CHENANGO COUNTY – Local and state legislators received a glimpse of the highs and lows of Chenango’s farming industry on Tuesday during the fourth annual Chenango County Agriculture Tour.

Each year, the Chenango Ag Tour highlights local businesses specializing in agriculture and offers local and state policy makers the chance to network with farmers, growers and each other to help what is still the county’s leading industry.

Nearly 50 representatives attended this year, along with local planning officials, agriculture advocates and area high school students of the Future Farmers of America. Other notable attendees this year included Michael Benedetto, representative for New York’s 82nd Assembly District (Bronx); and Richard Ball, New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets.

“For me, this is an opportunity to be within the community and see the community,” said Ball. “We have a number of initiatives the (Ag and Markets) department are working on in Albany, so it’s important for us to have a pulse and see what’s happening here.”

Ball added his experience in Chenango will help push efforts among legislators at the state capitol. “First and foremost, the Department of Agriculture and Markets isn’t just the deliverer of information; it’s also the voice of the ag community,” he said. “This is where agriculture meets the world. What we really want is for the ag community to know that we are here for them.”

Stops on this year’s bus tour – sponsored by Chobani, NBT Bank, and the Raymond Corporation – included Cascun Farm in Greene, Black Bear Winery in Chenango Forks, and Sunrise Family Farms in Norwich.

The fist stop on Tuesday’s itinerary was Cascun Farm, a family run business raising and processing chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and rabbits. The farm’s substantial growth over the years has made it a viable competitor in the statewide ag market, providing downstate and the New York City area with poultry absent of antibiotics or growth hormones.

Cascun Farm owner Don Cascun said his goal is to eventually grow his business to feature red meats in addition to poultry that could create as many as 25 new full-time positions. The issues standing in the way, he said, is the funding needed to expand. “Investors want a quick turnover, so it’s hard to get people to invest,” he said.