Six Central New York farms are among 43 projects receiving state support to keep more than 16,000 acres available for agriculture.

New York is directing nearly $50 million toward farmland protection projects across the state, including more than $8.3 million for six farms in Central New York. The awards are designed to prevent productive land from being permanently converted to nonfarm uses while allowing farm businesses to continue operating.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the awards on October 20. According to the official state announcement, $48.5 million will support conservation projects at 43 farms covering 16,005 acres. An additional $1 million will help six land trusts build staff capacity for farmland protection work.

The announcement is statewide, but the Central New York portion is substantial. The six local-region projects total 1,774 acres in Onondaga, Oswego and Cayuga counties. They include crop, grain, hay, beef and mixed farming operations, according to the state’s Round 20 award list.

Where the Central New York farmland money is going

The Central New York awards are:

• Heer Farm in Onondaga County: $1,424,374 for 230 acres used for crops and grain. The state says 61 percent of the property contains productive soils.
• Kyle Farm in Oswego County: $958,883 for 203 acres used for organic and conventional grain and hay. The project is in a disadvantaged community, according to the award list.
• Cook Farm in Cayuga County: $1,400,049 for 395 acres used for crops, grain and hay.
• Cargile Acres in Onondaga County: $818,620 for 169 acres supporting a beef operation.
• Cuddeback Farm in Cayuga County: $2,273,356 for 534 acres used for crops and grain. The state says 76 percent of the land contains productive soils.
• Jordan Farm in Cayuga County: $1,490,659 for 243 crop acres, with 86 percent identified as productive soils.

No farm in Oneida County appears on this award list. However, the program is open statewide, and the latest round shows that farms within the broader Central New York foodshed are competing successfully for protection funds. The preserved land can continue supplying markets, processors and customers across the region.

How a conservation easement works

The state program does not generally buy a farm or take over its daily operation. Instead, it helps eligible local governments and land trusts purchase a permanent agricultural conservation easement from a willing landowner. The farmer keeps the property, but the easement limits future development that would remove the land from agriculture.

That distinction matters. An easement can give a farm family capital for business needs, debt reduction, estate planning or transition to the next generation. At the same time, it lowers pressure to sell productive ground for subdivisions or commercial development. The exact agreement is recorded with the property and remains in effect when ownership changes.

Farmers should still review any proposed easement carefully with their own lawyer, tax adviser and business planner. The value, restrictions and long-term effects vary by property. The state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets funding page lists current opportunities and program contacts.

Why preservation matters to Mohawk Valley readers

Farmland is part of the Mohawk Valley economy even when the protected parcel sits outside Oneida County. Farms buy seed, feed, machinery, fuel, insurance, veterinary services and professional services. They also support food processors, farmers markets, trucking companies and restaurants that promote regional products.

Keeping land available for production can help preserve that business network. It also protects the possibility that younger farmers and new operators will have places to work. Preservation does not solve the cost of land, labor shortages or narrow farm margins, but it prevents one irreversible outcome: the loss of farmland to development.

The issue also connects to local planning. Oneida County has worked on guidance for municipalities that want growth without unnecessarily pushing agriculture aside. The Phoenix previously reported on the county’s agriculture-friendly municipal guide. Residents looking for farms, seasonal products and direct-market options can also use our New York food and agriculture guide.

A larger pool with new priorities

Round 20 of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants program began with a record $67 million available. The maximum award increased to $3 million per project. The state also added a 10 percent incentive for applications that advance climate resilience or source-water protection goals.

Eligible projects now span 11 categories, including field crops, livestock, dairy, agroforestry and farmland-access projects. More than $15 million remains available, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets says applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.

Funding comes partly through New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. The 2022 voter-approved law supports environmental projects that include climate resilience, water quality, open-space protection and other public purposes.

Thirty years of state farmland protection

The program is marking its 30th anniversary. State figures say completed easements have protected 144,760 acres on 473 farms through $355.8 million in awards. New York has nearly 7 million acres of farmland, roughly one-fifth of the state’s land area.

Those totals show both the reach and the limits of the program. Tens of thousands of acres are protected, but most agricultural land remains outside a state-funded easement. Local zoning, farm profitability, access to buyers and family succession decisions still shape whether land remains in production.

What happens after an award

An award is not the final closing. The applicant must complete property review, surveys, appraisals, environmental work and the legal easement process. Landowners and participating organizations must agree on the final terms. That work can take time, and the protected acreage may change slightly before the transaction is complete.

The six land trusts receiving separate capacity awards are the Genesee Valley Conservancy, Saratoga PLAN, New York Agricultural Land Trust, Orange County Land Trust, Western New York Land Conservancy and Agricultural Stewardship Association. The grants are intended to help those organizations hire or retain staff who can move more projects through that detailed process.

What farm owners and communities can do

Farm owners interested in preservation should begin with their county planning office, soil and water conservation district, or an eligible land trust. They should ask whether their land fits the current program categories, what local match or transaction requirements apply, and how long the application and closing process may take.

Municipal officials can review local comprehensive plans and zoning rules to see whether they protect active agriculture while directing new housing and commercial growth to suitable areas. Residents can support the working landscape by buying from local farms, visiting farmers markets and learning how land-use decisions affect the regional food system.

The latest awards do not guarantee that every participating farm will remain profitable. They do create a permanent barrier against development on thousands of acres, giving those farms and future operators more room to adapt.

Do you know a Central New York farm pursuing preservation, succession planning or a new market? Share this story with farm families and local officials who may benefit from the state program information.