Saratoga Springs, New York, February 26, 2010 —American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) updated 2010  “New York Agricultural Landowner Guide: A Guide to Public Farmland Conservation Programs” is hot off the press. This guide is an indispensable tool for farmers and rural landowners trying to navigate the sometimes confusing array of public programs available to them. “I don’t have a lot of time to research all the programs out there,” says Don Telaak, a dairy farmer in Little Valley, NY. “Researching all of these programs is probably one of the most important things that can be done to help farmers improve their businesses.”

The New York Agricultural Landowner Guide describes over 60 public programs currently available to help farmers meet a myriad of challenges, ranging from reducing property taxes and protecting farmland from development to enhancing economic viability and generating alternative energy.

Agriculture is increasingly recognized as a critical element of the state’s economy and a key producer of fresh, healthy foods and renewable energy. New York’s farmers are stewards to approximately 7.5 million acres of agricultural lands, which is approximately 25 percent of the land in the state. Farms not only provide jobs; they purchase goods and services from other New York businesses and provide raw products to food processors around the state. Combined, New York’s farm and food sector generates $23 million in revenue annually.

Yet economic factors have made it difficult for many New York farms to stay in business. Declining prices for farm products combined with escalating costs, reduced access to financing, and limited available land make it tough for farmers to remain in operation. Benefits such as tax abatement programs, low-interest loans, assistance in conserving natural resources, and help with generational transitions can make a big difference for farm businesses.

American Farmland Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting our nation’s agricultural resources. AFT’s New York office is headquartered in Saratoga Springs. AFT’s work in New York focuses on protecting farmland from poorly planned development, promoting environmental stewardship on farms and strengthening the economic viability of agriculture.

              The New York Agricultural Landowners Guide is available to download at www.farmland.org/newyork. For more information, and to order copies of the guide, visit AFT’s website, e-mail newyork@farmland.org, or call (518) 581-0078.

American Farmland Trust greatly appreciates the generous financial support of the following individuals and organizations that made possible the production of this publication: Sarah K. DeCoizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust; Western New York Foundation; Matthew Bender, IV; Blueberry Ridge Stewardship Services, LLC; Dairylea Cooperative, Inc.; Dairy Farmers of America’s Northeast Area Council;

Dairy Marketing Services; Hancock & Estabrook, LLP; National Grape Cooperative; Shulman, Howard and McPherson, LLP; and the members of American Farmland Trust.

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