New York awards $13.8M for ag water quality

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that over $13.8 million has been awarded to 33 projects across the state through the State’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program. The funding supports agricultural water quality conservation projects, which will benefit 80 farms, enhance water quality in priority watersheds, and protect the environment.

The 33 projects awarded to 22 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts will support on-farm environmental planning and the implementation of best management practice (BMP) systems to keep nutrients and other potential pollutants from entering waterways, promote soil health and aid farms to be more resilient to climate change driven extreme precipitation. BMPs include a variety of measures, including installing vegetative buffers along streams, planting cover crops, enhancing nutrient management through manure storage, and other conservation measures.

Round 29 grants for the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program were awarded to:

• Western New York: $764,876 to work with six farms

• Finger Lakes: $2,869,595 to work with 28 farms

• Central New York: $5,548,936 to work with 23 farms

• Southern Tier: $2,381,037 to work with seven farms

• Mohawk Valley: $1,166,366 to work with three farms

• North Country: $844,882 to work with nine farms

• Mid Hudson: $248,211 to work with four farms

For a complete list of projects awarded, please visit the Department of Agriculture and Markets' website.

Over the past 29 years, New York State has supported projects covering over 600 separate watersheds across the State. Through Round 29 of this program, over 19,000 acres of cover crop will be implemented. Riparian buffers are another practice that lead to higher carbon sequestration potential in our state’s farmland, in addition to offering water quality benefits. Over 50 acres of herbaceous and forested buffers will be implemented through Round 29.

This funding is part of Governor Hochul’s commitment to protecting the state’s natural resources and environment through New York State’s leading climate agenda.