New York is accepting proposals for $16.8 million in grants to help farms reduce emissions, protect water and prepare for extreme weather. County soil and water conservation districts must apply on farmers' behalf by 5 p.m. Nov. 23.
The money is available in the 10th round of the state's Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced. It comes from the Environmental Protection Fund and is divided among four types of projects, from manure management to tree planting.
Four tracks cover different farm risks
The first track supports livestock management, including manure and methane controls and precision feeding. The state says those projects are intended to cut methane emissions while making farms better able to handle heavy precipitation.
The second track funds adaptation projects that prepare farms for flooding, drought and temperature swings. Those risks can affect both production and the infrastructure needed to run a farm.
The Healthy Soils NY track supports soil-health systems, conservation practices and agroforestry. According to the state, healthier soil can hold more water, store carbon and improve how crops use nitrogen. The fourth track supports forest management and tree planting on agricultural land to store carbon.
The grants are competitive. The governor's release does not specify an award size for an individual farm or promise that every proposal will receive funding.
Districts apply on farmers' behalf
Farmers seeking support must work with their county soil and water conservation district, which submits the application. Proposals should follow the state's Agricultural Environmental Management process and local priorities identified through that process. The state Agriculture and Markets Department provides application materials and additional program information.
Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball encouraged districts to work with farmers on proposals, saying demand for the program has grown. The Agricultural Environmental Management framework is designed to help farmers plan and put conservation practices in place while accounting for their operations' business needs.
The state says it awarded $94 million to 713 on-farm projects in the first nine rounds. It estimates those projects will avoid more than 639,483 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over their expected lifetimes, a projected reduction rather than emissions already measured. The state compares that total with taking 149,163 gasoline-powered cars off the road for one year.
Finger Lakes work is part of broader funding
The governor's office says the fiscal 2027 budget provides $83 million from the Environmental Protection Fund for agricultural initiatives, including this grant program and the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program. The budget also adds $1 million for soil and water conservation districts.
Separate funding for an Eastern Finger Lakes coalition of districts is intended to support agricultural and resilience projects in farms and communities. The governor's office cited cover crops, culvert improvements and soil-health work as examples that could reduce erosion and runoff into waterways. The release did not give a separate dollar amount for that coalition or say those projects would receive money from the new $16.8 million grant round.
Districts have until the Nov. 23 deadline to submit proposals. Farmers interested in a project should contact their county district to discuss whether it fits local Agricultural Environmental Management priorities and one of the four grant tracks.
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