NORWICH – County planners tapped a set aside pool of economic promotion and development funds again this week by awarding the Chenango County Agriculture Development Council $4,150.

Council Chairperson J. Rebecca Hargrave made the budget request in order to fund programs in 2007. Council activities include awarding individual farms microgrants for promotional purposes, agricultural events at the Chenango County Fair and professional improvement conference sponsorships.

Last year, $200 mini-grants were awarded to five area farms: Herm N’ Dell Greenhouse, Plymouth; Country Morning Maple Products, Columbus; Warm Wind Farms, Coventry; Antique Valley Jerseys, Greene; and Promised Land Farm, New Berlin. Most of the funds were used to purchase signage directing traffic to the farms as well as direct marketing brochures and business cards.

Also in 2006, the council surveyed livestock producers to determine the need for a slaughterhouse in Chenango County. One hundred and seventy surveys were mailed and about 80 returned, mostly from farmers in Greene, Sherburne, Oxford and Guilford. The majority were beef producers, followed by dairy, sheep/lamb, poultry, swine and goats.

The numbers collected point to a total increase of 378 percent for all livestock production within the next five years. Nearly half of those raising beefers, which represented the majority of farms responding, stated they expected an increase in production within the same time period. Beef livestock production has a total expected increase of 168 percent.