October 2003

Cortland County Receives Federal Farmland Protection Grant
$138,502 in USDA NRCS funding to help preserve 390 acres on Scenic Route 90 in the Town of Homer

New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Nathan Rudgers announced that Cortland County has received a grant of $138,502 through the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets from funds that the State received through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The funding will be used to support Cortland County's Farmland Protection Program, administered through the Cortland County Agricultural Local Development Corporation (LDC) under the auspices of the Cortland County IDA. Cortland County was one of just a handful of municipalities to share in a total of $729,865 million allocated to New York State in the 2002 Farm Bill through the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). The USDA awarded New York funding to purchase conservation easements or development rights on viable farmland which is under development pressure. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets applied for federal funding in May 2003.

The federal grant will be used to help purchase the development rights to 390 acres of farmland on Scenic Route 90 in the Town of Homer. The Cortland County Agricultural LDC will purchase the development rights and hold the conservation easement, with additional assistance through New York State's Farmland Protection Program.

The Chace farm on Scenic Route 90 was selected for inclusion in the federal program because it is already participating in the New York State Farmland Protection program. Its location in the Homer-Preble Agricultural Corridor was a significant factor, as well as its prominent location on a designated state scenic byway.

NYS Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Nathan Rudgers praised Cortland County's success at protecting farmland. "Cortland is an excellent example. Through their innovative approaches, the IDA has bought the development rights to several farms, ensuring the future of some of the best farmland in New York State." Cortland County is the only place in New York State where the county's economic development organization has stepped forward and taken an active role in a farmland PDR program, and promoted it as an economic development strategy.

"Farmland protection helps Cortland's $43 million agriculture industry," said BDC/IDA Executive Director Linda Hartsock, who also serves as director of the Cortland County Agricultural LDC. The Cortland County Agricultural LDC recently submitted four more farms in Cortland for inclusion in the 2003-2004 New York State Farmland Protection program. Grant proposals for the current round were due October 6, and the Agricultural LDC worked with farms in Preble, Homer, Marathon and Freetown to submit applications. Funding decisions will be made in Spring 2004.

The Cortland County Agricultural LDC works closely with the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board and the Cortland County Planning Department to implement recommendations of the County's Farmland Protection Plan.