40 Projects Across the State Will Conserve Viable Agricultural Land Through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program
Long Island
Awarded
$3.65 Million
for Two Projects to Protect Valuable Farmland
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than
$38 million
is being awarded to strengthen
New York's
agricultural industry through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants program. The 40 awarded projects will protect a total of 11,772 acres of valuable farmland across the State, helping to keep agricultural land in production and ensure the long-term viability of
New York's
farming operations. The Governor made today's announcement on
Long Island
, following a tour and listening session with farmers in the region.
"We must continue to protect
New York's
precious farmland so our agricultural footprint can grow and so our producers can thrive for generations to come,"
Governor Hochul
said. "I am proud that we supported the Farmland Protection program in this year's budget with an increased allocation, demonstrating our commitment to
York's
agriculture industry. As a result of the funding being provided today, we are protecting nearly 12,000 acres of farmland for continued agricultural use, including right here on
Long Island
."
"Protecting our state's farmlands is one of the most important things we can do to maintain the economic viability of the state's agricultural industry," said Lieutenant Governor Delgado. "The Farmland Protection Implementation program promotes continued agricultural use of these land and the 40 new projects that have been selected will help ensure the long-term sustainability of our state's farmers."
The State's Farmland Protection program made critical adjustments for Round 18. For the first time ever, projects were awarded that support the State's top priorities, including food security, climate resiliency, and source water protection. In addition, eligibility criteria for the program was expanded to include the agroforestry, equine, and wine sectors, reflecting
New York's
diverse agricultural industry.
The following projects were awarded funding.
Long Island
(
$3,656,018
for 15 acres)
Peconic Land Trust
(
Suffolk County
) -
$1,656,018
to protect 6 acres on
Barras Farm
(vegetable operation), currently owned by
Peconic Land Trust
with ownership to be transferred to the current farm operator upon the closing of this conservation easement. (Source Water Protection category)
Peconic Land Trust
(
Suffolk County
) -
$2,000,000
to protect 9 acres on
Zoumas Farm
. (Source Water Protection category)
Mid-Hudson (
$6,406,100
for 768 acres)
Dutchess Land Conservancy
(
Dutchess County
) -
$923,757
to protect 187 acres on
Cedar Ridge Farm
. (Equine category)
Dutchess Land Conservancy
(
Dutchess County
) -
$1,460,944
to protect 144 acres on
Obercreek Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Dutchess Land Conservancy
(
Dutchess County
) -
$615,299
to protect 109 acres on
Primrose Hill Farm
. (Agroforestry category)
Town of Warwick
(
Orange County
) -
$1,406,100
to protect 200 acres on
Astorino Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Westchester Land Trust
(
Putnam County
) -
$2,000,000
to protect 128 acres on
Ryder Farm
. (Agroforestry category)
Capital Region
(
$5,215,403
for 1,515 acres)
Agricultural Stewardship Association
(
Washington County
) -
$280,739
to protect 88 acres on
Kenyon Hill Farm
. (Source Water Protection category)
Agricultural Stewardship Association
(
Washington County
) -
$420,350
to protect 238 acres on
Lindsay Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Agricultural Stewardship Association
(
Washington County
) -
$185,507
to protect 141 acres on
Slack Hollow Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Columbia Land Conservancy
(
Columbia County
) -
$1,399,453
to protect 366 acres on Grazin'
Angus Acres
. (Agroforestry category)
Columbia Land Conservancy
(&
Scenic Hudson Land Trust
as co-applicant) (
Columbia County
) -
$1,282,865
to protect 216 acres of Samascott Orchards-McIntosh LCC and
$893,925
for 316 acres of
Samascott Orchards-Mutsu LLC
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Dutchess Land Conservancy
(
Columbia County
) -
$752,564
to protect 150 acres on
Masters Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Central New York
(
$2,862,204
for 962 acres)
New York Agricultural Land Trust
(
Onondaga County
) -
$764,838
to protect 288 acres on
Marshfield Farms
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
New York Agricultural Land Trust
(
Cayuga County
) -
$1,318,284
to protect 477 acres on
Pearce Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Genesee Land Trust
(
Cayuga County
) -
$779,082
to protect 197 acres on
Woodworth Farm
. (Source Water Protection category)
Finger Lakes
(
$13,779,792
for 5,276 acres)
Genesee Land Trust
(&
Town of Walworth
as co-applicant) (
Wayne County
) -
$1,323,552
to protect 293 acres on
Amsler Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Genesee Land Trust
(
Ontario County
) -
$947,426
to protect 279 acres on
Goodell Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Genesee Land Trust
(
Monroe County
) -
$340,923
to protect 57 acres on
Stonecrop Farm
. (Climate Resiliency category)
Genesee Land Trust
(
Monroe County
) -
$1,620,113
to protect 200 acres on
Van Voorhis Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Genesee Valley Conservancy
(
Livingston County
) -
$771,794
to protect 276 acres on
Fire Creek Farms
. (Climate Resiliency category)
Genesee Valley Conservancy
(
Livingston
and
Wyoming
Counties) -
$2,000,000
to protect 1,315 acres on
Gardeau Crest Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Genesee Valley Conservancy
(
Livingston County
) -
$1,120,401
to protect 492 acres on
McClellan Farm
. (Food Security category)
Genesee Valley Conservancy
(
Livingston
and
Wyoming
Counties) -
$2,000,000
to protect 966 acres on
Sunny Knoll Farms
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Genesee Valley Conservancy
(
Wyoming County
) -
$149,670
to protect 62 acres on
The Cedars Farm
. (Food Security category)
Genesee Valley Conservancy
(
Livingston County
) -
$1,677,595
to protect 567 acres on
Willard Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Western New York Land Conservancy
(
Genesee County
) -
$403,667
to protect 368 acres on
Springhill Farms
. (Climate Resiliency category)
Finger Lakes Land Trust
(
Yates County
) -
$1,424,651
to protect 401 acres on
Henderson Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
Mohawk Valley
(
$246,820
for 407 acres)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
(
Oneida County
) -
$246,820
to protect 407 acres on
Simons Farm
. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
North Country (
$1,451,809
for 618 acres)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
(
Jefferson County
) -
$1,451,809
to protect 618 acres on
Northrup Farms
#2. (Viable Agricultural Land-Other category)
The
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
administers the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants program and its associated grant opportunities.
State Agriculture Commissioner
Richard A. Ball
said, "The Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program continues to evolve, aligning for the first time ever with
New York's
priorities and goals in areas such as combating climate change. The awardees announced in this round are also for the first time inclusive of the agroforestry or equine industries, allowing us to reach farms we may not have traditionally reached in years past. I'm excited to see these changes taking effect and congratulate all the awardees for participating in this program that is helping us to forever conserve our working landscapes for future generations of farmers."
State Senator
Michelle Hinchey
said, "Farmland is one of the most important natural resources we have and protecting it must be a priority to ensure that farmers today, and across future generations, have land to grow our food, help us fight the climate crisis, and protect our drinking water. I was proud to lead the fight in the
State Senate
for increased budget funding for the Farmland Protection program, and I am thrilled to see these grants being awarded to so many deserving
New York
farms."
Assemblymember
Donna Lupardo
said, "Once again, the Farmland Protection Grant Program will help preserve valuable farmland for the next generation. I am very happy to see the program expand to include the agroforestry, equine, and wine sectors; all valuable assets to
New York's
farm economy. This year's state budget included significant funding for farmland protection, along with soil health and resiliency initiatives, ensuring our commitment to farmers and the land they farm."
Peconic Land Trust
President
John Halsey
said, "All of us at the
Peconic Land Trust
are thrilled to be awarded funding through the State's Farmland Protection program. These funds will protect productive farmland from being developed and help us reassemble a multigeneration working farm. We thank all of our partners at Ag & Markets and in State government for their confidence in us and other land trusts across the State."
New York Farm Bureau
President
David Fisher
said, "Farmland preservation is a valuable to tool to keep agricultural land in production. There are many parts of the state where development pressure makes farm transition a challenge, and today's announcement can reduce that threat. In addition, preservation dollars provide farms with an opportunity to reinvest back into their businesses.
New York Farm Bureau
appreciates
Gov. Hochul's
support of this program that will help farms maintain critical food production in our state."
The Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and land trusts to enable them to implement farmland protection activities consistent with local agricultural and farmland protection plans. The most frequently funded activity is the purchase of development rights on individual farms. However, the program may also award funding to enable other implementation activities, such as amendments to local laws affecting agriculture, option agreements, and covering the transaction costs of donated agricultural conservation easements.
