Loading....

ACT NOW!

Call or Write Your State Representatives Today to Support Farmland Protection and Farmland Access Programs in the State Budget

Final budget negotiations are happening NOW in Albany to decide the fate of programs that help keep land in farming and keep farmers on the land in New York. Please voice your support TODAY for proposed increases in funding for New York’s Farmland Protection and Farmland for a New Generation programs, which work hand in hand to keep land in farming and keep farmers on the land in New York state.

TAKE ACTION: Call or write your state representatives today to let them know you support strong funding for both of these critical programs that help farmers and landowners across the state and keep New York agriculture strong!

Take Action: Send a letter to your state representatives. Enter your information below, and with just one click, send a customized letter directly to your state representatives in support of strong funding for protecting our farmland and keeping farmers on the land in New York!

Take Action: Call your representatives: Look up your Senator and Assemblymember.

Sample call language: “Hello, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent in your district. I am calling to ask Senator/Assemblymember [Last Name] to please support $27 million for farmland protection as part of a $400 million Environmental Protection Fund, and $500,000 for the Farmland for a New Generation New York program. I also urge you to include the $3 billion Environmental Bond Act in the state fiscal year 2022 enacted budget. Together, these programs will help keep land in farming and bring a new generation of farmers onto the land. Thank you!”

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Address, line 1*

City*

State*

Zip Code*

I'd like to receive the latest news, updates, and action opportunities from AFT!

Take Action

ACT NOW!

Call or Write Your State Representatives Today to Help K-12 Schools Serve More New York Grown Food to New York Kids

NY State Senators and Representatives

Subject: Please Support Farmland Protection and Farmland for a New Generation New York in the State Budget

Message:

I am very grateful for the leadership of both the State Senate and the Assembly in proposing increases in funding for the farmland protection and Farmland for a New Generation programs in this year’s budget. To ensure a strong future for farming and growing food in our state, I urge you to work to include the Assembly’s proposed $27 million for farmland protection as part of a $400 million EPF in the SFY22 Enacted State Budget and $500,000 in funding for the Farmland for a New Generation New York program. Finally, I ask that you work to reauthorize the $3 billion Environmental Bond Act as proposed by the Senate this year to invest in farmland protection, projects that reduce GHG emissions from farms, and more. Over 9 million acres of farmland serve as the foundation of New York's farm and food economy, which provides benefits for all New Yorkers, including food to sustain us and clean water. And yet, the state has lost over a quarter million acres of farmland between 2001 and 2016 alone. Today nearly one in three farmers in New York is over 65, and these senior farmers own or operate nearly 2 million acres of land vulnerable to being lost to development as they retire. At the same time, new and beginning farmers across New York struggle to find suitable and affordable farmland that will enable them to launch successful farm businesses. Protecting farmland helps keep land available and affordable for farming, and often enables retiring farmers to transfer their farm to a new generation. I support the Assembly’s proposal of $27 million for the farmland protection program as part of a $400 million EPF, and the Senate’s proposal to reauthorize the $3 billion Environmental Bond Act in the SFY22 Enacted Budget to help keep land in farming in New York. Aspiring farmers often need guidance and support to find the right property to enable them to launch a successful farm business, while landowners may need help making their land available or developing succession plans as they approach retirement. Farmland for a New Generation New York helps farmers find land, and landowners make their land available to farm. Within just two years of operation, 68 farmers have been matched with 2,613 acres of land through this program, and thousands of farmers and landowners have received one-on-one support to find land, make their land available, or transfer their farm to the next generation. Please support $500,000 in funding to continue the Farmland for a New Generation New York program in this year’s budget to maintain the Resource Center, increase grants to Regional Navigators who provide one-on-one services to farmers and landowners statewide, and provide new translation services to non-English speaking farmers to help them find farmland. Thank you very much for your time, and for working to support these key programs which will help to ensure a strong future for farming and growing food in New York.

Remaining:

ACT NOW!

ACT NOW!

Sorry, we're not targeting any representatives in your district. But, you can still help!

Thank You!