If you are a landowner looking for technical and/or financial assistance to help you implement conservation or water quality best management practices on your land, the deadline to contact Cortland County SWCD for current funding programs is February 25th. Call (607)756-5991 to learn more and sign up now to be eligible!
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has announced a Request for Proposals for Round 28 of the Agricultural Nonpoint Source (Ag NPS) Abatement and Control Program and Round 6 of the Climate Resilient Farming program. Approximately 21 million dollars has been included in this year’s state budget designated to these two programs. Furthermore, the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District is happy to share with the agricultural community, the availability of funds for small projects through the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Tier 4 Cost Share program. All of these grant opportunities help to support Cortland County’s AEM Strategic Plan by funding planning and implementation practices.
Agricultural operations wishing to apply for funding to implement conservation practices MUST contact the SWCD office no later than Friday, February 25th if they are interested in participating. Timely notification by producers is crucial in order to collect the information necessary to develop strong grant proposals. Additional information will be provided about prerequisites for the grant application process at that time. For many of these opportunities, an up to date AEM Tier 3 plan or Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) may be needed to participate. This requirement ensures that appropriate Best Management Practices are being implemented in the most suitable places to meet both environmental needs and the farms’ management objectives. Farms that do not have a current AEM Tier 3 plan or CNMP and wish to be eligible for future grant funding should also contact the SWCD for assistance.
During the last round of these three programs, the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) secured nearly one million dollars in cost share funding. That funding, along with the dedicated commitment of resources from local farms, will enable more than 1.2 million dollars in conservation projects to be implemented across Cortland County. These projects help farms recycle and reuse on farm nutrients in an environmentally sound manner, help control soil erosion and aid in the protection of water resources while increasing the resiliency of farms from climate related events.
These projects also benefit our local economy. According to a survey by the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, well over 90 percent of grant dollars spent on conservation projects are reinvested back into the local and regional economy. Local contractors are hired to implement the projects and supplies are purchased from area businesses that spend this money locally on labor, materials and equipment. In addition to the positive local economic impacts, participation in conservation programs helps foster a positive and active relationship between Cortland County agriculture, local supporting agencies, the community, and the environment. Call SWCD at 607-756-5991 to find out more about how your farm can be involved.
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