NYS Offers Money for Farmland Protection Programs

A total of $5.5 million is available through two new grant opportunities to advance farmland protection efforts throughout the state. 

Both programs will help preserve viable farmland in agricultural production, protecting it from development and conversion to non-farm uses. 

The funding will also help farmers identify available land and expedite the process of permanently protecting agricultural properties through perpetual conservation easements. 

These new initiatives are the result of the Governor's pledge in his 2017 State of the State address to improve regional collaboration to enhance farmland conservation efforts statewide.  

"Agriculture remains a critically important part of New York's economy, and the protection and preservation of farmlands is crucial to the continued growth and future success of this industry," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "These new grant programs will help maintain the economic viability of our farms, preserve our agricultural landscape and help ensure the strength of our food supply for current and future generations of New Yorkers." 

Expanding New York's Farmland Protection Implementation Program

For the first time, the state's farmland protection program has been expanded to allow eligible applicants to implement an Option to Purchase a Perpetual Conservation Easement, also called an Option Agreement Project. 

This Option Agreement Project will lay the groundwork for landowners interested in permanently protecting their farms by pre-determining the value of development rights, which expedites the process when a formal application is submitted for the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement. 

This new initiative provides a total of $5 million to eligible applicants, including municipalities, counties, soil and water conservation districts and land trusts. Grants of up to $500,000 will be awarded to cover costs associated with obtaining and administering an Option Agreement Project.

All applicants must submit their proposals through Grants Gateway at  https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/IntelliGrants_NYSGG/module/nysgg/goportal.aspx?NavItem1=3 

Applications can be submitted starting today and will be accepted until the available funding is fully committed. 

More information about the application process is available on the Department of Agriculture and Markets website at  www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html. For questions, contact David Behm at David.Behm@agriculture.ny.gov

This new funding opportunity builds on the State's Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program, which helps cover the costs of buying a perpetual conservation easement, ensuring that valuable farmland remains in agricultural production forever. 

The state has revitalized this program and committed historic funding to safeguard one of its most vital resources. 

Since 2011, the state has invested more than $62 million in 82 conservation projects statewide. The 2017-18 State Budget includes another $20 million for the program and the governor proposed another $20 million for the program this week in his 2018-19 budget proposal.

Advancing Regional Farmland Conservation Strategies

The new $500,000 Land Trust Grants program was created to advance farmland protection strategies identified by counties and municipalities throughout the state. The program provides competitive grants of up to $50,000 to land trusts. 

The funding will help develop local inventories of viable farmland and inform landowners of programs and opportunities to protect their properties from conversion to non-farm uses.  It will also help expand outreach efforts to better connect willing landowners with farmers interested in leasing or buying their properties for agricultural production.

Applicants must apply through https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/IntelliGrants_NYSGG/module/nysgg/goportal.aspx?NavItem1=3 starting today through March 5, 2018.

More details on eligibility and the application process are available at https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html  or buy emailing Jeffrey Kehoe at jeffrey.kehoe@agriculture.ny.gov 

Improving Outreach to Enhance Farmland Protection

"Through Governor Cuomo's innovative strategies, we can eliminate some of the major barriers facing current and future farmers," said Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. "Access to land is one of the biggest hurdles. Without land, they can't farm and without farming, we have no food.  

"I am excited to implement these new opportunities to encourage conservation efforts and keep agricultural operations up and running for generations to come," Ball said..

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.

State Awards $4.9 M for Farmland Protection

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office:

A total of $4.9 million has been awarded to help farmers protect 2,843 acres of at-risk farmland through the state's Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program. 

Funding will preserve six farms in Central New York, Western New York and the North Country, and help maintain the land for agricultural purposes and protect it from development through the use of perpetual conservation easements.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Farmland Protection program. The state has not only reinvigorated the program, but also committed historic funding levels to farmland preservation.
The program is part of the state's Environmental Protection Fund, which New York state’s 2016 budget more than doubled, raising the funding level to $300 million. 

Funding for the Farmland Protection program itself increased by $5 million this year and built on last year's historic investment in farmland protection, including the $20 million Hudson Valley Agricultural Enhancement Program.
The project awards by region include:

· Central New York - $2.4 million awarded for 3 projects with the Finger Lakes Land Trust and the New York Agricultural Land Trust, including a dairy farm, the Birdsall beef farm in Onondaga and Cortland counties and the Perry cash crop and beef operation in Cayuga County. 
· North Country - $1.8 million awarded for 1 project with the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust for a cash crop grain farm in Jefferson County
· Western New York - $700,000 awarded for 2 projects with the Western New York Land Conservancy protecting D&J Brawdy Farms, a cash crop vegetable operation in Erie County, and Triple Oaks Farms, a dairy operation in Erie County.