470 More Acres of Farmland Conserved in the Town of Easton
GREENWICH, NY - Productive farmland and a concentration of neighboring farms are two of the essential components of a thriving agricultural industry. The Agricultural Stewardship Association and Washington County are pleased to announce that those essential elements have been secured with the protection of the Anuszewski and Houser farms in the Town of Easton in southern Washington County.
Both farms were protected by conservation easements, a legal tool that enables farmers to continue to own and manage their land but prevents eventual changes in use by retiring the land's "development rights." The development rights on the 470 acres encompassed by the two farms were purchased by pooling public and private funds. Public funds from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the United States Department of Agriculture, combined with private contributions from the members of the Agricultural Stewardship Association, made these conservation projects possible.
"By working collaboratively with our state, federal, and private partners, by leveraging the strengths and resources of each, Washington County's Purchase of Development Rights Program has repeatedly demonstrated success in protecting our farms," stated Merrilyn Pulver, Chairperson for the county's Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, which selects applicant farms for submission to the state funding program. "The state and federal funds provided the bulk of the financial resources needed for these conservation projects. And the dedication of area farmers and the Agricultural Stewardship Association to conserve the land has enabled the county to assist with protecting 900 acres through this program."
The Houser family owns Brotherhood Farm, a 1,100 acre farm in the Town of Easton that has been in their family since 1802. George Houser Jr. and his wife Earline have previously donated conservation easements on 6 parcels of land totaling 400 acres. George Houser III, the sixth generation of Housers to work the farm, currently oversees management of the farm's 615-milk cow operation that produces 40,000 - 45,000 pounds of milk a day. Mr. Houser Jr. was a founder of the Agricultural Stewardship Association and a long-time proponent of farmland protection in the town.
The family's stewardship legacy is what motivates the Housers to conserve their farm. When questioned about why he has sold and donated easements on his land, George Houser Sr. replied "My great grandfather cleared this land, and the neighbor's land, too, stumps and all, with a team of oxen. He was a strong man, a very strong man, but he suffered a hernia from all the hard work of clearing the land. A doctor operated on him right on the kitchen table but he got an infection and died. That kind of effort from my great grandfather, people who gave their lives to create this farm, is what motivates me to see that it is kept a farm. My grandfather bought several house lots on the farm's periphery and tore the houses down and filled in the cellars. We plow right over them; you can't even tell they were there. Consolidating a contiguous tract of land, a beautiful strip of land, is what makes this a good, working farm. I don't want to see that ruined. I want to see as much preserved as possible. It is in our interest of national security to produce our own food locally and to ship food overseas where people are hungry."
The 213-acre Anuszewski Farm is owned by RoseMarie Anuszewski and managed by her son Joseph and daughter-in-law Barbara. The Anuszewskis produce milk from 68 cows. "Selling the easement has allowed us to accomplish so many of our goals," said Barbara Anuszewski. "Rosie can stay on the farm the rest of her life. Joe can fulfill his dream of being a farmer and work less off the farm to pay the bills. The money from the sale of the development rights is already being used to pay off debts and to improve the quality and production of the farm. It has really given us a fresh start."
Dave Horn, president of the Agricultural Stewardship Association remarked "We thank both of these farm families for their efforts and belief in the future of agriculture. ASA is honored to have them as partners in conservation."
Both farms are integral to the Route 40 Agricultural Corridor, a favored drive through scenic farms overlooking and buffering the Hudson River Valley that also affords a panaroma of the Adirondack Mountains as a backdrop. From the other side of the river, the ribbon of farms along the east bank of the Hudson provides an important historic viewshed from the Saratoga National Historic Park. The Route 40 Agricultural Corridor is a top priority for conservation for the Agricultural Stewardship Association.
"The agricultural production from the Houser and Anuszewski farms is important in its own right, but the farms are also important in a larger context as well. These 470 acres are now part of a 1,000 acre block of protected farmland in a town with a total of over 3,000 acres of protected land. The long-term viability of regional farming receives a tremendous boost by this sort of concentrated conservation. We are starting to see the strength gained by stitching the pieces of the quilt together," stated Teri Ptacek, executive director of the Agricultural Stewardship Association, the land trust that will be upholding the easements in perpetuity.
ASA, a nonprofit land trust founded by farmers in 1990, conserves farmland in Washington County and northern Rensselaer County. To date, ASA has conserved 4,780 acres of farm and forest lands. ASA welcomes new members and volunteers to assist with local conservation. For more information, contact 692-7285 or send an email to asa@agstewardship.org.
