About Us

Download the AED 2010 Annual Report

Download the AED 2009 Annual Report

Download the AED 2008 Annual Report

The mission for the Agricultural Economic Development Program is:

To maintain, develop, and promote a viable agricultural economy that benefits Madison County.

The priorities for achieving that mission:

Primary priority:
Marketing Madison County’s agricultural products and services by:

• Creating market opportunities.
• Encouraging value-added enterprises.

Secondary priority:
Maintaining an appropriate agricultural land base to support a viable agricultural economy in Madison County by:

• Assisting existing Madison County farmers
• Attracting and supporting new farmers

“Agricultural Economic Development” was one of the four Goals specified by Madison County’s agricultural community in the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan.  The Farmland Protection Board decided to focus on Goal 2.2 of the Plan:  to “employ an Agricultural Economic Development Specialist to provide leadership and coordination for agricultural development and expansion”.

A committee was formed, in January 2006, to identify the county’s ag economic development needs, and to determine how an AED specialist might best serve Madison County’s agricultural economy.  This committee, representing all aspects of the County’s agricultural industry, proposed the creation of an independent Ag Economic Development Specialist position.  The AED specialist would be tasked with developing projects that would support and encourage a viable County ag economy.

In December 2006, the Madison County Board of Supervisors approved the funding for the AED Specialist position.  The AED Specialist is housed at the Extension offices in Morrisville.  The AED Advisory Committee, as a committee of the Farmland Protection Board, was formalized and charged with setting and directing the AED program.

AED Advisory Committee

The AED Advisory Committee is a committee of the Farmland Protection Board and directs the AED program programmatically.  The AED Program is housed at Extension, and receives administrative supervision from the Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County (Paul Fitzpatrick).

The committee reports to the Planning Committee of the Madison County Board of Supervisors.  AED Advisory Committee member seats are for three-year terms, and are approved by the Farmland Protection Board.

Past AED Committee Members:

Rick Carrier
Tiffany Drape
Tim Winters

Farmland Protection Board