$26M in state grants addresses impacts of climate change

ALBANY | On the heels of Climate Week, Gov. Hochul announced two grant opportunities totaling $26 million for projects that will help address the impacts of climate change and protect water quality across New York State. The State is making $24 million available to support soil health and on-farm projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve water quality through the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program. In addition, $2 million is available through the State's Ecosystem Based Management Program to assist New York's Soil and Water Conservation Districts to protect water quality and the long-term health of the State's waterways. These funding opportunities build on the Governor's efforts to support programs and initiatives that combat climate change and support the preservation of the state's natural resources. "I'm proud that New York continues to be a leader in environmental protections, with critical funding being deployed to our farms and in our communities," Gov. Hochul said. "These are smart investments that will not only protect and improve water quality and ensure a cleaner, more resilient New York but they will also support the economic viability of our state's agricultural industry for generations to come." Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program Now in its ninth round, the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program (CRF) helps farms reduce their operational impact on the environment and address the impacts of extreme weather events resulting from climate change. Round 9 will offer $24 million to help farm operators implement agricultural projects and make related equipment purchases that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support soil health and improved water quality. Projects will also help agricultural producers prepare for and better manage impacts of climate change, including severe weather events, such as increased heavy storm events, overall rainfall, and periods of drought. The CRF Program is funded through New York's Environmental Protection Fund and is part of the New York State Climate Action Council's Scoping Plan, as part of New York's investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration on farms, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment. Funding is available in four tracks: Track 1 – Livestock Management: Alternative Waste Management and Precision Feed Management Projects will reduce methane emissions from the farm and increase the farm's resiliency to major precipitation events. Track 2 - Adaptation and Resiliency Projects will help prepare agricultural producers for the impacts of a changing climate, such as flood events and drought. Track 3 - Healthy Soils NY Projects will improve soil health on farms and enhance a farm's resiliency to the impacts of climate change. Soil health practices can also create carbon sinks, increase water holding capacity, and improve recycling of nitrogen by crops, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Track 4 - Agricultural Forestry Management Projects will support forest management and tree planting on agricultural lands for carbon sequestration. Through eight rounds of funding to date, $69 million has been awarded through the CRF program to 580 on-farm projects that are estimated to deliver more than 571,807 metric tons of CO2e reduction over the expected lifespan of the projects, equivalent to removing 133,377 gas-powered cars from the road for one year. The State's County Soil and Water Conservation Districts can apply now on behalf of farmers for these competitive grants. Proposed projects should be rooted in the Department's Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) process and support local AEM priorities. The application and additional information are available on the Department's website at agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0389-climate-resilient-farming-program-round-9. Project proposals are due at 5 p.m. on Nov. 17. Ecosystem Based Management Program In addition to the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program funding, $2 million is available to support on-and off-farm water quality conservation projects across the State through the Ecosystem Based Management - Stream Corridor Management Program. The Ecosystem Based Management Program funds projects that improve water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation, improve wildlife habitat and support the long-term health of the State's natural riparian ecosystems. Funding is available in four tracks: Track 1 - Stream Channel Restoration Track 2 - Stream Corridor Protection – Riparian Buffer Implementation Track 3 - Storm Water Culvert and Roadside Runoff Control Track 4 - Public Outreach and Education The State's County Soil and Water Conservation Districts can apply for this competitive grant program, which is also funded through the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, as part of the Ocean and Great Lakes Initiative. The application and additional information are available on the Department's website at agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0365-stream-corridor-management-program. Project proposals are due at 4 p.m. on Dec. 8. The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, in coordination with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, administers the Climate Resilient Farming Program and the Ecosystem Based Management Program through its Land and Water Division, which works to protect New York's land and water resources through farmland protection, farmland conservation, and proactive environmental stewardship. The Climate Resilient Farming Program and Ecosystem Based Management Program function as part of the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework, a broader effort that helps farmers achieve higher levels of environmental stewardship and more efficient, cost-effective farming systems. County Soil and Water Conservation Districts use the AEM framework to assist interested farmers through planning and implementation to make science-based and cost-effective decisions. As a result, farmers can meet business goals while conserving the state's natural resources.

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$26M in state grants addresses impacts of climate change

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