The theme for the Hopewell Township Agricultural Advisory Committee’s forum is "building and supporting Hopewell’s agricultural community."
The Hopewell Township Agricultural Advisory Committee will hold a Farm Forum on April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Hopewell Township Municipal Building.
The theme for this second Farm Forum is "building and supporting Hopewell’s agricultural community."
This forum will include presentations by Kelly Harding of Cherry Grove Farm. He will discuss his grass-fed beef, lamb, pork and free-range chicken farm in Lawrenceville. Susan Gange, an orchid grower in Hopewell, will talk about building a niche market in agriculture. Hopewell Township’s tax assessor, Antoinette Sost, will talk about farmland assessment and financial planner, Wade Martin, from USB Paine Weber, will talk about financial planning for those farmland owners who have sold their development rights.
The committee has planned plenty of time for a question-and-answer period. Andrew Strauss, the township’s farmland preservation consultant, will be present to answer questions about the township’s recent Planning Incentive Grant application .
The committee also has invited members from the state Agricultural Development Committee, the Mercer County Agricultural Development Committee, the Mercer County Agriculture Extension Agency, the New Jersey Farm Bureau and representatives from agricultural committees from surrounding communities.
Deputy Mayor Marylou Ferrara, liaison to the Agricultural Advisory Committee, will be present to represent the Hopewell Township Committee. Members of Agricultural Committee are Lucia Stout Huebner, chairwoman; John Hart (vice chairman); Sherry Dudas, Pam Flory and Pam Weidel.
Since its inception in late 2001, the committee has encouraged viable agriculture in Hopewell Valley through a combination of farmland preservation and the establishment of a local agricultural "identity" and economic base. The committee’s goal is to create a farm-friendly community in which local farming will thrive.
"Hopewell already is a haven for some of the most innovative farms in the northeast." said Ms Huebner. "Farms like the Watershed Organic Farm, CSA; Spring Hill Farm and Simply Grazin’ are harbingers of the renaissance in agriculture occurring across the country. Americans are starting to realize that locally grown food is far better for our environment, our health and even our national security against terrorism. We are also fortunate to have many successful equine farms in our township."
The Hopewell Township Agricultural Advisory Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. at the township municipal building on the first Tuesday of each month. The public is invited to participate. For further information, contact Ms. Huebner, 466-0277, or [email protected], or John Hart, 737-2008, or [email protected].

