Onondaga County

Farmland conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements that restrict the development and subdivision of land, either as a donation or through monetary compensation, with the goal of preserving land suited for farming. 

NYS Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Program (FPIG) – The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) has offered Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) since the 1990s for farmland conservation easement projects. Onondaga County has been an active partner in facilitating farm owner access to the program. To date, over 12,000 acres have been permanently protected.

A key requirement of the NYSDAM FPIG application is endorsement of the project by the Onondaga County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board (AFPB). As interest in the program has increased, the APFB has developed a pre-application process for interested farm owners to identify the most viable and competitive lands to receive endorsement and undertake the full NYSDAM FPIG application process. 

Refer to the information box below for deadlines, workshops, and pre-application materials.

Links and Contacts

NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) Farmland Protection Program

• Farmland Protection Implementation Grant (FPIG)

For questions and assistance with the Pre-Application process

• Onondaga County Department of Planning – AFPB staff support; FPIG Pre-Application submission assistance; mapping resources
• Cornell Cooperative Extension – Technical assistance; grant program workshops; farmer outreach and education

Eligible Applicant Partners (not exclusive list)

• New York Agricultural Land Trust
• Finger Lakes Land Trust – Skaneateles / Otisco Lake watersheds

Onondaga County Projects

To date, over 12,000 acres of dedicated farmland in Onondaga County have been protected by conservation easements through the NYSDAM FPIG program, federal grants, local land trusts, and the Onondaga County Agricultural Council.  

If you are interested in preserving your farmland for future generations, please contact any of the above listed organizations for more information.