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| | | $28.5 Million in State Grants to Help NY Farms Combat Climate Change and Protect Water Quality |
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| Jason Oliver and Kirsten Workman |
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| On March 27, New York State announced $28.5 million in funding through the Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement and Control (Ag Non-Point) and the Climate Resilient Farming (CRF) Grant programs. This is a substantial increase in funding from previous years. Program goals, eligible best management practices (BMPs), project deadlines and other details are below. |
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| Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement and Control |
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| The goal of the Ag Non-Point program is to protect water quality and reduce or prevent non-point source pollution from agricultural activities. This year’s program (Round 29) has $13.5 million available. Cost-share funds up to 75 percent of total eligible costs of the planning or BMP implementation is available for proposals with no contribution (cash and/or in-kind services) from the owner or operator of the agricultural land, and up to 87.5 percent for projects with landowner or operator contributions. Proposals must be submitted to the State through Soil and Water Conservation Districts. A wide range of BMPs are eligible across the various land uses and management areas on farms and are based the farm’s conservation plan (for examples, see the Agricultural Best Management Practice Systems Catalogue). Reach out to your local Soil and Water Conservation District to discuss options and possibilities for the current or future funding rounds. |
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| Project proposals are due at 4:30 p.m. on June 26, 2023. |
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| Climate Resilient Farming |
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| The goal of the CRF grant program is to help farms mitigate their impact on climate change and adapt and increase resilience to the extreme weather events associated with climate change. Funding has nearly doubled to $15 million in the current (Round 7) request for proposals. Proposals must originate through the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework. Cost-share funds up to 80 percent of total eligible costs of the BMP implementation is available. Proposals must be submitted to the State through Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Reach out to your local Soil and Water Conservation District to discuss options and possibilities for the current or future funding rounds. Round 7 includes an emphasis on BMPs identified in the New York State Climate Action Council’s Scoping Plan including manure storage cover and flare, precision feed management and agroforestry. |
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| Applicants must apply under ONE of the tracks outlined below. Project proposals are due at 4:30 p.m. on August 7, 2023. |
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| Track 1: Livestock Management: Alternative Waste Management and Precision Feed Management |
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| (previously Agricultural Waste Storage Cover and Flare Systems), $5 million | Projects that mitigate methane emissions and increase resiliency to major precipitation events including: | - Waste storage and transfer systems, including cover and flare systems
- Composting systems and composted bedded packs
- Solid-liquid separation systems
- Innovative manure treatment technologies
- Prescribed rotational grazing systems
- Nutrient management systems
- Feed management systems
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| Track 2: Adaptation and Resiliency |
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| (Previously Water Management systems), $6 million | Projects that prepare farms for the impacts of a changing climate including floods and droughts: | - Riparian buffer systems
- Stream corridor and shoreline management systems
- Structural erosion control systems
- Green infrastructure systems (NYS stormwater management design)
- Irrigation water management systems
- Access control systems
- Prescribed rotational grazing systems
- Integrated pest management systems
- Weather monitoring systems to facilitate the above mentioned
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| Track 3: Healthy Soils NY |
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| (Systems and BMPs that support soil health and agroforestry), $4 million | Projects that improve soil health, enhance resiliency to climate impacts, increase soil carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from crop lands including: | - Soil health systems, including weather monitoring systems and equipment to prevent or reduce soil compaction (note: cover crop practices will be awarded on a per acre basis for a three-year term)
- Erosion control and riparian buffer systems
- Nutrient management systems, including application equipment for manure incorporation or injection; crop yield monitor systems; and weather monitoring systems and tools, all to advance implementation of existing Nutrient Management Plans
- Prescribed rotational grazing system
- Agroforestry and silvopasture systems
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| PRO-DAIRY Staff | - Jason Oliver, Sr. Extension Associate Dairy Environmental Systems Specialists, jpo53@cornell.edu
- Kirsten Workman, Sr. Extension Associate Nutrient Management Specialist, kw566@cornell.edu
| CRF Program Manager | | Ag Non-Point Source Program Manager | | Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Coordinator | |
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