Governor Hochul Announces Approximately $25 Million Awarded to Help Farmers Protect Water Quality

Record Level of Funding Provided Through Environmental Protection Fund and Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022

Through 31 Years of Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program, More Than $250 Million Has Been Awarded to Support On-Farm Projects Across the State

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that approximately $25 million has been awarded to help New York’s farmers support agricultural water quality conservation projects. The funding was awarded as part of Round 31 of the State’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program (AGNPS), which is being provided through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (BA).

“New York farmers are facing environmental challenges that can affect their farms and our natural resources,” Governor Hochul said. “Our farmers need support to combat these challenges while protecting their farmland. Round 31 of our Agricultural Nonpoint Source Program will continue to provide funding for farmers to develop cost-effective solutions to protect our natural resources and maintain the productivity of their land.”

Through this latest round, Round 31, the Department received 127 applications for the AGNPS Program. A total of $24.9 million was made available to the State’s County and Soil and Water Conservation Districts, which applied on behalf of New York farmers: $14 million is from the Environmental Protection Fund and $11 million is from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. The AGNPS Program is marking its 31st anniversary, and so far, through 30 rounds of funding, more than $250 million has been awarded to on-farm projects.

The AGNPS Program provides funding to projects that focus on either environmental planning or the implementation of best management practice systems to protect New York’s watersheds. Projects include conservation measures, such as nutrient management through manure storage, vegetative buffers along streams, and conservation cover crops.

A regional breakdown of funding is listed below. Find the complete list of awarded projects.

Western New York – $1,666,395

• $573,648 was awarded to Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with two farms in the Oak Orchard, Black Creek, Lower Genesee, and Oak Orchard-Twelvemile Watersheds (EPF).
• $722,732 was awarded to the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Cattaraugus Creek Watershed (EPF).
• $370,015 was awarded to the Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with 11 farms in the Oak Orchard–Twelvemile Watershed (EPF).

Finger Lakes – $5,824,994

• $1,404,060 was awarded to the Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with six farms in the Finger Lakes Watershed (EPF and BA).
• $2,371,421 was awarded to Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with five farms in the Oak Orchard-Twelvemile Watershed (EPF and BA).
• $1,475,865 was awarded to the Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with two farms in the Niagara River Watershed and the Buffalo-Eighteenmile Watershed (EPA).

Southern Tier – $518,664

• $518,664 was awarded to the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Owego-Wappasening Watershed (EPF).

Central New York – $7,184,903

• $2,610,681 was awarded to the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Finger Lakes Watershed and two farms in the Irondequoit-Ninemile Watershed (EPF and BA).
• $477,720 was awarded to the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Chenango Watershed (EPF and BA).
• $1,060,832 was awarded to the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with seven farms in the Oneida Lake Watershed (EPF and BA).
• $3,035,670 was awarded to the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with six farms in the Finger Lakes and Chenango River Watershed (EPF and BA).

Mohawk Valley – $3,120,946

• $1,034,875 was awarded to the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with three farms in the Mohawk River Watershed (EPF and BA).
• $679,511 was awarded to the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the upper Susquehanna Watershed (EPF).
• $1,406,560 was awarded to the Schoharie County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with two farms in the Schoharie Watershed (EPF and BA).

North Country – $2,793,215

• $464,985 awarded to the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with six farms in the St. Regis, Salmon River and Chateaugay River Watersheds (EPF and BA).
• $532,840 was awarded to the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with two farms in the Salmon-Sandy and Chaumont-Perch Watersheds (EPF).
• $1,795,390 was awarded to the Lewis County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with three farms in the Black River Watershed (EPF and BA).

Capital Region – $904,163

• $904,163 was awarded to the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Hudson-Hoosic Watershed (EPF).

Mid-Hudson – $358,000

• $358,000 was awarded to the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Rondout Watershed (BA).