ASA Awarded $20.6K in State Conservation Program Grants
June 14 , 2006 / News archive
Greenwich, NY – The Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $20,600 in grants from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) to fund its farmland conservation efforts in Washington and northern Rensselaer Counties. ASA was one of 33 land trust organizations to receive a portion of $450,000 of funding from the Department of Environmental Conservation, a partnership program administered by the Land Trust Alliance.
Assemblyman Roy McDonald says, “I am very happy to see these grants awarded to the Agricultural Stewardship Association. The tireless work they do on behalf of their friends and neighbors to preserve and restore the farmland of our beautiful community is very important. I hope these grants are a sign of even greater things to come in the future.”
ASA will use $16,000 towards the launch of a conservation initiative within the Hudson River/Route 40 corridor. Working with local towns, landowners, agencies and other conservation organizations, ASA expects to conserve 1,000-1,500 acres of land in this key farming area. In addition to containing some of the areas most valuable soils, farms along the Route 40 corridor provide the scenic backdrop for the Saratoga National Battlefield.
ASA also received $4,600 grant to cover some of the transaction costs incurred with the protection of the 225-acre Mulligan Farm on Route 372 in Jackson.
“Conserving open space is an important investment for future generations of New Yorkers,” said Senator Betty Little, a member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. “I commend the Agricultural Stewardship Association for their hard work in securing this matching funding for two projects in Washington County.”
To date ASA has received over $92,000 from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program. Executive Director, Teri Ptacek, says “Prior to the NYSCPP we were a small volunteer-run land trust that had successfully conserved 3,400 acres. This program has played a key role in helping ASA build its capacity, hire a professional staff, improve its standards and practices and focus its conservation efforts. As a result, ASA will have protected an additional 3000 acres on 21 farms by the end of summer 2006.
The NYSCPP is one of the many programs funded by the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Unfortunately, the EPF, which the Governor, Senate and Assembly have all stated they support at a $200 million dollar level, has yet to be funded this year.
ASA is a member based non-profit land trust working to protect farmland in Washington and northern Rensselaer Counties. We accomplish our mission through conservation and stewardship programs and public education efforts. To date, ASA has helped landowners conserve 5,433 acres and has brought $3.3 million dollars to area farmers through purchase of development rights programs using state and federal funds. We encourage you to become a member and join us in our farmland conservation efforts. To learn more about ASA, visit our web site at www.agstewardship.org.
