Ulster creates agricultural position

Ulster County has created the new position of agricultural services program administrator and Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has appointed Deborah DeWan as the first person to serve in the role.

DeWan will be in charge of developing and putting into operation new agricultural programs in close coordination with the farming community.

“We want to see the county take a more active role in supporting the long-term viability and sustainability of farming in our county, and help our farmers meet the challenges they face and take advantage of new opportunities,” Metzger said.

DeWan was executive director of the Rondout Valley Growers Association for six years and served as agriculture policy advisor and agricultural liaison for the State Senate Agriculture Committee. Metzger chaired the Agriculture Committee when she was in the New York State Senate.

DeWan said, “I love helping farmers do what they do best – stewarding the land, feeding our communities, and contributing to the local economy. We can address real challenges facing our farmers, weathering the effects of climate change, strengthening their economic viability, and protecting irreplaceable agricultural land throughout Ulster County.”

According to Ulster County Legislator Kathy Nolan, who represents the Towns of Denning, Hardenburgh, Olive and Shandaken, “Most of our farms in Ulster County are small farms, and we have a unique opportunity to show how valuable smaller scale farms are to our economy and how they can play an increasingly important role in enhancing the vitality and health of our entire community.”