ALBANY – Several farms and agriculture-related properties in the Hudson Valley have been awarded state funding through its Farmland Protection Implementation grants.
The program provides local government, soil and conservation districts and land trusts with grants to offset costs of conservation easements to protect valuable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use.
The Columbia Land Conservancy will receive $478,551 to protect properties totaling 117 acres, owned by the Saulpaugh, Myers and Kukon families.
The Columbia Land Conservancy will receive $507,221 to permanently protect a 205-acre organic beef operation owned by the Grimaldi family.
The Dutchess Land Conservancy will receive $1,880,020 to permanently protect 408 acres owned by Patrick O’Leary that supports two farm operations – a livestock and hay operation and a daily operation.
The Dutchess Land Conservancy also will also receive $1,015,220 to permanently protect 153 acres, which are owned by Joseph and Elisa Lopane that is managed as a nursery operation.
Sullivan County will receive $491,250 to permanently protect 233 acres owned and operated by Andrew and Tanya Hahn as a livestock farm.
The Town of Warwick will get $989,700 to permanently protect 145 acres owned by William Brown and Barbara Felton, on which they manage a beef cattle operation.
