ALBANY - To further foster farmland preservation efforts, State Sen. Catharine Young (ROlean) has passed two pieces of legislation to provide additional incentives for not-for-profits and local governments to protect open space.
One bill, S.4333-B would encourage more participation in the state's agricultural and farmland protection program by farmers, counties and municipalities, by increasing the state share of the cost of implementing agricultural and farmland protection plans.
Under this bill, the State provides assistance payments to help fund up to 75 percent of the cost of conservation easements purchased by counties and municipalities according to a county or municipal farmland protection plan.
"Last year, due to conditions placed on federal grants that conflict with the goals of the State's program, the Department of Agriculture and Markets (Department) decided not to continue to allowing federal monies to be used to help pay for the unfunded portion of the State program," said Senator Young. "As a result, some interested farmers and local governments did not participate in the program. By increasing the amount the State will contribute toward the cost of the acquisition of conservation easements from 75 to 85 percent, the bill provides added financial incentive for farmers and local governments to participate in the program."
The second bill, S.7908-C establishes a grant program that provides financial assistance to not-for-profit conservation organizations for activities they provide to assist counties and municipalities with their agricultural and farmland protection efforts.
"Many local governments rely on the services of not-for-profit conservation organizations, like land trusts, to help prepare applications for funding, and provide stewardship services for protected land," Young said.
"The supplemental grant program established by this bill will provide much needed financial assistance to conservation organizations."
