NY makes $20.5M available to keep farmland
North Country Public Radio
May 15, 2014
By, The Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York officials say they are making $20.5 million available to help maintain farmland and prevent its conversion to non-agricultural uses.
Municipalities, conservation districts, nonprofits and land trusts can apply for the grants from the state's Environmental Protection Fund. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the funding will help ensure farms are kept in production.
Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, praised Cuomo for jump-starting the program which will protect land in the Hudson Valley as the real estate market is heating up.
The funding can be used for permanent conservation easements or for incentive payments.
The Department of Agriculture and Markets has application material on its website.
