Two Central New York conservation districts are receiving state funding to support sustainable farming practices, improve water quality, and mitigate climate change. The funding is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Enhanced Nutrient and Methane Management Program, which awarded $15.8 million to 22 farms across New York.
The Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District will receive $1,025,759 to implement environmental improvements on two farms in the Chenango Watershed. Meanwhile, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District has been awarded $293,850 for a project at a farm in the Oneida Lake Watershed.
Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of the dairy industry in New York’s agricultural economy and highlighted the state’s commitment to sustainability. “The dairy industry is a cornerstone of New York’s economy, thanks to the dedication of dairy farmers and manufacturers across the state whose work has made this commodity New York’s largest agricultural sector. I am proud to help our farmers reduce their carbon footprint while continuing to put world-class products on the tables of New Yorkers for generations to come,” said Hochul.
The funding will help farmers implement climate-friendly manure management systems, improve nutrient retention in soil, and adopt precision feed management to reduce methane emissions. In total, the projects funded in this round are expected to reduce 122,833 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent annually, which is comparable to removing 28,651 gas-powered vehicles from the road for a year.
In addition to the $15.8 million awarded in this funding round, Governor Hochul’s 2025 Executive Budget Proposal includes an additional $10 million to expand dairy processing capacity, support research, and help farms implement climate-resilient practices.
The Fiscal Year 2025 Budget also includes $34 million over two years to expand on-farm milk storage capacity, improve efficiencies in milk transfer and cooling technologies, and help dairy farmers transport and store their products more effectively.
With nearly 3,000 dairy farms producing over 16.1 billion pounds of milk annually, New York remains the fifth-largest dairy state in the country. Programs like CAFO ENMP aim to ensure that New York’s agricultural sector remains competitive, environmentally sustainable, and economically resilient.
