New York allocates $50 million to protect 16,000 acres of farmland

New York State has announced nearly $50 million in grants to protect 16,005 acres of agricultural land across 43 farms. Announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, the funding is part of Round 20 of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) programme.

The initiative aims to prevent productive farmland from being converted to non-farm uses while supporting the continued operation of farm businesses. In addition to the $48.5 million for farm projects, $1 million will be directed toward six land trusts to enhance their conservation capacity.

In Central New York, more than $8.3 million has been allocated to six specific projects covering 1,774 acres across Onondaga, Oswego, and Cayuga counties. These projects include various operations such as crop, grain, hay, beef, and mixed farming. This funding round is part of a record $67 million allocation previously announced for the programme, supported by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.