In the final hours of the legislative session, the New York State Senate and the Assembly passed a bill making land trusts eligible for annual funding. The American Farmland Trust worked with a broad coalition of allies including Assemblyman Magee, Senator Young, Governor Paterson’s office, farm groups and land trusts to advance this legislation that makes New York land trusts eligible for annual funding of up to $50,000 per organization for farmland protection projects. This increased capacity for local farmland protection efforts will help projects funded by the state’s Farmland Protection Program to be completed more quickly

$106,000 Goes to Promote Farmers’ Markets

Commissioner Patrick Hooker recently announced 30 grants awarded to farmers’ markets across New York state to assist in promotion and marketing. The grants will help community markets develop advertising and marketing tools, an essential part of raising public awareness about local food and farmland. There are currently more than 400 community farmers’ markets in New York State.

To read more about outcomes of key state farmland protection & learn more about the efforts of AFT go to: American Farmland Trust: Saving the Land that Sustains Us

To visit the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to see a list of the grant awards or to find a market in your area go to: NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets News