The Agricultural Economic Development program is a new part of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County and was stated as a priority area in Madison County's Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. The mission of the program is to develop. maintain and promote a viable agricultural economy by creating market opportunities and encouraging value-added enterprises in Madison County.

This summer, Katy Morley, '09, will compile an inventory of the farms in Madison County and create a local farm guide and map with that information. The finished map will be printed and distributed throughout the region, and will be a part of a "buy local" campaign.

Chris Vincent, '08, worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County in the summer of 2006. He helped to produce an 10 – 15 minute video to enable farmers to professionalize their displays and customer service skills at Farmers’ Markets across the state. He organized and implemented a statewide potato variety taste test at 50 farmers’ markets across the state with the support of Cooperative Extension staff statewide. Finally, he was involved in the creation of a new farmers’ market in the low-income Arbor Hill neighborhood of Albany.