INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE NYC WATERSHED

Steve Bishop Jr. operates a 40-cow dairy where he raises his own replacements, grows his own crops, and pastures his milking herd and bred heifers during the summer.

For Steve, one of the biggest challenges is keeping productive pasture through the summer. The farm’s gravelly soils dry quickly, and pastures can struggle by mid-June.

Through the AEIDP Grant, Steve is testing a no-till drill to establish new forage directly into existing pasture. The project will look at different forage varieties, including winter rye, clover, chicory, and bird’s-foot trefoil, as well as potential summer annuals that can provide quick nutritional value.

The project builds on Steve’s previous experience with frost seeding. After turkeys consumed much of the seed, he moved away from that approach. The no-till drill offers a different solution by placing the seed directly into the soil.

The project will look at forage quality and quantity, pasture performance, cow behavior, labor and fuel use, and the practical impacts on the farm. Time-lapse cameras may also help show whether cows stay on pasture or return to the covered feed bunk when forage or summer conditions become limiting.

This program is administered by the Watershed Agricultural Council and funded by the New York State Office of the Attorney General. Learn more about the grant here.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP

🌲 Attention Watershed Forest Landowners! 🌲

Are you looking to better understand, protect, and manage your property? Join us at Be Woods-Wise: A Forest Stewardship Workshop for Watershed Forest Landowners on Saturday, October 17, 2026!

We’re gathering at the Frost Valley YMCA for a full day of insightful discussions and field tours to learn about forest landownership and management. During the indoor morning lecture, we’ll also host our outdoor youth Forest and Water Awareness Day. Bring your children to participate in this educational field day while you enjoy your indoor morning session.

Adult registration includes morning refreshments and lunch.

What’s on the agenda?

• Morning presentations indoors (9:30a-12p) on forest management, conservation easements, legacy planning, water quality, and the future of ash trees.
• Youth Forest and Water Awareness Day outdoors (9:30a-12p) – Fast paced learning from regional environmental educators (occurs during morning lecture session).
• Afternoon outdoor field tours covering stream health, wild edibles, forest stewardship, and more.

Location: Frost Valley YMCA (Claryville, NY)

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Cost: $25 per adult, children free

Space is limited! Reserve your spot today to connect with fellow landowners and take the next step in caring for your woodlot.

Register Online here.

EQUINE CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE DEMO

Keeping Your Horse Comfortable & Moving Well

What can chiropractic care and acupuncture do for your horse? In this live-horse demonstration, Andrea Balcom, DVM, will walk attendees through a complete chiropractic and acupuncture examination and treatment. Learn what your veterinarian is looking for, how findings from the examination guide treatment, and how these modalities can complement traditional veterinary care. We’ll explore applications for all types of horses—from elite athletes looking to optimize comfort and performance to older horses needing support for mobility and quality of life.



Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026  10:00 am – Noon

Location: Windswept Acres, 1499 Arbuckle Hollow Road, Delancey, NY 13752

Cost: No cost to attend, Light refreshments provided

Register: By October 15th. Call Kim Holden at 607 865-7090 or email at kmh19@cornell.edu

DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR FARMLAND OR WOODLOT?

American Farmland Trust details in its report, Farms Under Threat, that between 2001 and 2016, 11 million acres of agricultural land were lost or fragmented in the US, converted to development or low-density residential use, and taken out of agricultural production. Another 18+ million farmland acres are on track to be converted out of farmland by 2040. 

The United States Forest Service projects that 34 million forested acres will be lost to development in the next three decades.

We are fortunate to have abundant forests and productive farmland in the NYC Watershed region. Farms and forests provide natural beauty, economic development, clean water, wildlife habitat, flood absorption, and – importantly – food!

Are you a landowner in the NYC Watershed interested in protecting your forest or farmland with a conservation easement?  

You can contribute to the critical goal to protect forests and farmland for generations to come!

WAC’s Easement Program is currently accepting applications for Agricultural Conservation Easements or Forest Conservation Easements.

BENEFITS OF A WAC CONSERVATION EASEMENT:

•    Maintains working landscapes, protecting forests and farmland.

•    Supports farming and forest management, contributing to the local economy.

•    Protects water quality from Delaware County to New York City.

•    Promotes historic preservation and local communities’ rural character.

•    Protects wildlife habitat and allows for recreation.

•    Land remains in private ownership and on the tax rolls.

•   Get free appraisal of your land value with no commitment.

Must be in the NYC Watershed. Learn more about eligibility and other details here.

For more information about easements, or to request an application, contact Rebecca Morgan, Land Planning Coordinator at: rmorgan@nycwatershed.org or call 607-865-7790 ext 120

REGIONAL NAVIGATOR GRANT CONNECTING FARMLAND TO FARMERS

WAC’s Easement Program was one of 40 recipients awarded funds by American Farmland Trust (AFT) to build the capacity to connect available farmland to potential farmers (new farmers, expanding farmers, relocating farmers, etc.) through AFT’s Regional Navigator program.

With a goal to “keep working lands in working hands”, WAC will develop an up-to-date data base of farmland owners looking to lease, lease to own, or other arrangement, that ensures their farmland stays in agriculture. With a primary emphasis on landowners with agricultural easements, but extending to all farmland owners in the watershed region, the project will create a database of available farmland, on-site farm infrastructure, and other farmland assets that are relevant to potential farmers.

Serena Orleski, WAC’s Easement Program Manager, emphasizes the importance of the Regional Navigator program: “Across New York, farmland affordability, an aging farmer demographic, workforce challenges, land fragmentation, and an uptick in non-operating landowners threaten the long-term vitality of working lands. WAC is eager to commence work on a detailed landowner survey, a critical first step in orchestrating successful and sustainable matches between farmland owners and farmland seekers. Long-term, WAC envisions the survey to spur a permanent emphasis on land access, affordability, and collaboration within and beyond the easement program, to better ensure the economic viability of the region’s working landscapes.” 



For more information about the program click here.

If you are a landowner interested in having your land farmed, please contact: sorleski@nycwatershed.org.

EASEMENT PROGRAM STEWARDSHIP SPECIALIST

The Watershed Agricultural Council, a non-profit organization working to protect the NYC Watershed, while supporting farm and forest land uses, is seeking an Easement Program Stewardship Specialist. The Stewardship Specialist stewards assigned conservation easement properties and projects and ensures that landowners are following the terms and conditions of their conservation easements. This position works under the direct supervision of the Easement Program Stewardship Coordinator. To review qualifications and requirements, and to apply for this position, visit: Stewardship Specialist.

Salary range: $55,000-$60,000 depending upon experience. EOE. Review of applications will occur as received.