Dutchess proposes $1.2 million in farmland preservation

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RHINEBECK – Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro have announced an upcoming proposal to invest $1.2 million to preserve farmland in the county.

The proposal is a continuance of the program that began in Dutchess County more than a generation ago and was the first of its kind in New York.  “We’re putting forth the resolution in November and look forward to the support of the legislation,” Molinaro said while standing on Livestock Hill at the Fairgrounds.  “This open space and farmland protection act has protected thousands of acres in Dutchess County,” he said while noting that he is confident of the request getting legislative approval.

Pulver is an active farmer in Pine Plains and touted the necessity for continued preservation efforts.

“You can’t build farmland,” the chairman said.  “This funding will help preserve the land and protect the farming industry.”  The farmer and lawmaker added, “We’re at the forefront of protecting this land and not allowing development to spread all over the place.  There’s room for development but we need to preserve our natural resources.”

The latest preservation proposal is slated to protect 6,000 acres of dedicated farmland that Molinaro called “critical to the environment and very important to the farming industry.”

 




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