Farm Community Celebrates Protection of the Ireland Family Farm

Leaders in farmland conservation gathered recently to celebrate the permanent protection of the Ireland Farm, located in the town of Spafford, Onondaga County. Gordon Ireland and his sons, Jeff and Steve, grow corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and oats on the farm’s 595 acres. The Irelands are the fifth and sixth generation of farmers, respectively, to operate the farm, which was originally only 50 acres in size. “This project is the result of a tremendous partnership that will benefit future generations of farmers and residents of Onondaga County,” said David Haight, New York Director for American Farmland Trust. 

Representatives of this partnership gathered to help celebrate with the Ireland Family and AFT, including Christa Glazier from Congressman Walsh’s office; state Assemblyman Brian Kolb; Jerry Cosgrove, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets; Dale Sweetland, Onondaga County Legislature Chairman; Jim Rhinehart, County Legislator; and the Onondaga County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board.

The Ireland Farm is the seventh farm to be protected in Onondaga County—totaling 3,200 acres of productive county land that will be permanently available for farming.