$240 million dedicated to support on-farm conservation projects in NY State

Source: NY Department of Agriculture and Markets

New York has invested more than $240 million since 2021 to help farmers adopt environmental practices that improve soil health, protect waterways, and cut greenhouse‑gas emissions, Governor Kathy Hochul announced during Earth Week. The funding supports the Climate Resilient Farming Program, the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program, the Enhanced Nutrient and Methane Management Program, and expanded aid for County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. “With over $240 million helping our farmers implement real solutions on their farms over the last five years, we are protecting our waterways, enhancing our soil, and offsetting carbon emissions, paving the way for a cleaner, greener New York,” Hochul said.

Protecting streams and other waterways is a focus of environmental efforts in New York. Image credit - Mark Stebnicki

The state reports major progress in three priority areas: cover crops, riparian buffers, and methane‑reduction systems. Nearly $22.5 million has helped farmers plant 250,000 acres of cover crops—rye, oats, wheat, radishes, peas, clover, and others—to reduce erosion, absorb nutrients, and store carbon. Officials estimate these acres will sequester 62,700 metric tons of CO₂‑equivalent, comparable to removing more than 14,000 cars from the road for a year.

To protect streams and reduce runoff, the state has supported the installation of 409 acres—about 100 miles—of riparian buffers over the past five years. These vegetated strips stabilize streambanks, filter pollutants, and cool surface waters.

Methane reduction remains a major focus. Through the Climate Resilient Farming Program, New York has invested $36.4 million in manure‑management systems that cut emissions by an estimated 400,000 metric tons of CO₂‑equivalent. The ENMP program added another $15.8 million for innovative manure and feed management projects on 22 dairy farms, projected to reduce an additional 120,000 metric tons.

County Soil and Water Conservation Districts—key partners in planning and installing these projects—have received more than $75 million since 2021. Their work includes wetland restoration, streambank protection, tillage management, and irrigation improvements.

Hochul’s FY27 budget proposal continues the momentum, allocating $425 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, including $83 million for agricultural climate‑resiliency programs.