Suffolk, towns announce more farmland preservation

Suffolk County and local officials will announce Thursday the preservation of  a farm field on Shelter Island, and  a plan to preserve more farm acreage  in Riverhead.

The county  has purchased development rights to a 26.4-acre farm field at Sylvester Manor in Shelter Island have been purchased for $2.4 million with county  and  Shelter Island Town funds and a federal grant,  according to a news release.

The field is part of a larger 243-acre educational farm on property that was first established in 1652 and has been continuously owned by the same family.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy will be joined by officials from Shelter Island Town  and the Peconic Land Trust Thursday at Sylvester Manor to celebrate the purchase.

 In addition, Levy, along with Riverhead Town  officials and environmental advocates, will propose a $2.2 million county acquisition of development rights to 30 acres on the Kozak Family Farm in Riverhead.

The acquisition, which requires legislative approval, will create a stretch of 189 acres of county-preserved farmland from Reeves Avenue to Sound Avenue in Riverhead.

The farm currently grows cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, squash and some pumpkins.

Levy says the acquisitions mark the 75th and 76th farms preserved during his administration.