In addition to being part of Long Island's local heritage, farming also enhances the local economy by adding revenue and jobs and can prevent sprawl by encouraging open space preservation. However, farms that do not use crop rotation and other land management practices to mitigate soil erosion can have a damaging effect on land outside the farmed area. Similarly, agricultural runoff contains fertilizer nutrients that can cause eutrophication, which damages land and marine habitats and can create dead zones and significantly reduce biodiversity.

Sustainable farming fosters environmental stewardship, healthy farming communities and profitable farms. It integrates ideas such as environmentally responsible farming, fair wages, ecosystem health and enhancing quality of life for both customers and farmers.

To promote sustainable farming, NYLCVEF makes the following recommendations:

• Create outreach and awareness campaigns to take advantage of the growing popularity of sustainable viticulture and other agricultural products on the North Fork.
• Encourage the use of organic growing techniques, which are vital to maintaining a healthy groundwater supply.
• Establish new farmers markets to provide additional outlets for locally grown produce.
• Offer incentives to farmers who preserve large plots of farmland and use sustainable farm practices to help ensure farming remains an economically viable industry on Long Island.
• Encourage agricultural tourism, production of added-value products and other farm-related economic enhancements.
• Designate agricultural districts within which farmers receive incentives and benefits to continue to use their land for agricultural purposes. These incentives could include real property tax treatment, protections against local laws that inhibit farming practices, and incentive zoning such as Agricultural Planned Development Districts.
• Encourage grocery and convenience stores to stock locally produced goods.
• Provide tax incentives for farmland that is certified organic by a reputable source, such as NEPA.

 

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