Key Takeaways:
- The New York State Department of Agriculture has made $25 million available through the Ag Nonpoint Program.
- Funding supports agricultural water quality conservation and environmental planning projects statewide.
- County Soil and Water Conservation Districts will apply on behalf of farmers.
- Applications are due by April 20, 2026.
- Funding is sourced from the Environmental Protection Fund and the Environmental Bond Act.
New York State Department of Agriculture Opens Applications for Ag Nonpoint Program
The New York State Department of Agriculture announced the availability of $25 million in funding to support agricultural water quality conservation projects across the state. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control (Ag Nonpoint) Program and represents the second consecutive year of record-level funding for the initiative.
The program is funded through a combination of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. Project proposals must be submitted by April 20, 2026, and applications are available through the Department’s funding opportunities portal.
New York State Department of Agriculture Details Eligible Projects and Funding Structure
The Ag Nonpoint Program provides funding for projects focused on environmental planning or the implementation of best management practices aimed at protecting New York’s watersheds. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, nutrient management through manure storage systems, vegetative and forested buffers along waterways, conservation cover crops, and other conservation measures.
Under Round 31 of the program, $14 million is allocated from the Environmental Protection Fund and $11 million from the Environmental Bond Act. Funds will be awarded to County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, which apply on behalf of participating farmers throughout New York State.
Program History and Recent Funding Outcomes
The Ag Nonpoint Program has been in place for more than 30 years. To date, over $275 million has been awarded across 30 funding rounds to support on-farm conservation projects. In the most recent funding cycle, Round 30, awards were distributed to 109 farms and 25 County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Funded projects included conservation plans covering more than 12,000 acres of cover crops, 31 agricultural waste storage systems, and 25 forested buffer installations.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “For over three decades, our Ag Nonpoint program has seen tremendous success, helping farmers implement best practices to protect our waterways.”
Program Administration and Broader Environmental Context
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the Ag Nonpoint Program in coordination with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee through its Division of Land and Water Resources. The program operates within the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework, which supports science-based and cost-effective decision-making for farmers.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton noted that the funding aligns with ongoing state investments in water quality and agricultural resilience. Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo also highlighted the role of the program in supporting farmers and local conservation districts across the state.
Applications for the program can be found here.
