Farmers across five Finger Lakes counties are receiving major support for projects that protect local lakes and streams, thanks to a record $25 million awarded through New York’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding on September 29, marking the largest single round in the program’s 30-year history. The awards support farm-level conservation projects that reduce runoff, manage nutrients, and improve long-term water quality throughout the state.
Where is the money being spent?
In the Finger Lakes, more than $4.8 million is going directly to Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties, which collectively represent some of the region’s most sensitive and heavily used watersheds.
Cayuga County received $797,391 to work with 12 farms in the Cayuga Lake Watershed. These funds, administered through the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, will help farms upgrade manure management systems and adopt other best practices that reduce nutrient runoff into Cayuga Lake—a vital drinking water source and recreation hub.
Ontario County was awarded $1,936,624 to support six farms in the Upper Genesee Watershed. This area feeds into larger regional systems, and the projects will focus on both environmental stewardship and operational efficiency.
In Seneca County, $533,330 will be used to assist four farms—also in the Cayuga Lake Watershed. The funding will support improvements like buffer strips and cover crops, helping reduce the risk of harmful algal blooms that have impacted the lake in recent summers.
Wayne County received $184,745 to assist two farms located in the Oak Orchard-Twelvemile and Lake Ontario watersheds. These projects are part of broader efforts to protect the Great Lakes ecosystem from excess nutrient loads and agricultural runoff.
Yates County was awarded $625,000 to help 13 farms in the Keuka Lake Watershed, supporting practices that safeguard one of the Finger Lakes’ most iconic and tourism-driven bodies of water.
How will the projects impact the region?
“These projects not only protect our environment but ensure farms across the Finger Lakes remain competitive and sustainable,” said Governor Hochul. “With new funding from the Environmental Bond Act, we’re able to support even more farmers in their commitment to clean water and climate resilience.”
The funding comes from both the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. Soil and Water Conservation Districts in each county will coordinate directly with farmers to implement science-based conservation measures.
The Ag Nonpoint Program is part of New York’s broader Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework, which guides farms through voluntary, site-specific planning and improvements. Eligible practices include manure storage systems, riparian buffers, nutrient recycling, and more.
To date, the program has awarded more than $250 million statewide over 30 rounds.
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