More than $10M Awarded to Protect Farmland in Finger Lakes Region

From staff reports
 
A total of $10.1 million has been awarded to nine projects to help protect more than 5,500 acres of at-risk farmland in the Finger Lakes.
 
Funded through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program, and announced during the Governor’s Finger Lakes Regional Sustainable Development Conference, the projects support the preservation of farmland for agricultural use and protect it from degradation through the use of perpetual conservation easements.
 
“Protecting our farmland and investing in New York’s agricultural growth is critical to a strong, thriving economy,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “With record-levels of funding, these projects will support the next generation of hard-working farmers in the Finger Lakes, preserve vital farmland and ensure the future sustainability for the entire industry for generations to come.”
 
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Farmland Protection program. The grant program is part of New York state’s Environmental Protection Fund, which was allocated a record-level $300 million in the fiscal year 2017 State Budget. Funding for the program increased by $5 million this year.
 
Since 2011, the state has invested nearly $56 million for 73 projects statewide.
 
The Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program is administered through the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. 

Municipalities, counties, soil and water conservation districts and nonprofit conservation organizations, or land trusts, were eligible to apply for individual grants under the Round 14 Farmland Protection Implementation Grants competitive Request for Proposals. Farms protected under the program remain taxable.
 
Grant Recipients
 
Genesee Land Trust for Zarpentine Farms, Town of Parma - $303,328
This land trust will permanently protect Zarpentine Farms, a 99-acre orchard that contains 79% prime soils and 2% statewide important soils. Zarpentine Farms is a diversified operation in Monroe County that includes a farm market that features baked goods, maple syrup, honey, and jams/jellies produced on the farm. The property is identified in the Town of Parma Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan as being high value farmland and located within a large, contiguous area of active farmland.
 
Genesee Valley Conservancy for Christiano Farms, Town of Leicester — $1,970,195
This land trust will permanently protect properties operated as Christiano Farms. This 709-acre portion of the farm is an alfalfa operation that then processes its high quality alfalfa into a pelletized feed (by Christiano Alfalfa Milling LLC, which is co-located on the farm) for distribution throughout the Northeast and Canada.
These Livingston County properties contain 93 percent prime soils and 1 percent statewide important soils. Christiano Alfalfa Milling remains active after the alfalfa growing season by dehydrating apple pumice and other food wastes into a dried product that is then shipped to animal feed manufacturers throughout the Northeast.
 
Finger Lakes Land Trust for Brock Acres, Town of Canandaigua — $1,549,645
This land trust will permanently protect Brock Acres, a 726-acre commodity crop farm, which contains 31 percent prime soils and 40 percent statewide important soils. This Ontario County project will enable the landowners to reduce debt as well as increase the extent of owned acreage of their farm operation. The farm has more than a mile of frontage along Mud Creek and Beaver Creek. The Town of Canandaigua will contribute $36,450 toward this project.
 
Genesee Valley Conservancy for Edgewood Farms, Town of Groveland — $1,977,545
This land trust will permanently protect Edgewood Farms, a 1,488-acre cash crop-grains operation, including two specialty crops: distiller grains sold to a local distillery and black turtle beans sold to the New York State prison system for its use in soup.
Located in Livingston County, Edgewood Farms contain 26 percent prime and 52 percent statewide important soils. The landowners are contributing 12.5 percent of total project costs.
 
Genesee Valley Conservancy for Old Acres Farm, Towns of Leicester (Livingston County) and Perry (Wyoming County) — $1,988,110
This land trust will permanently protect Old Acres Farm, a 1,294-acre dairy operation located in Livingston and Wyoming counties. Old Acres Farm contains 39 percent prime and 27 percent statewide important soils. The farm is the first in New York to install a system that recycles its manure into bedding for its cows; doing so has eliminated the need for the farm to purchase any materials such as sand or sawdust for bedding. 
The landowners are contributing 12.5 percent of total project costs.
 
Genesee Land Trust for Chase Farms, Town of Rush — $62,015
This land trust will permanently protect a portion of Chase Farms Partnership, a 54-acre parcel, which is used for hay production that contains 77 percent prime soils. Chase Farms Partnership is a diverse, multigenerational operation in Monroe County that produces fresh vegetables, fruit, grains, hay, pumpkins, flowers and beef. Genesee Land Trust anticipates receiving federal farmland protection funds toward this project and the landowner is contributing 20% of total project costs.
 
Genesee Land Trust for Willow Bend Farm, Towns of Manchester (Ontario County) and Palmyra (Wayne County) — $540,558
This land trust will permanently protect property known as Willow Bend Farm. This 424-acre property contains 54% prime and 10 percent statewide important soils and is located in Ontario and Wayne Counties. This property also includes nearly a mile of frontage along a tributary to the Erie Canal.
The landowners are contributing 12.5 percent of total project costs.
 
Genesee Land Trust for Weber Farms, Towns of Walworth (Wayne County) and Webster (Monroe County) — $1,374,510
This land trust will permanently protect a portion of Weber Farms, a beef cattle operation. This 538-acre property contains 66 percent prime and 7 percent statewide important soils and is located in Monroe and Wayne Counties. This property also includes more than a half-mile of frontage along Mill Creek. The landowner is contributing a 12.5 percent  of total project costs.
 
Genesee Valley Conservancy for Marshall Farm, Town of Avon - $339,715
This land trust will permanently protect the Marshall Farm, a 171-acre cash crop-grains operation located in Livingston County. Marshall Farm contains 89 percent prime soils. This project will help enable an eventual transfer of the farm to a lifelong neighbor and his son, each of whom now work on the farm. The landowner is contributing 12.5 percent of total project costs.