RFA 0263 - Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
RFA 0263 - Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants supports New York municipalities in planning to protect farmland, sustain farming, and preserve agriculture’s economic and environmental value.
Funder: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Due Dates: Rolling (applications and questions)
Funding Amounts: Up to $25,000 per municipality or $50,000 for two applying jointly; up to 75% of project costs; 24-month projects
Summary: Supports New York municipalities developing new agricultural and farmland protection plans through local zoning, land use, and subdivision planning.
Key Information: Applicants must not have previously prepared a plan and must be in a county with an agricultural and farmland protection board.
Description
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets supports the development of municipal agricultural and farmland protection plans through RFA 0263. The program funds local planning to protect agricultural lands through municipal zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations, while ensuring those laws do not unreasonably restrict farm operations.
Plans identify lands or areas proposed for protection and describe activities, programs, and strategies to promote continued agricultural use. The broader goals are to maintain the economic viability of New York’s agricultural industry and its supporting land base, while protecting agriculture’s environmental and landscape preservation values. Planning must address local agricultural conditions, protection needs, and strategies for sustaining farming.
