County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Planning Grants

The County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Planning Grants program is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to support the development and updating of county-level agricultural and farmland protection plans. This initiative is authorized under Article 25-AAA of the Agriculture and Markets Law, which empowers the Commissioner to provide financial and technical assistance to counties and municipalities. The overarching goal of the program is to strengthen the economic viability of New York’s agricultural sector while preserving farmland, environmental resources, and the broader landscape associated with agricultural use. The grant is designed to fund planning activities that result in the creation of new agricultural and farmland protection plans or the revision of existing plans that are at least ten years old. These plans are intended to guide counties in identifying agricultural resources, analyzing land use pressures, and implementing strategies that maintain farmland in active production. The program supports a wide range of planning-related expenses, including personnel services, consultant services, travel, public engagement activities such as hearings, supplies, printing, and communications. However, costs incurred prior to the official award of funding are not eligible for reimbursement. Funding is provided through the Environmental Protection Fund, with a total program allocation of six hundred thousand dollars for the cycle described. Individual counties may receive up to fifty thousand dollars, while joint applications from two counties may request up to one hundred thousand dollars. The program requires a fifty percent match from applicants, which may consist of cash or in-kind contributions, though at least twenty percent of the match must be provided in cash. Matching contributions must be tied to eligible project costs and cannot include indirect costs, previously incurred expenses, or other state funds. Eligibility is limited to New York counties that have established an agricultural and farmland protection board. Counties that have not previously had a plan approved by the Commissioner are eligible, as are those seeking to update a plan that was approved at least ten years prior. Two eligible counties may collaborate on a single application, provided one is designated as the lead entity. Projects must focus specifically on planning activities that culminate in a completed agricultural and farmland protection plan meeting the requirements outlined in the program guidelines. Applications must be submitted electronically through the New York State Grants Gateway system. Applicants are required to provide detailed information including contact details for key officials, a summary of local agricultural conditions, a comprehensive plan of work, a project timeline, qualifications of personnel, and documentation of matching funds. A formal authorization letter from the county legislative body must also be included. Applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility, and the Commissioner, in consultation with an advisory council, evaluates proposals based on need, project design, qualifications, cost reasonableness, and compliance with statutory requirements. The program operates on an open enrollment basis, with applications accepted on a rolling schedule. Awards are announced biannually beginning April 1, 2022, and funding decisions are typically made within ninety days of receiving a complete application. Projects are expected to be completed within eighteen months of contract approval. Funded projects require quarterly progress reporting and submission of a final report, including the completed plan, within sixty days after the contract period ends. The Department maintains oversight throughout the project lifecycle and may conduct follow-up evaluations to assess long-term outcomes.

Ensure plan aligns with documented agricultural needs and includes clear, feasible work plan; provide strong evidence of matching funds and qualified personnel