News from New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets

For more information contact: Jessica Chittenden, 518-457-3136

Media Advisory~Protecting Farmland In Central New York

Tuesday, January 8 at 1:00 pm at BOCES in Auburn

ALBANY, NY (01/07/2008; 1105)(readMedia)-- New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will announce nearly $500,000 in funding to help 19 towns in Upstate New York develop local agricultural and farmland protection plans. This is the first time the State is providing funding for towns for farmland protection plans; only counties have been eligible in the past.

In addition, the Commissioner will join the American Farmland Trust, farmers and local, state and federal legislators to commence the permanent protection of the Spruce Haven and Delaney Farms in the Town of Fleming, Cayuga County. Both of these farms have successfully extinguished their development rights; protecting 1,163 acres of collective farmland in perpetuity.

New York State has an effective Farmland Protection Program that has allocated more than $144.5 million out of the Environmental Protection Fund for farmland protection projects, assisting local governments and their project partners in 26 counties to help protect 50,400 acres on 241 farms. The announcement tomorrow will highlight both the planning and implementation aspects of the Farmland Protection Program.

All media are welcome and encouraged to attend.

WHO: New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker New York Director of the American Farmland Trust David Haight State and Local Legislators, Farmers and Farmland Protection Advocates

WHAT: Protecting Farmland in Central New York

• Announcing $500,000 in planning grants

• Celebrating the permanent protection of 2 local farms

WHEN: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 1:00 pm

WHERE: Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES – Room #2 1879 West Genesee Street Road, Auburn, New York Directions: http://www.cayboces.org/mnd.htm

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