Between 1983 and 1994 the county lost 36 percent of its farmland to development

Agricultural activity in Westchester County is declining. Nearly 4,000 acres, or 36 percent, of farmland, as defined by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets law, were lost in Westchester County between 1983 and 1994. The environmental benefits and landscape preservation values associated with agriculture are worthy of protection. Once lost to development, they are gone forever.

The Westchester County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board was created in 1999 by act of the County Legislature pursuant to New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. The board's mission is to maintain the economic viability of the agricultural industry and to protect the environmental and landscape preservation values associated with agriculture. The socio-economic vitality of agriculture in this county is essential to the economic stability and growth of many local communities and the county as a whole. Agriculture also provides residents with a source of fresh locally grown produce.

It's the county's policy to conserve, protect and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural land for the production of food and other agricultural products. It's also the county's policy to conserve and protect agricultural lands as valued natural and ecological resources, which provide needed open spaces for clean air sheds, as well as buffers for water quality and habitat for wildlife. You can view these areas on Westchester's Agricultural District Map. 

Board responsibilities

• Administer and offer advice on the county's agricultural protection programs and represent the county in agricultural matters to agencies such as the NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets
• Assist in the development and implementation of an Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan for Westchester County
• Provide public education related to the benefits of preserving and promoting the environmental and cultural and economic aspects of agriculture

Board representation

Professional environmental staff of the Westchester County Department of Planning serve the eleven-member board. Six members are Westchester residents from the agricultural industry appointed by the chair of the County Board of Legislators, and five members consisting of a county legislator, the chair of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors, a county cooperative extension agent, the county planning commissioner, and the executive director of the county’s tax commission serve as ex-officio.
 

The AFPB meets on the first Thursday of every month at Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center at 4:00 p.m. in Yorktown. 
 

For further information, contact David Kvinge, Director of Environmental Planning, by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .