Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board


Regular Meetings

  • 7:00 pm
  • 3rd Wednesday of every month
  • Orange County Emergency Services Center
    22 Wells Farm Road, Goshen, NY 10924

  • The Orange County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board meeting will be held at the Orange County Emergency Services Center, 22 Wells Farm Road, Goshen, NY.  The meeting is scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, September 20.

Agendas & Minutes

The Orange County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board agendas are posted on the website and distributed shortly before the Board meetings.  The Board’s minutes are transcribed by staff from the Orange County Planning Department and distributed to the Board members for their approval at the following meeting.  The minutes will be posted after approval from the Board.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

There are 11 members of the Orange County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board. The members are as follows:

  • Leonard DeBuck, Chairman
  • Sharon Soons, Vice Chairman
  • Rick Minkus
  • Paul Ruszkiewicz
  • Dennis Smith
  • Alan Sorensen
  • Maire Ullrich
  • Paul Wiley
  • John Wright

Overview

The Orange County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) was created in 1993. The Board consists of 11 members who meet on a monthly basis to address agricultural issues and assist farmers throughout the county. The AFPB also helps fund projects and activities that help meet the Orange County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Plan’s goals. At the January meeting of the AFPB, the officers for the Board are elected for the year. During the April meeting, the Board reviews applications for parcels proposed to be enrolled into Orange County Agriculture District 1.

The AFPB completed the Eight-Year Agricultural District Review and the consolidation of Agricultural Districts 1 and 2 in 2020.  The Eight-Year Agricultural District Review and the Agricultural District consolidation was certified by NYS Ag & Markets on January 4, 2021.  Click here to see the certification letter.