Eight Projects Across the State Will Receive Funding to Assist Counties and Municipalities with Farmland Protection Efforts
Builds on State’s Farmland Protection Efforts, Including 100,000-Acre Milestone Announced Last Year
Press release
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that nearly $400,000 is being awarded to eight projects across the state through the fifth round of the Department’s Land Trusts Grants Program. Funding for the program, which is available through the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, will go toward counties and municipalities to assist in agriculture and farmland protection efforts. This is the largest round of funding to date for the program, which is in its fifth round.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “As the foundation for our food supply, farmland is one of the most important natural resources we have. Protecting our land and our rich soils helps ensure that farmers can continue to grow our food, strengthen our local food systems, plan for the future, and play an integral part in our fight against climate change. I’m grateful for our partnership with Land Trusts across the state who are playing a huge role in preserving this precious resource from the pressures of development and congratulate all the awardees for participating in this program.”
The Land Trust Grants Program awards state assistance to land trusts for activities that will assist counties and municipalities with their agricultural and farmland protection efforts, including providing technical assistance to county and municipal governments, owners of agricultural lands and other agricultural interests. Round 5 of the program focused on helping owners of viable agricultural land protect their lands from conversion to non-farm uses, connecting willing landowners to farmers interested in leasing or buying viable agricultural land, and highlighting on-farm marketing, production, and agritourism opportunities for preserved farms.
Grants of up to $50,000 were awarded to eligible organizations through the program. The following projects have been awarded funding.
- American Farmland Trust – $50,000 to accelerate targeted outreach for farmlands in transition.
- Columbia Land Conservancy – $50,000 to continue strategic outreach throughout Columbia County.
- Genesee Vally Conservancy – $50,000 to accelerate farmer outreach in Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties.
- New York Agricultural Land Trust – $50,000 to accelerate a farmer matching programming in Onondaga and Tompkins Counties.
- Otsego Land Trust – $49,400 to initiate farmland access efforts in Otsego County.
- Saratoga P.L.A.N. – $49,667 to accelerate and sustain farmland preservation efforts in the Town of Ballston and Saratoga County.
- Schoharie Land Trust – $50,000 to accelerate farmland access outreach within Schoharie County.
- Western New York Land Conservancy – $50,000 to initiate farmland access outreach within Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Wyoming County.
Marisa Riggi, Western New York Land Conservancy Executive Director, said, “The Western New York Land Conservancy is thrilled to receive the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Land Trust Grant. This grant will enhance the Western New York Land Conservancy’s ongoing farmland protection work by supporting our outreach program to area farmers about the benefits of land protection. Our region’s farms, rich with prime soils, are under increasing development pressure. By providing other options to farmers and working with county agricultural and farmland protection plans we can ensure that Western New York’s farms are protected for the future.”
Brandy Colebrook, New York Agricultural Land Trust Executive Director, said, “New York Agricultural Land Trust is happy to accept this award from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Land Trusts Grant Program. The Land Trusts Grant Program will help us further our reach for preserving farmland in the Southern Tier and Central New York Regions by working alongside Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County. The program will increase our farmland protection outreach to landowners and municipalities to bring more awareness of the benefits of farmland conservation easements.”
Linda Garrett, American Farmland Trust Executive Director, said, “American Farmland Trust is excited to receive this funding through the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Land Trust Grant program. This funding is a great complement to the traditional farmland protection grants (FPIG program) that protect farmland by purchasing the development rights. With the recent 2022 Ag Census identifying a loss of New York farmland over the past five years, we need every tool in the toolbox to help protect farms and farmland.”
The Land Trusts Grants Program complements the State’s ongoing efforts to implement farmland protection activities across the state. To date, the Department has helped preserve 113,650 acres of New York farmland through completed conservation easement projects totaling more than $273 million on 385 farms through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) program.
The FPIG program and the Department’s other farmland protection grant opportunities align with the State’s environmental goals. New York State continues to lead the nation with its robust climate and clean energy agenda. As part of the State’s greater climate initiatives, the Department also administers several other agricultural programs to help protect on-farm water quality and preserve farmland. The 2023-24 Enacted Budget included $500 million in clean water funding, including continued support for the Climate Resilient Farming Program (CRF), in addition to the Ag Non-Point Program, both of which build on the State’s efforts to provide historic water quality protections. The CRF and Ag Non-Point programs function as part of the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework, a broader effort that helps farmers achieve higher levels of environmental stewardship and more efficient, cost-effective farming systems.