WALTON, DELAWARE COUNTY -- The Sheep & Goat Producer Group is hosting an off-site tour of a sheep dairy and cheese operation on Thursday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Group, sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, is coordinating the tour and providing free transportation to Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, 125 miles east of Walton, as a learning experience in sheep-goat marketing opportunities.
"Old Chatham has been milking over 1,000 East Friesian ewes since 1994," notes CCE Livestock Coordinator Meghan Filbert. "This operation is a great example of how farmers can extend the mechanics of sheep dairy to value-added products such as cheese and yogurt. We plan to arrive at Old Chatham in time to see sheep being milked and all steps involved in rendering the finished product. This farm tour is free and open to regional sheep and goat farmers interested in exploring opportunities within their herds. We hope farmers will join us on this excursion next week."
The group will meet at the Watershed Agricultural Program building at 44 West Street, Walton at 9:45 a.m. Transportation will be provided for free, but space is limited. Interested farmers can RSVP to Kim Holden at (607) 8 65-7090, ext. 231 or by email kmh19@cornell.edu .
Old Chatham is the largest sheep dairy in North America and is renowned for some of the best sheep's milk cheeses and yogurts in the nation. They market through the Black Sheep label and have an extensive online presence at www.blacksheepcheese.com.
The Sheep & Goat Producer Group meets monthly to discuss topics such as marketing, raising animals, meeting product demand, and tackling distribution issues as they relate to ruminants and value-added products. The watershed region is seeing an increase in small farms, particularly those raising sheep and goats. Along with dairy, ruminant breeds offer wool and meat as farm commodities.
The Watershed Agricultural Council assists private landowners to improve their farm and forest lands in order to protect clean drinking water for nine million New York City residents. The Council works with nearly 1,000 property landowners in developing conservation plans and applying those practices in accordance with farm and forest management plans. Working with farmers, agribusinesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship.
The Council champions the working landscape model by holding over 20,000 acres in conservation easements. Landowners use a variety of best management practices, tools and approaches, such as conservation easements, to keep property within a working landscape. The Council also supports strong, viable agriculture and forestry businesses through its "Buy Local" branding campaigns, Pure Catskills. The Council accomplishes its work in land conservation and water quality protection within the New York City watershed region by embracing partnerships with other nonprofits organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to achieve its purpose.
The nonprofit is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and other federal and foundation sources. The WAC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.
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