The Sullivan County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB), in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC) and the Orange County Land Trust (OCLT), is currently seeking farm owners interested in applying for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program.
This initiative offers a unique opportunity for farmers to permanently protect their land from future development through agricultural conservation easements, while continuing to actively farm. Participating farms must be actively farming the property and committed to placing a permanent land protection agreement on their property, ensuring it remains in agricultural use for generations to come.
To qualify, interested farms must submit a Pre-Application Inquiry Form by Friday, August 22, 2025. The Sullivan County AFPB will review and rank submissions before forwarding selected applications to the Orange County Land Trust for inclusion in the state grant process. After submitting the pre-application form, a representative from the Orange County Land Trust will follow up directly with applicants to discuss the program in more detail and review eligibility requirements. When offered in the past, the grant has been highly competitive, with requests for State assistance often exceeding available funds.
How to Apply:
Download and Complete the pre-application form.
Submit completed forms via email to Melinda Meddaugh at mm2592@cornell.edu or Michael Sweeton at michael@oclt.org.
Alternatively, mail forms to:
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County
64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Liberty, NY 12754
For more information about the NYSDAM FPIG Program, visit the official program page.
Sullivan County, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC) and the Orange County Land Trust (OCLT), has launched a bold initiative to protect local farmland, support farmers, and preserve the county’s rural character for future generations.
Farms are the backbone of Sullivan County’s economy and heritage. This initiative aims to:
By leveraging state and federal resources, the county is working to shield farmland from development pressures and ensure its long-term productivity.
For Farmers:
For Communities & Municipalities:
Sullivan County is exploring participation in the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act (CPA), which allows communities to establish Community Preservation Funds (CPF) through a real estate transfer tax. These funds can be used to:
Communities like New Paltz, Gardiner, and Warwick have successfully implemented CPFs, balancing growth with conservation.
This project is supported by the County of Sullivan and the Sullivan County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board. For more information or to set up a meeting, reach out to either the Orange County Land Trust or CCE Sullivan below. We are also available for a presentation for your municipality and to provide one on one technical support to update your zoning and comprehensive plans to be more ag friendly.
Michael Sweeton
michael@oclt.org
(845) 534-3690 x 7
Melinda Meddaugh
mm2592@cornell.edu
(845) 292-6180 x116
Melinda Meddaugh
Agriculture & Food Systems Sr. Issue Leader
mm2592@cornell.edu
(845) 292-6180 Ext. 116
Last updated July 16, 2025