Governor Kathy Hochul announced over $13 million has been awarded to protect clean water across New York to help farmers continue their work to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The funding supports agricultural water quality conservation projects, which will benefit 50 farms, enhance water quality in priority watersheds, and protect the environment.
The projects are funded through the state’s Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control program. The program is a part of the Agricultural Environmental Management framework, a broader effort that helps farmers achieve higher levels of environmental stewardship and more efficient, cost-effective farming systems.
Projects have been awarded to 24 county soil and water conservation districts on behalf of farms who will support on-farm environmental planning and the implementation of best management practice (BMP) systems to keep nutrients and other potential pollutants from entering waterways. BMPs include a variety of measures, including installing vegetative buffers along streams, planting cover crops, enhancing nutrient management through manure storage, and other conservation measures.
Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was awarded $809,247 to work with one farm in the Susquehanna River Watershed. This project will improve the timing of manure application to farm fields through the implementation of a waste storage and transfer systems. Waste storage helps farmers better utilize nutrients, reduce the use of commercial fertilizers, and decrease the risk of nutrient runoff. Funds will also be used to implement a livestock heavy use area runoff management system which will separate clean water out from the feed area and prevent nutrient-laden runoff from reaching surface water.
“This is another big win for our Delaware County agricultural community,” said Larry Underwood, SWCD executive director.
Through Round 28 of this program, over 5,600 acres of cover crop will be implemented. Riparian buffers are another practice that allow for carbon sequestration in addition to offering water quality benefits. Over 28 acres of herbaceous and forested buffers will be implemented through Round 28.
