New York state will supply $17.6 million to
\nprotect more than 6,400 acres of farmland,
\nwhich will maintain the land’s use for agricultural
\npurposes and keep the land free from
\nfuture development.<\/p>\n
The funds, made available through the
\nFarmland Protection Implementation Program,
\nwill help preserve 21 farms in 12
\ncounties across the state, and bring the total
\nacreage under the program to approximately
\n59,000 acres.<\/p>\n
Included are four plots of land in three
\nSaratoga County towns — two in Clifton Park
\nand one each in the towns of Stillwater and
\nBallston.<\/p>\n
“Farming supports jobs, businesses and
\neconomic activity in communities across New
\nYork, making it a major part of this state’s
\neconomy, as well a rich part of our heritage,”
\nGov. Andrew Cuomo said. “As interest in our
\nNew York grown food and beverages continues
\nto rise, this funding will ensure that this
\nfarmland will be preserved and a part of this
\ncritically important industry for generations
\nto come.”<\/p>\n
The Farmland Protection Implementation
\nProgram provides funds to protect viable
\nfarmland from conversion to non-farm uses
\nthrough the use of perpetual conservation
\neasements or shorter-term lease of development
\nrights. Since 1996, New York has
\nawarded nearly $195 million for farmland
\nprotection projects, assisting 223 projects
\nwith local partners in 29 counties.<\/p>\n
The local allocation goes to:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saratoga PLAN, $844,613 into a trust that
\nwill permanently protect property as part of
\nWelcome Stock Farm in Stilllwater, a 556-acre
\ndairy operation that borders the Saratoga
\nNational Historic Park and a portion of the
\nOld Champlain Canal. The Open Space Institute
\nwill contribute $260,000 and Stillwater
\nwill contribute an additional $22,000 toward
\nthe project.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saratoga PLAN, $968,471 into a trust that will permanently protect the Wm. H. Buckley
\nFarm in Ballston, a 260-acre livestock operation,
\nwhich includes an onsite farm-store,
\ncaf\u00e9, and butcher shop.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Town of Clifton Park, $70,826 to lease
\nthe development rights for five years on
\nLindsey Orchard Farm, a 253-acre orchard.
\nClifton Park will contribute $23,609 toward
\nthe project.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Town of Clifton Park, $18,746, to lease
\nthe development rights for five years on the
\nMiller Farm, an 82-acre field crop and orchard
\noperation. The town will contribute $6,249
\ntoward the project.<\/p>\n
Funds for the Farmland Protection Implementation
\nProgram are administered by the
\nstate Department of Agriculture and Markets.<\/p>\n
Municipalities, counties, soil and water conservation
\ndistricts and nonprofit conservation
\norganizations, or land trusts, were eligible to
\napply for individual grants under the Round 13
\nFarmland Protection Implementation Grants
\ncompetitive Request for Proposals. Farms
\nprotected under the program remain taxable.<\/p>\n
Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Sen. Patty
\nRitchie, said according to the USDA, “roughly
\n500,000 acres of farmland were lost to development
\nin New York over the past decade.
\nOne of the biggest components to ensuring
\nthe agriculture industry continues to grow,
\nis making sure there is available land for our
\nstate’s hardworking farmers, as well as young
\nfarmers who are looking to pursue agricultural
\ncareers.”<\/p>\n
Assemblyman Bill Magee, chairman of
\nthe Assembly Agriculture Committee, said
\n“Preservation of farmland is a crucial step in
\nsupporting agriculture as an economic engine
\nfor New York state. Governor Cuomo’s commitment
\nto our farms through the Farmland
\nProtection Implementation Program will help
\nto contribute to the supply of locally sourced
\nfarm products, ensuring the continuance of
\nthe local agricultural industry, while preserving
\na crucial resource for New York state.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New York state will supply $17.6 million to protect more than 6,400 acres of farmland, which will maintain the land’s use for agricultural purposes and keep the land free from future development. The funds, made available through the Farmland…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[52,57,61,102,113,124],"yoast_head":"\r\n