Cayuga County farmers are among those sharing in millions of dollars of state grant money designed to help protect area waterways.
The state Department of Agriculture & Markets on Friday announced $13 million in grants for 46 projects designed to help keep farm runoff from reaching lakes, streams and rivers.
The state's Agricultural Nonpoint Source Control and Abatement Program funds projects aimed at reducing polluted runoff to help insure the viability of farming and the preservation of water quality.
“Investing in our farms is a smart use of resources, not only for the upstate economy, but for the environment as well,” state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said in a news release. “While farmers utilize a quarter of the state's total land mass, it is imperative that the state help make compliance with strict federal environmental regulations financially feasible.”
The Control and Abatement Program awards cost-share funding to county Soil and Water Conservation Districts to address water quality issues across the state. This year's funding
included more than $3.5 million for farms in central New York.
Among the grants being administered by the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District are:
- $247,209 for the construction of manure storage facilities at farms owned by Robert Whitcomb, Bates Road, Weedsport; and Don Peters, Miller Road, Sennett. The aim of the projects is to reduce the application of nutrients to fields and lessen the potential for nutrient loading into the Seneca River watershed.
- $105,190 for a manure storage facility on a farm owned by Steve Cuddeback, Route 38A, Niles. The project will improve soil quality and reduce the need for chemical fertilizer. Nutrients will be incorporated into the soil using conservation tillage methods, minimizing the potential for runoff into Owasco Lake, a public drinking water supply for 70 percent of Cayuga County residents.
- $252,787 for projects at five farms affecting tributaries flowing into Cayuga Lake: Ray Lockwood, Aurelius; Kevin Bassett, Genoa; Rose Belforti, Ledyard; Barb Ziemba, Weedsport; and Robert Thompson, Fayette.
- $99,760 for the implementation of rotational grazing systems on 17 farms affecting the Cayuga Lake And Owasco Lake watersheds.
The state's Agricultural Nonpoint Source Control and Abatement Program funds projects aimed at reducing polluted runoff to help insure the viability of farming and the preservation of water quality.
“Investing in our farms is a smart use of resources, not only for the upstate economy, but for the environment as well,” state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said in a news release. “While farmers utilize a quarter of the state's total land mass, it is imperative that the state help make compliance with strict federal environmental regulations financially feasible.”
The Control and Abatement Program awards cost-share funding to county Soil and Water Conservation Districts to address water quality issues across the state. This year's funding
included more than $3.5 million for farms in central New York.
Among the grants being administered by the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District are:
- $247,209 for the construction of manure storage facilities at farms owned by Robert Whitcomb, Bates Road, Weedsport; and Don Peters, Miller Road, Sennett. The aim of the projects is to reduce the application of nutrients to fields and lessen the potential for nutrient loading into the Seneca River watershed.
- $105,190 for a manure storage facility on a farm owned by Steve Cuddeback, Route 38A, Niles. The project will improve soil quality and reduce the need for chemical fertilizer. Nutrients will be incorporated into the soil using conservation tillage methods, minimizing the potential for runoff into Owasco Lake, a public drinking water supply for 70 percent of Cayuga County residents.
- $252,787 for projects at five farms affecting tributaries flowing into Cayuga Lake: Ray Lockwood, Aurelius; Kevin Bassett, Genoa; Rose Belforti, Ledyard; Barb Ziemba, Weedsport; and Robert Thompson, Fayette.
- $99,760 for the implementation of rotational grazing systems on 17 farms affecting the Cayuga Lake And Owasco Lake watersheds.
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