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Nearly $3 Million Available to Protect New York Farmland
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Syracuse, New York, December 22, 2004 - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the receipt of $2,728,900 in federal financial assistance for New York's landowners through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP).
FRPP funding provides up to 50 percent in federal matching funds to eligible municipalities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who have pending offers to purchase conservation easements on prime New York farmland.
The program allows municipalities and NGOs to apply on behalf of landowners, and allows the landowners to receive compensation for voluntarily limiting future development of their land while they retain property rights with a perpetual conservation easement that restricts non-farm development.
During fiscal year 2004, NRCS obligated more than $3 million in FRPP funds to 12 entities, which protected more than 4,174 acres of working farmland in New York.
"This funding will enable farmers and landowners to enhance and protect our state's soil, air and water resources for the future," said Joseph DelVecchio, State Conservationist.
NRCS is the lead agency for administering the FRPP. Funding for the FRPP was authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, known as the Farm Bill. The program is voluntary and eligible municipalities and NGOs must apply by April 5 via a request for proposal located on the USDA website: www.usda.gov/farmbill.
Questions can be directed to any NRCS office, and applications from entities across the state will be ranked to compete for funds.
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