Participate

Please take five minutes to fill out this survey. Your perspective and opinions are important. All responses received will be aggregated and remain confidential. Responses are due April 30, 2024.

Erie County is preparing an update to its Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan to identify ways to preserve high quality farmland and support the continued viability of agriculture.  

Anyone with an interest in farms, farmland, and food production in Erie County is invited to participate in one of five focus groups to learn about the Plan update and to share ideas about how to support agriculture and protect farmland in Erie County.  

In-person focus groups will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on: 

• April 2 at the Clarence Town Hall, located at One Town Place Clarence, 14031 
• April 9 at the North Collins Senior Center, located at 11065 Gowanda State Road, 14111 
• April 16 at the Holland Town Hall, located at 47 Pearl Street, 14080 
• April 18 at the Delavan-Grider Community Center, located at 877 E. Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, 14215 

A virtual forum will be held on Zoom on April 12 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM. The link to the Zoom meeting is bit.ly/agplanmeeting1. Registration is required for the virtual forum. 

Erie County’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan will help safeguard and sustain agricultural lands and a viable agricultural economy in Erie County. The existing Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan was completed in 2012. The updated Plan will address changes in the physical, social, and economic landscape over the past 10+ years and will recommend policies and projects to ensure that agricultural land, and the farm operations that it supports, thrive over the next several decades.  

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning is leading the planning process, with support from the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board and a consulting team from Labella Associates. The Plan will be developed over the next eight months. Additional public meetings will be held later in 2024 to review and discuss the draft Plan recommendations.   

Visit erie.gov/agplanupdate to stay updated on the Plan’s progress, findings, and events. 

For more information, contact Sarah Gatti at agriculture@erie.gov.