The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM), in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has released for public comment new proposed eligibility guidelines to allocate funding for farmland protection projects under the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Environmental Bond Act). Feedback from the draft criteria will be used to develop forthcoming grant opportunities to award farmland protection projects through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) program.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Our farmers are on the front lines of meaningful, sustainable efforts to preserve our natural resources, and certainly, our farmland is one of the most important natural resources we have. As the foundation for our food supply, it’s critical that we continue to protect our land and our rich soils so our 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. Supplementing our existing work with Bond Act funding will only further support our farmers participating in this program who are pushing this mission forward and working hard to safeguard our precious farmland from development.”
The public is encouraged to comment on the draft eligibility guidelines, which are available in the February 27 Environmental Notice Bulletin (https://tinyurl.com/2s47bmn4). The final guidelines will inform the allocation of $150 million of Bond Act resources to FPIG over three years and will accelerate locally led farmland protection project implementation across the state. In addition, the FPIG Program incorporates additional State policy goals such as climate resiliency, source water protection, food security, and access to farmland, consistent with the goals of the Environmental Bond Act.
Farmland protection grants often fund conservation easements to help the landowner avoid pressures to sell the land for development. These grants can provide financial support that allows farm owners to continue farming or expand their business. According to a survey from the New York Farmland Protection Program, nearly a third of all farms receiving grants were able to expand their farmland to increase operations. The $150 million investment will build on the work of this program, directly support locally-led projects working to keep agricultural land in production, ensure the long-term viability of New York’s farming operations, and strengthen New York’s agricultural industry.
Projects must meet the operation and region-specific eligibility requirements for the category of the project being proposed. The full eligibility guidelines are available in the Environmental Notice Bulletin.
Public comments on the guidelines are to be submitted in writing and will be accepted until Friday, March 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. Send comments to: David H. Behm, New York State AGM, 10B Airline Drive Albany, NY 12235; or David.Behm@agriculture.ny.gov.
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