The 2022 New York State budget, finalized by the legislature on April 7, 2021, contains a host of provisions that will support NY agriculture.
Senator Hinchey and Assemblywoman Lupardo worked to ensure that the State Budget continues funding for the Environmental Protection Fund at $300 million. This provides important support to New York farmers and agricultural sustainability, including $18 million for farmland protection and $18 million for agricultural non-point source abatement and control projects that support efforts to address algal blooms and integrated pest management.
The New York Soil Health initiative also received continued funding of $200,000 for FY2021-22 under the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, and an additional $200,000 through the DEC Aid-to-Localities funds.
Other highlights of the 2021-22 State Budget include:
- $1.85 million for the New York Farm Viability Institute
- $500,000 to American Farmland Trust for the Farmland for a New Generation Regional Navigators and Resource Center
- New funding for the Cornell Equitable Farm Futures Initiative ($400,000) to improve equity in education and training opportunities for new and beginning farmers with an important emphasis on supporting BIPOC farmers and training Hispanic and Latinx farm employees for management opportunities in agriculture.