Sullivan Trail Resource Conservation & Development Council

SULLIVAN TRAIL RC&D COUNCIL

Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, & Yates Counties, New York

415 West Morris Street, Bath, New York 14810

(607) 776-7398 Ext. 5

FAX (607) 776-7487

E-Mail address: sultrrcd@linkny.com

Lola Tears,Chair Ken Bush, Vice Chair

Wayne Dimmick, Secretary Gregory Heffner, Treasurer

Annual Report 2001

Venison Donation Program Expands

As the year 2001 comes to a close, the Venison Donation Coalition in cooperation with the Sullivan Trail RC&D Council is proud to announce that this year’s venison donation program has exceeded last year’s program by more than 350%.

Covering a sixteen county area, within the western Finger Lakes Region of New York, the Coalition has reported 34 custom meat processors have processed more than 23,000 pounds of ground venison. In addition the Food Bank of the Southern Tier (Elmira, NY) as well as FoodLink (Rochester, NY) has picked up and distributed the venison through their respective member organizations. The one or two pound frozen packages have resulted in almost 92,000 meals being served. While the Sullivan Trail RC&D Council has administered the program the past two years, NYSDEC Wildlife Technicians from Western New York have kept the mechanics of the program moving smoothly. The technicians visited each of the 34 processing facilities, maintained a dialogue with the processors, and answered questions from potential donators. Other major partners who have contributed time and/or money have included but are not limited to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County; USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service; Rochester Gas & Electric; New York Bow Hunters Inc.; Passero Associates, PC; Southern Tier Chapter of BuckMasters; as well a number of individuals, and other sportsmen organizations.

A special thanks needs to be expressed to Kathy Balbierer of Free Ink Marketing Services, Fairport, NY, who helped extensively with the program's publicity.

2001 Pasture Walks

The Sullivan Trail RC&D Council in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County; Cornell Cooperative Extension Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock, & Field Crops Team; and the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Grazing Land Conservation Initiative conducted a series of pasture walks in Yates County and the Central Finger Lakes region. The pasture walks allowed graziers, of all levels of experience, to visit livestock operations that are practicing intensive rotational grazing.

While participating in the pasture walks attendees engaged in dialogues with the host, other graziers, or representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension, agri-business, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Grazing Land Conservation Initiative.

Bill Henning, Grazing Advocate for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative coordinated five pasture walks with more than 75 people in attendance. Topics varied from using warm season grasses as forage to sizing paddocks and maintaining quality of grasses.

Please note: 2002 marks the Sullivan Trail RC&D Council’s 30th anniversary of when the Council was officially authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During this 30 year period the Council has provided technical and/or financial assistance in the areas of water quality; erosion and sediment control; nutrient management; forestry; agri-tourism, grazing, flood prevention, recreation, sustainable agriculture, rural economic development, and rural fire protection.

Sullivan Trail Resource Conservation & Development Council

2001 Project Summary

Project Name	Date Completed	Source of Funds	Grant $’s	RC&D Role	Activities
Upper Susquehanna Coalition Outreach Program	September 2001	Canaan Valley Institute	$4,590.00	Grant Administrator	Develop website and Annual Newsletter for Upper Susquehanna Coalition.
2001 Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative	July 2001	Natural Resources Conservation Service	$20,625.00	Grant Administrator	Hire grazing advocate to develop 18 grazing plans, conduct grazing workshops & pasture walks.
Farmers & Hunters for the Hungry	March 2001	Venison Donation Coalition partners	$7,500.00	Project Administrator	Process & distribute 6500 pounds of venison resulting in 26,000 meals served.
Forest Products Companies on the Internet	June 2001	US Forest Service — Rural Development Through Forestry Program	$20,000.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Assisted 23 wood product companies with the development of websites for the purpose of marketing their products on the Internet.
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans for Vineyards	On-going	NYS Environmental Protection Fund Round VII	$40,000.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Provide financial assistance toward the development of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) for 10 vineyards in the Seneca Lake Watershed.
CNMP for livestock in Steuben County	On-going	NYS Environmental Protection Fund Round VII	$64,500.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Provide financial assistance toward the development of CNMPs for 8 livestock farms in Steuben County.
Road Ditch Stabilization Demonstration	September 2001	Great Lakes Commission	$20,000.00	Grant Writer	Demonstrate the use of geotextile materials to stabilize eroding road ditches in Chemung County.
CNMPs for Livestock in the Seneca Lake Watershed	On-going	NYS Environmental Protection Fund Round VII	$131,000.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Provide financial assistance toward the development of CNMPs for 14 livestock farms within the Seneca Lake Watershed.
Chemung River Basin Grazing Project-Phase II	On-going	NYS Environmental Protection Fund Round VIII	$168,750.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Provide financial assistance to 19 livestock farms in Chemung, Schuyler, & Steuben Counties for the purpose of installing Best Management Practices (BMPs) associated with Prescribed Grazing.
Seneca Lake Watershed Prescribed Grazing Project	On-going	NYS Environmental Protection Fund Round VIII	$195,500.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Provide financial assistance to 22 livestock farms in Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, & Yates County for the purpose of installing BMPs associated with grazing.
Nutrient Management Planning	On-going	NYS Environmental Protection Fund Round V	$65,880.00	Grant Writer & Project Administrator	Provide financial assistance toward the development of 10 nutrient plans for farms within the Seneca Lake Watershed.
		Total	$738,945.00

Sullivan Trail RC&D Council 415 West Morris Street Bath, NY 14810

RC&D is a program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

For specific information regarding members and technical advisors contact:
Sullivan Trail RC&D Council
415 West Morris Street
Bath, New York 14810
Phone (607) 776-7398 ext 204; FAX (607) 776-7487
email address: sultrrcd@linkny.com
Or, fill out this form.

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