American Farmland Trust

Give | Act | Learn | Connect

Governor Cuomo Holds the Line on Farmland Protection Funding

By New York Staff | Published: January 20, 2012

In his executive budget, released yesterday, Governor Cuomo has proposed to keep funding for New York’s Farmland Protection Program at last year’s level of $12 million. This funding is part of the Environmental Protection Fund, which Governor Cuomo has proposed to fund once again at $134 million.

Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal sustains funding for protecting farmland from being lost to development, along with dollars for many other key state agriculture programs. His support aids the Farmland Protection Program’s recovery from the disastrous cuts that occurred under Governor Paterson’s administration, which reduced the program’s funding by 80 percent.
Read More »

Owasco Lake Conservation Blueprint

By New York Staff | Published: January 12, 2012

The Owasco Lake Agricultural Conservation Blueprint, which we developed in partnership with the city of Auburn and neighboring communities, is now available online. Owasco Lake, located in Central New York, is a small Finger Lake with a large watershed—nearly 205 square miles in size—that provides the drinking water for the city of Auburn. The actions recommended in the Blueprint will help the agricultural community take proactive steps to improve water quality in Owasco Lake while strengthening the economic viability of farming in the watershed.

Posted in Agriculture and Environment | Tagged Central New York, farm, farmland, Owasco Lake, water quality | Leave a comment

Transitioning Farms to the Next Generation in New York

By New York Staff | Published: January 12, 2012

Thirty percent of farmers in New York state are over the age of 65. They manage nearly two million acres of farmland and forest—nearly one-third of all the farmland in the state. More than 100 people, representing 50 organizations, attended our forums in the Hudson Valley and Western New York recently to discuss the issue of transitioning farms to the next generation. Participants tackled the dual challenges of helping the senior generation pass down their farms while assisting a new generation in securing land and succeeding in farming.

Posted in Farmland Protection, Local Farms and Food | Tagged American Farmland Trust, beginning farmers, Central New York, farmland, Hudson Valley, land transition | Leave a comment

New York: A Year of Progress

By New York Staff | Published: December 8, 2011

At year’s end, we often reflect on the many challenges and successes of the past year. In New York, we are thankful for the tremendous impact that farmers, citizens and others have made to support local farming and the production of local food.

Across New York state, a movement is forming. People are coming together who care about jobs and our farm and food economy. They want to make it possible for more New Yorkers to have fresh fruits, vegetables milk and other products grown on local farms. And, New Yorkers are increasingly conscious that we need to stop losing farms to residential and commercial development. Here are a few examples of our work in 2011 as part of this growing No Farms No Food® movement:
Read More »

Posted in Agriculture and Environment, Farmland Protection, Local Farms and Food | Tagged environment, farm policy, farmland protection, local food, No Farms No Food, water quality | Leave a comment

Sweet Corn and Clean Water: Working with Farmers to Protect Long Island Sound

By New York Staff | Published: November 11, 2011

We recently received a $150,000 grant from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund to work with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and AgFlex, Inc. to help farmers protect water quality in Long Island Sound. The project, which involves farmer outreach and education, on-farm demonstrations, and risk protection options for participating producers, could help sweet corn farmers in Suffolk County reduce the amount of fertilizer flowing into Long Island Sound by up to 38 percent.

Posted in Agriculture and Environment | Tagged BMP challenge, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Long Island Sound, sweet corn, water quality | Leave a comment

Governor Cuomo Holds the Line on Farmland Protection Funding

Owasco Lake Conservation Blueprint

Transitioning Farms to the Next Generation in New York

New York: A Year of Progress

Sweet Corn and Clean Water: Working with Farmers to Protect Long Island Sound

STAY CONNECTED