Four farms in Seneca County will soon launch major conservation projects thanks to a new $533,000 grant aimed at protecting Cayuga Lake and cutting pollution.
The funding was awarded through New York State’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program, which supports farms that implement environmentally sound practices. The Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received the competitive grant as part of the Cayuga Lake Grazing and Water Quality Improvement Initiative.
“These projects will help livestock farms protect water quality and build climate resilience,” said officials with the SWCD. They also support the state’s phosphorus reduction goals for Cayuga Lake, a key effort in the fight against harmful algal blooms (HABs).
What the funding will support
The grant will fund several conservation improvements, including:
- One concrete livestock area to replace four degraded ones
- Conversion of 76 acres of cropland into permanent pasture
- Creation or enhancement of 85 acres of grazing land
- Construction of a stormwater irrigation pond to manage runoff from 25 acres
Combined, these changes are expected to prevent 169 tons of sediment, nearly 3,000 pounds of nitrogen, and close to 2,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering Cayuga Lake each year. They’ll also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 151 tons of CO₂ equivalent annually.
How farmers can get involved
To qualify for this program, farmers must participate in the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program — a voluntary, science-based planning process that supports both environmental goals and farm business needs.
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