New York State announces $25-million in awards to help farmers protect water quality

ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that $25 million has been awarded to help New York’s farmers support agricultural water quality conservation projects.

According to the Governor’s Office, this is a record level of funding awarded in any one round of the State’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program (Ag Nonpoint), which is being provided through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and, for the first time, the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

Here in the North Country, officials say $131,599 was awarded to the Lewis County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Black River Watershed, while $1,077,740 was awarded to the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District for the same.

Meanwhile, another $$934,148 was awarded to the Herkimer County Soil and Water Conservation District to work with one farm in the Mohawk River Watershed.

“By tapping into our Bond Act funding, we are now able to expand our reach and support even more on-farm projects across the State through our Ag Nonpoint program,” Governor Hochul said.

“Our farmers care deeply for the land they work, so it’s critical we provide them with the resources they need and deserve to safeguard our waterways while protecting our communities and our natural resources from climate change.”

“Our Ag Nonpoint program has long been a well-known and robust resource to our farmers for three decades, helping our farmers to implement best practices that will conserve water and protect our waterways," said New York State Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said.

"Now, with an infusion of funding from the Bond Act, we are able to grow the program, investing in projects that will not only ensure the health of our environment but will also help ensure farms can remain competitive, profitable, and sustainable.”

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, in coordination with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, administers the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program through its Land and Water Division, which works to protect New York's land and water resources through farmland protection, farmland conservation, and proactive environmental stewardship.

Image via New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.