Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $50 Million to Preserve New York Farmland

More than $48 Million Awarded to 43 Farms to Protect More than 16,000 Acres of Agricultural Land, $1 Million to Support Building Staff Capacity within New York’s Land Trusts

Record Level of Funding Dedicated to the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program in Round 20 with a Boost Through the Environmental Bond Act, Applications Still Being Accepted

State’s Farmland Protection Program Celebrating its 30th Year in Supporting New York’s Farmers

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $48.5 million has been awarded to 43 farms across New York through its Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) program. The funding supports the preservation of thousands of acres of viable agricultural land, comprised of predominantly productive soils. An additional $1 million is supporting additional staff capacity within New York’s land trusts to further support farmland protection efforts. The announcement comes as the State celebrates the 30th anniversary of its Farmland Protection program.

“I am so proud that New York is a national leader in the protection of its farmland and support of its farmers. Over the years, we have carefully maintained and, during my administration, have grown the Farmland Protection program to continue to preserve our agricultural lands,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the Bond Act, which we championed and New Yorkers approved, we have invested even more in our Farmland Protection program in this round, providing record funding to this monumental program to ensure our farmers can keep their land forever in agriculture and pass it on to their families, all while preserving our rural landscapes and the long-standing agricultural heritage New York is known for.”

The Governor announced in December 2025 that a record level of funding, $67 million, was available through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program to help farmers across New York protect valuable and at-risk farmland. This is the highest level of funding being offered in the program's 30-year history, which received a boost from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. The Farmland Protection program supports perpetual agricultural conservation easements to preserve New York’s farmland, promote sustainable farming practices, and ensure the long-term viability of the State’s agricultural industry.

Today’s announcement was made at Heer Farm in Onondaga County where State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball joined the Heer family, representatives from the New York Agricultural Land Trust, a number of land trusts from across the State, and state elected officials to celebrate an award supporting the protection of 230 acres of farmland on the more than 100-year Heer Farm. So far, through this round of funding of the FPIG program, 16,005 acres of agricultural land will be protected on 43 farms. More than $15 million is still available and will be awarded on a rolling basis. Potential applicants can view additional information on the Request for Applications page on the Department’s website.

A full list of the projects awarded in the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, and Western New York Regions is linked here.

Round 20 of the Farmland Protection Program is making funds available to projects aligned with the State's key priorities, including food security, climate resilience, and source water protection. Notably, eligibility criteria include 11 categories, such as field crops, livestock and livestock products, agroforestry, and farmland access initiatives. These categories address ongoing challenges faced by new and beginning farmers, as well as retiring farmers, by improving access to farmland and promoting diverse agricultural operations.

As part of the funding awarded, nearly $6.4 million was allocated to nine of the State’s economic development regions. New this round, the maximum award for projects also increased to $3 million. Round 20 continues the one-time incentive payment of 10 percent of the value of the agricultural conservation easement being required for projects that meet climate resilience or source water protection goals.

Since the Farmland Protection Program launched three decades ago, it has grown and changed, while maintaining its core mission to ensure that farmland is forever used for agriculture. The program has seen the streamlining of the application process and awards of grants, implementation of the first-ever regionally targeted round of the program, and historic levels of funding. The program also saw advancements that allowed the Department to be responsive to the specific needs of the industry, helping farms that were facing challenges from low dairy prices, trade disputes, increasing debt, changing consumer preferences, and climate change.

Approximately 20 percent of the state's land area, or nearly 7 million acres, is farmland. The Department’s Farmland Protection Program provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and land conservation organizations to facilitate farmland protection activities aligned with local agricultural and farmland protection plans. The most frequently funded activity is the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on individual farms through the FPIG program. Additionally, the program awards funding to land conservation organizations to support other implementation activities, including amendments to local laws affecting agriculture, option agreements, and covering transaction costs for donated agricultural conservation easements.