By Olivia Fuller
American Farmland Trust (AFT) commends Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY26–27 Executive Budget to advance key agricultural investments that align with AFT’s priorities to protect irreplaceable farmland, strengthen New York’s local and regional food systems, and support climate resilience.
New York agriculture is at a defining crossroads. In five years, the state has lost nearly 364,000 acres of farmland and 2,788 farms, while 35% of New York farmers are over age 65, stewarding almost two million acres that are expected to change hands this decade.
AFT applauds the continuation of $25 million in funding for the Farmland Protection program within the $425 million Environmental Protection Fund. This has protected 134,800 acres over the past 30 years and returns up to $2.00 to regional economies for every dollar invested. Farmland protection can also be an important tool to facilitate affordable land access from one generation to the next.
Although funding for Farmland for a New Generation New York (FNG-NY) was not included in Gov. Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal, AFT urges the legislature to restore funding to at least $700,000 and include it in their One-House Budgets. FNG-NY is a nation-leading farmland linking program dedicated to supporting farmland succession and land access. AFT and a network of 40 Regional Navigator organizations work in every region of New York to provide one-on-one support to retiring farmers, help new and beginning farmers secure long-term land tenure, and sustain agricultural production on at-risk farmland. Since 2018, the program has facilitated 234 successful land matches on 11,285 acres, demonstrating its role that prevents farmland loss and ensures the next generation can take root in New York agriculture.
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