Mar 19, 2018
Nestled among the highest hills in Onondaga County, the Palladino Family’s 285-acre farm has stunning views of seven different counties, from Chimney Bluffs to Lake Oneida and beyond. Hosting highly fertile soil, a majority of the land is used to cultivate crops or pasture animals. The farm produces organic wheat, corn, and soy for human and animal consumption and is one of the largest producers of malt barley in the state. The crops grown help to sustain the county’s largest dairy farm and one of its largest poultry and egg farms.
Mar 21, 2018
In agriculture for over a century, the 156-acre Way Family Farm is an integral part of the town’s rural fabric. The Way, Clapp and Palladino families have worked together for over thirty years and joined together to protect all of their land through conservation easements. These three contiguous farms create a block of over 600 acres of protected farmland in the community. Mary Way of the Way Family Farm is proud to participate in the conservation effort. “It’s what my husband wanted,” she says, “I’m really glad we did it.”
Mar 20, 2018
The 176-acre Clapp Family Farm has been in their family for over a century and has had a long history of supporting and celebrating agriculture. With 87% of the farm consisting of Prime or Statewide Important Soils, this highly productive land is an asset to the agricultural community. Residential development on these lands would not only meant a loss of farmland, but also threaten the local environment. Streams running through the property flow into significant aquifers and watersheds, as well as into Pratt Falls. By protecting this farm, the landowners have preserved the area’s agricultural heritage and ensured its future.
