manufacturing facilities and starting to do a study of the feasibility of creating a farmer-controlled, Hudson Valley carbon credit trading system.

As part of the agency’s out-reach efforts, it recently unveiled its new web site at www.hvadc.org. The easy-to-use, informative site was designed by Zone 5, with assistance from Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp.

The site offers details on what HVADC does, who and how it can help, its mission as well as its staff, board of directors, and its many partners. Its helpful links and resources expand the universe of services offered, while the latest news about the agency is also available. A simple contact page makes reaching out to HVADC easy.

“HVADC looks forward to sharing valuable information on our programs and using the website as another of our resources for our farms and agribusiness operations in the Hudson Valley,” said Mr. Erling.

HVADC was started almost two years ago with the support of Columbia Economic Development Corp., the Orange Dutchess and Ulster Counties’ Industrial Development Agencies, member items secured by State Senators Stephen Saland, William Larkin, Jr., and Thomas Morahan, and from Assemblyman Marc Molinaro. It has garnered a broad base of additional support for its work — from USDA Rural Development, Orange County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board, Dyson Foundation, the Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, Rheinstrom Hill Community Foundation, and the State Department of State Quality Communities Program.

For more information about HVADC, call Mr. Erling at 518-828-4718 or e-mail terling@hvadc.org

Wednesday December 3, 2008
Kingston, NY

This event has passed. Powerpoint presentations are available here.

This workshop provided timely information on current programs and opportunities for farmers in their pursuit of production or utilization of renewable energy.

Co-Sponsors:
* Cornell Cooperative Extension
* Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corp. (HVADC)
* USDA Rural Development
* NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
* NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
* Farm Bureaus of the Hudson Valley
* First Pioneer Farm Credit
* New York Farm Viability Institute

Agenda (click title to view individual presentations):

Opening remarks: Patrick Hooker, Commissioner NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Session I: Federal Opportunities - The Farm Bill and Beyond
Speaker: Scott Collins, USDA Rural Development

Session II: Taking Advantage of the Carbon Markets - Agriculture’s Opportunity with Cap and Trade
Speaker: Ron Rausch, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Lunch, Sponsored by First Pioneer Farm Credit
USDA Value Added Grants Program Presentations: Patrick Brennan, State Director, USDA Rural Development

Session III: What’s New for Farmers at NYSERDA?
Speaker: Jessica Zweig, NYSERDA

Session IV: NY Farm Viability Institute’s Opportunities for Renewable Energy
Speaker: Tom Sleight, Executive Director

Session V: Growing Warm Season Grasses for Fuel - What We Have Learned
Speaker: Mark Doyle, Doyle Farmland Resources

Session VI: Public Policy Opportunities and Challenges
Speaker: Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau

Closing Comments: Todd Erling, Hudson Valley Agribusiness  Development Corp.