Federal Funds Enable Major Farmland Preservation Initiative

On Sept. 26, 2011, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Scenic Hudson, Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC), state officials, Town of Red Hook officials, other local leaders, and farmers announced federal Farm Bill funding that will enable Scenic Hudson and its partners to complete the purchase of conservation easements on 10 farms in Dutchess and Columbia counties.

The total cost of all 10 projects is more than $3.6 million, including $1.8 million in funding from the Farm Bill, Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, $1.2 million from Scenic Hudson, $615,000 from the Town of Red Hook and a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, a partnership of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance. DLC is contributing toward ongoing stewardship and project expenses. The transactions will provide a direct infusion of capital to the farmers involved, who can then invest the funds in the productive capacity of their farms.

The announcement was held at Northwind Farms, Red Hook, Dutchess County. For additional details, you can watch the video or read the news release. For a national perspective on the pressing issue of preserved about farmland protection see this recent NPR report.