Schuyler Farm Bureau opposes horizontal fracking

SCHUYLER COUNTY—The Schuyler County Farm  Bureau voted to oppose horizontal high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in New York State and Schuyler County during their annual meeting Wednesday, Oct. 16. Area Field Advisor Lindsay Wickham said the resolution passed in a 10 to six vote during the meeting, and for the next 12 months, the Schuyler County Farm Bureau will take up the position against high-volume horizontal fracking in the region.
Wickham said the resolution—presented by Lou Damiani and Phil Davis of Damiani Wine Cellars—is very specific in that it does not oppose all drilling, but primarily high-volume horizontal fracking. He said the makers of the resolution did a good job preparing it and gaining support for it, with the primary backers of the resolution being winery owners. He said the Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization, and while the debate on fracking has been a divisive issue, no matter how close the vote is, once a resolution is passed they act as a unit and support the way it goes.
Wickham said delegates will also be presenting this resolution at the state Farm Bureau annual meeting in Syracuse in December. He said if the resolution passes at that meeting, then the New York State Farm Bureau will be obligated to lobby against high-volume horizontal fracking in the state. Despite the recent support shown in Schuyler County, Wickham said he does not anticipate the resolution getting enough support to pass at the state level.
“A few years ago I would have said it doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell,” Wickham said. “I would still say less than 50 percent. There is a large chunk of the state who hasn’t had to deal with it.”