By Blake Jackson
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that $25 million is now available to support agricultural water quality conservation efforts across the state. The funding is offered through the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control (Ag Nonpoint) Program and marks the second consecutive year of record-level investment.
Resources are provided through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. Applications are available at agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities.
“For over three decades, our Ag Nonpoint program has seen tremendous success, helping farmers implement best practices to protect our waterways,” Commissioner Ball said.
“We’re excited to see even more funding dedicated to this program for the second year in a row through the Bond Act, helping us to continue investing in projects that will not only ensure the health of our environment but also help ensure farms can remain competitive, profitable, and sustainable.”
The Ag Nonpoint Program supports projects focused on environmental planning or the installation of best management practices designed to protect New York’s watersheds. Eligible initiatives include nutrient management systems such as manure storage, vegetated stream buffers, conservation cover crops, and other soil and water protection measures.
This funding opportunity, known as Round 31, will distribute $25 million to county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, which apply on behalf of participating farmers.
Of the total, $14 million comes from the Environmental Protection Fund, while $11 million is supported by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.
The program recently marked its 30th anniversary, having awarded more than $275 million through 30 funding rounds. In Round 30 alone, grants supported 109 farms and 25 county districts, funding projects that included over 12,000 acres of cover crops, 31 agricultural waste storage systems, and 25 forested buffer installations.
Project proposals must be submitted by April 20, 2026.
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Categories: New York, Government & Policy