Governor Cuomo Announces Record $35 Million Awarded to Farmland Protection Projects Across New York State

Governor Cuomo Announces Record $35 Million Awarded to Farmland Protection Projects Across New York State

Local Grants

Dutchess Land Conservancy……………………………………………………………………………………

$1,880,020 – This land trust will permanently protect 408 acres owned by Patrick O’Leary that supports two farm operations: livestock and hay operation and also a dairy operation. This property, located in DutchessCounty, contains 9% prime soils and 64% statewide important soils and also has frontage along Wappinger Creek. Most of this property is a highest priority farm (with the remainder being high priority) designated for protection by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust within the Hudson Valley / New YorkCity “foodshed.” Dutchess Land Conservancy will contribute $5,000 toward this project.

 

Dutchess Land Conservancy ……………………………………………………………………………………
$1,015,220 Amenia – This land trust will permanently protect 153 acres, which is owned by Joseph and Elisa Lopane , that is managed as a nursery operation. Located in Dutchess County, t his property contains 33% prime soils and 51% statewide important soils. Most of this property is a highest priority farm (with the remainder being high priority) designated for protection by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust within the Hudson Valley/ New York City “foodshed.”

Dutchess Land Conservancy will contribute $5,000 toward this project.

Dutchess Land Conservancy………………………………………………………………………………………
$832,050 This land trust will permanently protect 278 acres owned by Phyllis Roosa and Linda Caldwell and leased to a nearby dairy operation. Located in Dutchess County, t his property contains 6% prime soils and 41% statewide important soils. This project will provide financial security to the owners in retirement while also helping to ensure a long-term lease to the dairy operation so that it has the assurance and security to make some investments on the property.

The property is a high priority farm designated for protection by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust within the Hudson Valley / New York City “foodshed.” Scenic Hudson Land Trust will contribute $408,500 and Dutchess Land Conservancy will contribute $5,000 toward this project.

Dutchess Land Conservancy………………………………………………………………………………………

$667,332 This land trust will permanently protect an 80 -acre breeding and boarding facility for New York State-bred racing thoroughbreds, which is owned by Michael Lischin and Anya Sheckley. Located in Dutchess County, this property contains 11% prime soils and 58% statewide important soils. This project will enable the owners to invest in higher quality broodmares as well as making improvements to infrastructure. This property is a medium priority farm that lies within a Priority Conservation Cluster designated for protection by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust within the Hudson Valley / New York City “foodshed.” Dutchess Land Conservancy will contribute $5,000 toward this project.

Historic Funding Supports Agriculture, Preserves Open Space on 40 Farms in 19 Counties

Grants Protect Valuable and At-Risk Farmland, Now Include Preemptive Purchase Rights

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a record-breaking $35 million has been awarded to 40 farms across 19 counties to protect 13,000 acres of agricultural land throughout New York State. The grants mark a historic level of funding awarded in a single round of the state’s Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program.

“New York’s farms are key economic drivers for communities across the State, and these investments will help support and sustain them for generations to come,” Governor Cuomo said. “With record funding that will preserve 13,000 acres of farmland, we are helping New York’s agricultural industry continue to grow and produce the high quality goods that consumers have come to expect from the Empire State.”

“Protecting our farmland is vital to ensuring the continued growth of New York’s agricultural industry,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “Farmers across the state provide world-class products to consumers in New York and beyond. We’re providing record funding to protect and support agriculture, expanding opportunities and ensuring the continued success of the industry.”

The Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program provides local governments, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and land trusts with grants to offset costs of conservation easements to protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use.

For the first time ever, the awarded funds allow for the use of preemptive purchase rights, which encourage agricultural land to remain in active production and require that it be sold to other farmers at its agricultural value.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “I want to thank Governor Cuomo for supporting our farmers with a record amount of funding for farmland protection projects across the state. We have worked hard to make these programs more robust, more efficient and more reliable. These grants support our agricultural industry, while ensuring that the natural landscapes of our farms remain open for future generations to enjoy.”

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “New York Farm Bureau appreciates the State’s continued support of the farmland protection grant program, which is an important tool for New York farmers. The program is essential to keeping viable farmland in agricultural production and also encourages farm investment. Preserving farmland for the next generation of farmers will help ensure agriculture has a bright future in New York State.”

The program is funded through New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund in the State Budget. More than $283 million has been awarded to farmland projection projects since 1996 and nearly 289 projects have protected more than 73,000 acres of farmland in New York State.

The awards include:

  • Central New York: $7.7 million for seven projects totaling 3,343 acres
  • Capital Region: $7.4 million for 15 projects totaling 3,492 acres
  • Finger Lakes: $10.1 million for eight projects totaling 4,089 acres
  • Mid-Hudson Valley: $8.7 million for 8 projects totaling 1,606 acres
  • Western New York: $0.9 million for 2 projects totaling 446 acres

A complete, detailed list of projects can be found here.

The Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program builds on New York State’s continued land preservation efforts. Last week, the State announced nearly $8.5 million has been provided in support of conservation easement projects on several New York dairy farms.  That FPIG grant opportunity is helping to ensure dairy farms the opportunity to diversify their operations or transition their farm to the next generation at a more affordable cost while ensuring the land forever remains used for agricultural purposes. Funding for the grant opportunity for dairy farms is still available and the Department is encouraging its partners in the farmland protection program across the State to apply.  Additional information can be found on the Department’s website at https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html.

In addition, earlier this year, the Department announced $5.5 million is also available through two grant opportunities to help keep farmland in agricultural production. The funding will help applicants cover costs associated with obtaining and administering an Option Agreement Project, for which $5 million is available, and also cover transaction costs associated with donated agricultural conservation easements, for which the remaining $500,000 is available.

Author: Harlem Valley News