25 Dairy Farms Receive Conservation Easement Grants

More than $18.6 million has been provided in support of conservation easement projects on 25 New York dairy farms. 

Dairy farmers continue to face challenges from prolonged low milk prices, increasing the threat of conversion of viable agricultural land to non-farm development. 

Through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program, dairy farms can diversify their operations or transition their farms to the next generation at more affordable costs, while ensuring the land forever remains used for agricultural purposes. 

Since early 2018, New York state has awarded more than $30.7 million to dairy farms, protecting 15,102 acres.

 

Protecting the agricultural land base of an operating dairy farm from conversion to non-farm use is essential to the long-term viability and sustainability of New York's agricultural industry. 

New York's dairy industry is the largest sector of the state's agricultural industry and a critical component of its economy, accounting for about one-half of New York state's on-farm production, agricultural support services and value-added products.

New York State is home to nearly 4,000 dairy farms with more than 620,000 cows, producing 14.9 billion pounds of milk. New York ranks fourth in the production of milk and is first in the nation in the production of other dairy products, such as yogurt and cottage cheese.

 

The projects awarded will protect 10,253 acres of viable agricultural land comprised of prime soils:

 

Capital Region

• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $413,670 to protect 260 acres of the New Generation Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $859,075 to protect 648 acres of the Burch Family Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $200,142 to protect 71 acres of the Wagner Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $517,737 to protect 357 acres of the Adams Acres Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $369,261 to protect 309 acres of the Chapin Family Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $821,841 to protect 439 acres of the Otter Creek Farm.
• Saratoga PLAN - $823,706 to protect 172 acres of the Drumm Farm.
• Saratoga PLAN - $1,010,164 to protect 175 acres of the Hanehan Family Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $324,968 to protect 165 acres of the Liddleholme Farm.
• Agricultural Stewardship Association - $ 572,921 to protect 332 acres of the Hickory Hills Dairy.

  Central New York

• New York Agricultural Land Trust - $500,194 to protect 200 acres of CBG Farms.
• New York Agricultural Land Trust - $339,281 to protect 164 acres of Fesko Farms.
• New York Agricultural Land Trust - $1,993,723 to protect 796 acres of Pastureland Farm.
• New York Agricultural Land Trust - $637,219 to protect 299 acres of Fesko Farms.

  Finger Lakes

• Genesee Land Trust - $1,124,759 to protect 567 acres of Koeberle Farm.
• Finger Lakes Land Trust - $967,522 to protect 414 acres of Christiansen Farm.
• Genesee Valley Conservancy - $1,999,750 to protect 1,055 acres of Highgrove Farm.
• Genesee Valley Conservancy - $2 million to protect 1,384 acres of Roll-N-View Farm.

  Hudson Valley

• Scenic Hudson Land Trust - $790,000 to protect 96 acres of Scholldorf Farm.

  Mohawk Valley

• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust - $417,690 to protect 236 acres of Groeslon Farm.
• Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy - $960,971 to protect 823 acres of Creek Acres Farm.

  North Country

• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust - $880,678 to protect 721 acres of Huntley Farm.
• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust - $468,878 to protect 323 acres of Northrup & Sons Farm.
• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust - $301,184 to protect 156 acres of Nemeth Farm.
• Adirondack Land Trust - $116,200 to protect 91 acres of Moran Farm.

Following the success of Round 1 of this program, New York state is launching a second round of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program specifically for dairy.  The state will accept applications on a rolling basis for farmland protection grants of up to $2 million from eligible entities, such as land trusts, municipalities, counties, and soil and water conservation districts. There is no application deadline.

 

Conservation easement projects will be awarded to eligible dairy farms that are:

• Transitioning to the next ownership of a continuing dairy, but whose operation has been modified to ensure greater financial sustainability;
• Continuing dairy, but diversifying the overall farm operation; or
• Converting to a non-dairy farm operation.  

All farmland protection project proposals must be submitted electronically through the New York State Grants Gateway. For more information regarding the Grants Gateway, visit https://grantsgateway.ny.gov. Additional information and the Request for Applications can be found on the Department's website at https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html