ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York state agricultural and environmental officials say the state is setting aside $26 million for municipalities and land conservation groups interested in protecting farmland.
The money will go out in the form of grants to help farmers protect land that otherwise might be converted to non-agricultural uses.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says preserving farmland is “vital” to efforts to boost the state’s agricultural industry.
This is the 20th year of the farmland protection program. More than $140 million has been given out so far to 233 preservation projects. Officials say nearly 60,000 acres of farmland across the state have been preserved.
Each applicant for the funds is asked to submit specific proposals for how the money would be used to safeguard farmland.
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