NY Gov. Cuomo awards $4 million to help farms with climate change

NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo awarded $4 million to help 80 farms statewide reduce their environmental footprints and prepare for extreme weather resulting from climate change.

Through the Climate Resilient Farming grant program, the selected projects will reduce greenhouse gases by an estimated 90,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to a news release.

That’s equivalent to eliminating almost 20,000 cars from the road.

Launched by the governor in 2015, the program supports the state’s agricultural sector in meeting its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Through five rounds of funding, the state has provided $12 million to assist farms.

“Extreme weather caused by climate change is becoming the new normal, and the results can be devastating to New York’s farmers and the entire agriculture industry,” Cuomo said in the release. “Farmers need the resources to adapt to this new normal while continuing to make a living, and the Climate Resilient Farming Program is an important piece of that puzzle.”

The winning farm projects, which weren’t specified by farm name yet, focus on Best Management Practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance soil health and promote energy savings.

The projects also increase irrigation capacity and emphasize water management to help during droughts and flooding.

County soil and water conservation districts were awarded the grants on behalf of farmers in one of the following project categories: agricultural waste storage cover and capture for methane reduction, on-farm water management, and soil health management systems.

“New York’s farmers take great efforts to protect our watersheds and support soil health,” state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said in the release.

“I’m proud that agriculture is at the table, playing an important role as we work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure clean water and healthy soils for our future generations.”