UPCOMING FARMER EDUCATION EVENTS

The following farmer education events are made possible by our partnership with CCE Delaware County.

Small Scale and Backyard Layer Chickens Workshop

April 24 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Pine Hill Library, 22 Elm Street, Pine Hill, NY 12465 (zoom also available)

Sheep and Goat FAMACHA Workshop

April 25 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

SUNY Delhi Farm, 1020 Arbor Hill Road

Delhi, NY

Small Scale and Backyard Layer Chickens Workshop

April 29 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Sullivan CCE, 64 Ferndale Loomis Road, Liberty, NY 12754

For more events visit our website here.

BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER OPEN FOR PUBLIC ACCESS WHEN STAFFED

According to a release from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower in Delhi has been fully restored and will soon open to the public, thanks to a collaborative effort by the DEP, the Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower, the Catskill Mountain Club, and Delaware County. The tower has been returned to its original summit, reflecting a shared commitment to both water quality and recreational access.

From the tower’s summit, visitors can enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the Delaware River Valley. The panorama extends north and west toward the surrounding forests and farmland of Bloomville, and south and east toward Lake Delaware, the Pepacton Range, and the Catskill High Peaks. Binoculars allow for spotting distant fire towers on Balsam Lake Mountain and Mount Utsayantha, as well as the wind turbines of Broome County, nearly 60 miles away. 

Access to the tower is available via the popular loop trail to Bramley Mountain’s summit, which was built in 2016 with DEP approval. Note that the cab will only be open when volunteer stewards are present. From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (May 24, 2025) through Indigenous People’s Day (October 13, 2025), stewards will be on site every weekend and holiday to ensure safety and provide an enhanced visitor experience. They will share historical information, basic outdoor education, and knowledge about the surrounding area, and offer binoculars for visitors. During cooler months, steward presence may be ad hoc, depending on weather conditions. Updates on steward availability are posted on the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower’s Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The Watershed Agricultural Council applauds the efforts of the Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower, the Catskill Mountain Club, the Clark family, NYC DEP and Delaware County for a project that exemplifies eco-tourism and public-private partnerships at their best.

For more information on the tower, visit: bramleymountainfiretower.org

ULSTER COUNTY GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMS

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger announced the launch of a $586,000 Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program to support local farmers in maintaining viable and resilient farms now and in the future.

Successful grants will range from $25,000 to $75,000 to support local farmers in maintaining viable and resilient farms now and in the future. The grant program is funded through the ARPA-supported Agricultural Crisis Relief Program passed by the Legislature in 2023. The County grant program is being administered by the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC). This project is being supported in whole or in part by federal award number 21.027 awarded to the County of Ulster by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Eligible applicants include for-profit farms classified as “Farm Operations” under Section 301 of NYS Agriculture and Markets Law, as well as not-for-profit organizations involved in farming activities, and must have an annual net income below $1 million. Applicants must also have filed a Schedule F in 2023 and received an Agricultural Assessment to be eligible. 

Farm Viability & Sustainability Grants are intended to be used for services, equipment, production costs, and other expenses to build both economic and environmental sustainability within Ulster County’s farm sector. For full details: Farmers can access the full Request for Proposals, apply online, and explore additional resources through the application portal at hvadc.org/ulster-county-farm-grants. Technical assistance will be available throughout the application process until the April 30 deadline.

For any questions, reach out via email to: ucfarmviability@hvadc.org