FONDA — An increasing Amish population is taxing the ability of the two-county cooperative extension to meet the needs of more than 850 farms in Fulton and Montgomery counties.

Internet marketing and assistance for new members of Amish settlements are among tasks the staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties hope to concentrate on in the upcoming year.

But accomplishing these goals will require more time on the part of staff and, consequently, more money, staffers said this week as they asked for a funding increase from the two counties.

The agency coordinates educational programming for children and adults, operates a master gardener service and helps bring up-to-date technology and advice to roughly 246 farms in Fulton County and 624 farms in Montgomery County.

During a preliminary budget discussion this week, extension staff members said their services are being sought by traditional farmers as well as newly arrived Amish farmers unaccustomed to agriculture practices in the state.

Horticulture and agriculture extension educator Crystal Stewart said in addition to fielding calls from citizens and working with the county’s agriculture economic development project, working with Amish farmers is a growing task.

“I’ve actually been on numerous farms from numerous colonies. I think that they’re really looking for some help right now, especially the ones that are transplanting in and are struggling with certain aspects of doing agriculture in New York,” Stewart said.

“The soils are different here, the climate’s different, the diseases are different and they’re really looking for somebody that can help with that,” Stewart said.

At least 18 new Amish farm families have moved into the town of Glen in the past two years, and another group has been establishing farms in the town of Minden and into Herkimer County, said Corey Nellis, Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation district manager.

These Amish people are almost exclusively dairy farmers, Nellis said, but many also purchased blueberry and strawberry plants from the district’s tree and shrub program.

The Soil and Water Conservation District has been working with the Amish to help improve drainage and evaluate soils, Nellis said.

Nellis said the Amish are countering the loss of farms seen in the past decades, but the new farmers are presenting similar needs as the former ones.

“This definitely keeps us in business,” Nellis said.

Montgomery County currently contributes $183,700 towards the cooperative extension’s services and the agency is requesting a $16,300 increase for 2009 to bring the total up to $200,019.

The cooperative extension also receives funding from Fulton County, County Administrator Jon Stead said.

Fulton County appropriated $129,000 for the extension in the 2008 budget year and is reviewing a request for an additional $9,030 for 2009, Stead said.

The request for additional funding was explained this week to members of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors’ agriculture, planning and development committee.

Extension staff members outlined several tasks handled by the county’s agriculture economic development project, which include distributing promotional materials for farmers and holding roundtable discussions with the goal of helping the agriculture community bring in more revenue.

Goals for the future include Web site development and increasing the number of outlets for fruits and vegetables.

The county’s agriculture economic development project currently receives 17 hours of staff time weekly, and the agency is hoping to boost those hours to 22.

Cooperative Extension Executive Director Marilyn Smith said visits to farms are helping to spread the word about the agency’s ability to test soils, troubleshoot crop issues and other tasks.

“The more time we spend out working with farmers, the more calls we generate,” Smith said.

Montgomery County Treasurer Shawn Bowerman said Wednesday he’s received all budget requests from departments and agencies and that information will be compiled into a preliminary budget.

Bowerman said he hasn’t yet analyzed the requests but said the effects of state funding cuts are evident.

“Revenues are down, expenditures are up, which is not a good situation,” Bowerman said.

Bowerman said county supervisors will review a preliminary budget. Meetings with department heads will take place throughout this month, and a tentative budget will be given to the county board by Oct. 1.