Overview
The Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and land trusts to enable them to implement farmland protection activities consistent with local agricultural and farmland protection plans, including those created through the Farmland Protection Planning Grants Program. The most frequently funded activity is the purchase of development rights (PDR) on individual farms. However, FPIG may also award funding to enable other implementation activities, such as amendments to local laws affecting agriculture, option agreements (which lead to PDR), and covering the transaction costs of donated agricultural conservation easements.
Grant Opportunities
FPIG is routinely offered as a statewide grant round in the spring of even-numbered years. On occasion, FPIG may also be offered to address topically specific or otherwise timely farmland protection implementation activities.
Eligible applicants for FPIG include counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and not-for-profit conservation organizations (called “land trusts”). Joint applications are allowed. Landowners wishing to participate in an FPIG-funded project do not apply to the Department; rather, they should contact one of the eligible entities for more information. Interested farmers or landowners are urged to contact their county Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board to express their interest in participating.
Round 19 - Status of Awards and Applications Received
Please see the memorandum below on information regarding the status of Round 19 of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program.
General Resources
The following guidance documents will assist in the compilation of a grant proposal and all required project deliverables.
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Model Agricultural Conservation Easement
This document is only for easement projects awarded a state contribution of 87.5% of eligible total project costs.
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FPIG Program Required Easement Provisions
This is only for easement projects awarded a state contribution of up to 75% of eligible total project costs, except those awarded 25% of easement purchase price plus all transaction costs.
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Conservation Plan Requirements
Beginning in 2023, each application or proposal submitted for funding consideration through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) program must contain an Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) or Equivalent Landowner Participation Verification Form. If that application or proposal is awarded, the participating landowner(s) will receive a Notification to All Participating Landowners in Any Agricultural Conservation Easement Project Receiving a Farmland Protection Implementation Grant (FPIG) at the same time that the Department provides award notification to the entity that submitted that application/proposal. When the awarded entity submits a complete Project File (as required by the contract awarded to that entity) to the Department for review/approval, an additional required document shall also be included: Status of Conservation Plan Certification Form.
Site Plan Review Webinar Resources
Common Theme: Reconfiguration Necessary
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Genesee Land Trust - Amsler Farm
Common themes: reconfiguration necessary and too many farmstead areas. Configuration of use area and reconfigure easements or ag units and multiple farmstead areas.
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Common Theme: Too Many Farmstead Areas
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Finger Lakes Land Trust - Burns and Jackson Noel Farms - Ag Unit A
Common theme - too many farmstead areas.
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Finger Lakes Land Trust - Burns and Jackson Noel Farms - Ag Unit D
Common theme: too many farmstead areas.
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Genesee Land Trust - Amsler Farm
Common themes: reconfiguration necessary and too many farmstead areas. Configuration of use area and reconfigure easements or ag units and multiple farmstead areas.
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Common Theme: Unacceptable Exclusions
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Genessee Land Trust - De Meyer Farms
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Each exclusion requires mitigation.
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Genesee Land Trus - Reedland Farm
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusion requires mitigation and potential unreasonable restrictions due to cell tower lease.
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Genesee Valley Conservancy - Craig Rice Farm CE-1
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation and REA must be enlarged.
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Genesee Valley Conservancy - Hill Crest Farm - Ag Unit D
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation.
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Onondaga County - Leubner Farm
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation and insufficient number of building envelopes.
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Onondaga County - Oliver Farm
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Unbuffered exclusions require mitigation.
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Onondaga County - Snavlin Farm
Common theme: unacceptable exclusions. Insufficiently buffered exclusion requires mitigation.
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Common Theme: Unnecessary Acreage