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 Protection Implementation Program,
will help preserve 21 farms in 12
counties across the state, and bring the total
acreage under the program to approximately
59,000 acres.
Included are four plots of land in three
Saratoga County towns — two in Clifton Park
and one each in the towns of Stillwater and
Ballston.
“Farming supports jobs, businesses and
economic activity in communities across New
York, making it a major part of this state’s
economy, as well a rich part of our heritage,”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “As interest in our
New York grown food and beverages continues
to rise, this funding will ensure that this
farmland will be preserved and a part of this
critically important industry for generations
to come.”
The Farmland Protection Implementation
Program provides funds to protect viable
farmland from conversion to non-farm uses
through the use of perpetual conservation
easements or shorter-term lease of development
rights. Since 1996, New York has
awarded nearly $195 million for farmland
protection projects, assisting 223 projects
with local partners in 29 counties.
The local allocation goes to:
• Saratoga PLAN, $844,613 into a trust that
will permanently protect property as part of
Welcome Stock Farm in Stilllwater, a 556-acre
dairy operation that borders the Saratoga
National Historic Park and a portion of the
Old Champlain Canal. The Open Space Institute
will contribute $260,000 and Stillwater
will contribute an additional $22,000 toward
the project.
• Saratoga PLAN, $968,471 into a trust that will permanently protect the Wm. H. Buckley
Farm in Ballston, a 260-acre livestock operation,
which includes an onsite farm-store,
café, and butcher shop.
• Town of Clifton Park, $70,826 to lease
the development rights for five years on
Lindsey Orchard Farm, a 253-acre orchard.
Clifton Park will contribute $23,609 toward
the project.
• Town of Clifton Park, $18,746, to lease
the development rights for five years on the
Miller Farm, an 82-acre field crop and orchard
operation. The town will contribute $6,249
toward the project.
Funds for the Farmland Protection Implementation
Program are administered by the
state Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Municipalities, counties, soil and water conservation
districts and nonprofit conservation
organizations, or land trusts, were eligible to
apply for individual grants under the Round 13
Farmland Protection Implementation Grants
competitive Request for Proposals. Farms
protected under the program remain taxable.
Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Sen. Patty
Ritchie, said according to the USDA, “roughly
500,000 acres of farmland were lost to development
in New York over the past decade.
One of the biggest components to ensuring
the agriculture industry continues to grow,
is making sure there is available land for our
state’s hardworking farmers, as well as young
farmers who are looking to pursue agricultural
careers.”
Assemblyman Bill Magee, chairman of
the Assembly Agriculture Committee, said
“Preservation of farmland is a crucial step in
supporting agriculture as an economic engine
for New York state. Governor Cuomo’s commitment
to our farms through the Farmland
Protection Implementation Program will help
to contribute to the supply of locally sourced
farm products, ensuring the continuance of
the local agricultural industry, while preserving
a crucial resource for New York state.”