203-acre Cattle Farm Safeguarded from Development

(WARWICK) - Driving north from New Jersey, one of the first things travelers on Brady Road see when they enter New York State is the 203-acre Brady Farm in the Town of Warwick, Orange County. The family farm, owned by four brothers, is a registered Angus operation and has been in the family for more than 150 years. Today through a partnership between the Town of Warwick, Orange County, Scenic Hudson and the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the farm is permanently conserved. A conservation easement restricting nonagricultural development of the property was granted by the family to the town and Scenic Hudson on January 23.

Family tradition of farming excellence
Phil, Rich, Bob and Tom Brady's great-grandparents immigrated to the Warwick area from Ireland and began farming the land in the 1840's. The farmhouse on the property today dates to 1828. The farm produces high quality Angus cattle for markets near and far. Roughly half the farm is made up of soils that are of statewide agricultural importance - highly productive for crops and important to the state's agricultural economy.

Public-private partnership key to success
Purchasing development rights to the Brady Farm required a partnership between three levels of government and The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, an environmental organization and land trust that works to safeguard the Hudson Valley's working farms. Funding for the purchase was provided by Scenic Hudson (23%), NRCS (36%), Orange County (26%) and the Town of Warwick (15%).

Commenting on the group's fourth farmland protection project in partnership with the Town of Warwick, Scenic Hudson Executive Director Steve Rosenberg said, "We're pleased to have assisted in conserving the Brady Farm. Family farms like theirs contribute so much to the Hudson Valley's economy, environment and quality of life. The Town of Warwick has one of the most comprehensive municipal farmland protection programs in New York State, and with the purchase of development rights to the Brady Farm, Scenic Hudson has now contributed over $700,000 to it."

Orange County Executive Ed Diana, stated, "The Brady Farm is a perfect example of preserving valuable open space, which is of vital importance in making sure that Orange County's great quality of life remains strong for future generations to enjoy."

NRCS Acting State Conservationist Garry Lee added, "NRCS is extremely pleased to be working in partnership with the Town of Warwick, Orange County and Scenic Hudson to protect working agricultural land in the Town of Warwick. The funding from the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program will enable the Brady family to protect this farm's prime agricultural land, as well as the state's soil, air and water resources for the future."

Agriculture in Warwick
The Town of Warwick now has conserved seven of its important farms since passage of its $9.5 million farmland protection and open space bond in 2000. The Brady farm is contiguous with the 255-acre Roland property, which was donated to the Orange County Land Trust last spring, and the 494-acre Cascade Lake property owned by the town. Combined acreage of the three properties is 952 acres of farm, forest and parklands, thus preserving active farmland, beautiful vistas and rural character for today and future generations.

Pleased with the transaction, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton said, "The preservation of the Brady Farm is the final link that secures the entire ridge surrounding the watershed of the Village of Warwick. The town greatly appreciates the Brady family for their commitment to preserving Warwick. We also are grateful to our partners Scenic Hudson, Orange County and NRCS for helping us secure this vital farm."

The conservation easement over the Brady Farm is flexible to accommodate the needs of agriculture, but precludes its development for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. Scenic Hudson and the Town of Warwick are responsible for ensuring that the terms of the easement are upheld in perpetuity.