Emily’s ag weekly: preserving farmland

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - There is a push underway to preserve farmland in northern New York.

“We now have about 14 projects that are currently happening with the land trust and farms all over the Tug Hill region,” said Mark Pacilio, Executive Director of the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust.

Pacilio has been working with the state Department of Ag and Markets to conserve farmland in the area. So far, more than 22,000 acres have been conserved and another six thousand acres are in the works.

“The work we’ve done over the last 25-30 years is pretty substantial,” Pacilio said.

So why conserve farmlands? There are a few reasons. It’s good for the environment, it keeps the landscape of our region the same - which protects the ecosystem we have - and it’s assurance that some farmers want.

“Farmers really want to see their land that they’ve had in their family for generations stay in their family and not be developed by solar or wind or any other development,” he said.

Plus, farmers are paid for the value of their land, which could be anywhere from thousands of dollars to close to a million dollars.

Once an easement for the land is done, the farmer is paid, the land stays farmland and the state is closer to its goal of conservation.

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