Background
With an economic structure that relies heavily on agriculture and more than half of our land actively used for agricultural production, Western New York has a lot to gain from improved soil management practices. To assist in bringing high-quality conservation soil management strategy to the farmers of WNY, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets acquired a grant for the development of a Conservation Tillage Alliance in Genesee and Orleans Counties. Since the grant was acquired in 2015, Orleans and Genesee’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, with local farmers, have worked together to begin development of the farmer-led Western New York Soil Health Alliance. The WNY SHA was incorporated in August of 2016 and is governed by an elected Board of Directors.
Mission & Vision
WNY SHA envisions a future where farmers use soil health systems to reduce agriculture’s negative impacts on the environment, while simultaneously improving the long-term productivity of our soils and efficiency of local farming practices. We aspire to promote and support the successful application of good soil health practices through shared ideas, experience, education and new technology, working to ensure that the tradition and culture of farming in WNY can be carried on to future generations.
Objectives
1. To promote local farm trials and share the results to help farmers develop good soil health practices for their own farm operations.
2. Develop a farmer-to-farmer network to promote and educate producers and the general public on the benefits of good soil health practices.
3. Serve as a collective voice for issues affecting production practices for crop, dairy and livestock producers in Western NY.