Madison County Farmers, Sign Up Now to Participate in the 2nd Annual Open Farm Day Event

Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Program is looking for farms interested in participating in the County’s 2nd Annual Buy Local Week and Open Farm Day event.  To participate, you or someone knowledgeable about the farm will need to be available between 9am and 4pm on Saturday, August 22nd to welcome people to the farm, answer questions, give tours, etc.  Open Farm Day is a great opportunity for your farm to get FREE publicity.  Each participating farm will have its own informational page in the official Open Farm Day Passport and will be featured on farm maps/trails distributed throughout the County.  Additionally, many participating farms will be interviewed and featured in newspaper articles throughout Central NY.  Last year’s Open Farm Day event had over 400 participants and we expect this year’s event to have even better turnout.

To register your farm, please call 315-697-9817 or email contact@madisoncountyagriculture.com.  Farms must register by Friday, May 15th.

Madison County has a New Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund!

In 2008 Madison County was awarded a $99,990 grant by the U.S Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The check was presented by Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, to John Becker, Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors, at a ceremony in Wampsville. The grant will establish an Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund (ARLF) to assist Madison County farmers and agri-businesses in obtaining small low-interest loans to create or expand value-added and direct marketing opportunities.

The new ARLF allows farmers to borrow up to $10,000 for farm stand infrastructure (construction, design development, market analysis, etc.), value added agricultural product development, training for cheese making, meat cutting, or other agricultural processing initiatives, training and equipment to ensure food safety and security, and promotional materials for agri-businesses (including websites, signage, printed materials etc.). Madison County hopes to increase direct marketing opportunities for farmers, thereby supporting and promoting agriculture. The loans will be limited to farms and agribusinesses with gross incomes of $1,000,000 or less and the interest rate is set at one percent below prime. 

For more information and to get a copy of the ARLF application, please contact Becca Jablonski, Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Specialist, at 315.697.9817

Madison Bounty
www.madisonbounty.com

Madison County, in collaboration with Chenango County, has created a Mobile Farmers’ Market called Madison Bounty.  Customers (individual households, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) can order locally grown and processed items online and have them delivered directly to their door.  DELIVERY IS FREE!!! If you are interested in learning more about Madison County’s first mobile farmers’ market, please visit: www.madisonbounty.com or call 315-697-9817 and ask for Sue or Becca.

Madison County's Local Farm Guide

Madison County has a new local farm guide! If you would like copies of the map to distribute at your business or office, please call Becca at: 315-697-9817. For changes/additions to the guide, please email: contact@madisoncountyagriculture.com

Agricultural E-Newsletter!

Sign up today for Madison County Agriculture's Weekly E-Newsletter and stay up to date with agricultural events in CNY. To sign up, please email: madisoncountyagriculture@gmail.com and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

Marketing Opportunities

The Niles Gourmet Country Market is looking to buy more locally grown agricultural products.
If you are interesetd in selling to them, contact Eric and Sandy Becker 607-280-1460, 4588 Grange Hall Road Moravia, NY 13118

The Syracuse Real Food Co-op is looking to buy from more Madison County Farmers!
If you are interested in selling to the Co-op, please get in touch with Brad by phone: 315-472-1385 or email: brad@syracuserealfood.coop

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