NEW PALTZ - New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker Wednesday announced an additional $372,500 in funding to help 16 towns develop local agricultural and farmland protection plans.  This announcement is in addition to the nearly $500,000 announced last month for local farmland protection plans, bringing the total amount provided this year to $862,445 for 37 towns. 

The State’s Farmland Protection Program provides two funding sources – planning grants and implementation grants.  Planning grants include a portion of the start-up funds in developing an agricultural and farmland protection plan.  Implementation grants are used to help purchase the development rights on viable farmland.

ROUND II

2007 FARMLAND PROTECTION PLANNING GRANTS

Town of Bethlehem (Albany County)       $25,000

Town of Butler (Wayne County)   $25,000

Towns of Carlisle & Seward (Schoharie County)   $50,000

Town of Charlton (Saratoga County)      $25,000

Town of Clinton (Dutchess County)       $25,000

Town of Geneva (Ontario County) $7,500

Town of Halcott (Greene County) $25,000

Town of LeRoy (Genesee County)  $25,000

Town of Marbletown (Ulster County)      $25,000

Town of New Paltz (Ulster County)       $25,000

Town of North East (Dutchess County)    $25,000

Town of Salem (Washington County)       $25,000

Town of Shawangunk (Ulster County)      $25,000

Town of Ulysses (Tompkins County)       $25,000

Town of Victor (Ontario County) $15,000

ROUND II TOTAL  $372,500

ROUND I TOTAL (Announced January 8, 2008)       $489,945

TOTAL 2007 FARMLAND PROTECTION PLANNING GRANTS  $862,445