The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM), in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), today released for public comment new proposed eligibility guidelines to allocate funding for climate resilient farming projects under the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Environmental Bond Act). Feedback from the draft criteria will be used to develop forthcoming grant opportunities offered through AGM’s Climate Resilient Farming program (CRF).
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Our farmers have always been on the front lines of meaningful, sustainable efforts to preserve our natural resources and fight against climate change, and the Climate Resilient Farming program has been a huge part of that mission. Supplementing our existing work with Bond Act funding will only further support our farmers participating in this terrific program who are working hard to implement best management practices while remaining competitive, profitable, and sustainable.”
The public is now encouraged to comment on the draft eligibility guidelines, which are available here.
AGM administers the CRF Program in coordination with the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. The program provides grants to Soil Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) or groups of districts to implement AEM Tier 4 agricultural best management practice systems (BMPs) on New York farms. Since the program’s inception, $94 million has now been awarded to 700 farms across the state through county Soil and Water Conservation Districts with an estimated 642,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year of emissions reduction.
Over the last five years, New York State has dedicated more than $160 million to conserve natural resources, combat climate change, and protect soil and water quality on farms across the state, which includes record funding for programs like CRF. The CRF Program remains oversubscribed each year further showing that there is increasing momentum on farms to continue making strides to reduce emissions, increase carbon sequestration and improve resiliency to a changing climate.
Eligible Climate Resilient Farming projects must:
- be listed in an Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Tier 3 plan;
- consist of activities that will reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, increase sequestration of carbon emissions in soils and vegetation; increase adaptation and resiliency to climate change impacts;
- meet NYS USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) standards and specifications and/or other state and nationally recognized standards;
- include activities to monitor, measure, verify, and report on practice systems performance in meeting farm and program goals when applicable to the project; and
- have a bondable life of at least 10 years.
Eligible BMP Systems include, but are not limited to:
- Access Control System
- Erosion Control System – Structural
- Irrigation Water Management System, including frost management components
- Manure and Agricultural Waste Treatment System
- Nutrient Management System (application equipment-based projects)
- Prescribed Rotational Grazing System
- Riparian Forest and Herbaceous Buffer Systems
- Stream Corridor and Shoreline Management System
- Waste Storage and Transfer System, including Cover and Flare System for methane mitigation and other supporting practices (solid/liquid separation)
- Short Term Waste Collection and Transfer System
- Forestry/Agroforestry System (tree planting-based projects)
The full eligibility guidelines are available here.
Public comments on the guidelines are to be submitted in writing to the contact listed below and will be accepted until Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Jennifer Clifford
10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY 12223
[email protected]
New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
On November 8, 2022, New York voters overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs. Bond Act funding will support new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. Progress on implementing funding continues, with New York State awarding funds to more than more than 1,000 projects for more than 33 percent of Bond Act funds to date. For more information and to sign up for progress updates, go to the Environmental Bond Act webpage.
