DEP to Celebrate 100th Agriculture Lease with Watershed Farmers
More Than 3,700 Acres of City-owned Property in the Catskills is Leased to Local Farmers for Hay, Row Crops, Livestock Grazing and Maple Harvesting
DATE: Monday, August 17
TIME: 10 a.m.
LOCATION: Delaware County Fair, Fair Street, Walton, NY 13856
WHO: New York City DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd, Watershed Agricultural Council Executive Director Craig Cashman, Watershed Agricultural Council Chairperson Sally Fairbairn, Byebrook Farm owners Paul and Gwen Deysenroth
WHAT: DEP and the Watershed Agricultural Council will open their booth at the Delaware County Fair with a ceremony to mark the signing of the 100th agriculture lease on water supply lands in the Catskills. Since 2000, DEP has leased protected property to local farmers to put that land back into production. Local farmers now lease more than 3,700 acres from DEP for uses such as hay, row crops, grazing and maple harvesting. More information about the program will be available at the event on Aug. 17.