Watershed Agricultural Program (Whole Farm Planning and BMP cost share, West of Hudson)

Voluntary, incentive-based program for farms in the New York City West-of-Hudson (Catskill/Delaware) Watershed. Participating farms receive a Whole Farm Plan, engineering and design, and 100% cost-share for eligible best management practices (barnyards, manure storages, fencing, stream crossings, cover crops, lime, pasture improvements), plus nutrient management and long-term repair/replacement support. Farm owners or lessors of an eligible farm operation apply with a WAP AEM Tier I application.

Farmstead and main production area within the NYC Watershed boundary; owner or lessor of a farm operation as defined by NYS Ag & Markets Law; average annual farm sales of $10,000 gross over the previous two years on a minimum of 7 acres (if less than 7 acres, farm sales must gross an average of $50,000); livestock farms must maintain at least 5 Animal Units and show capacity for proper manure handling; non-livestock farms need at least 7 acres in production; start-up farms may qualify by documenting value of livestock or crops raised in the first 2-5 years; CREP or Catskill Stream Buffer Initiative participants may be eligible as Conservation Participants for limited BMPs.

100% cost-share; BMPs designed and implemented through local contractors under WAC supervision; participant must operate and maintain each practice for its designated lifespan (O&M agreement); participants in good standing remain eligible for repair, replacement and future improvements.

Published amounts: 100% cost-share for eligible BMP implementation, including repair and replacement of existing systems. Invested more than $75 million on over 7,000 BMPs.

Complete a WAP Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Tier I application and return it to the Agricultural Program office (44 West Street, Walton, NY 13856). Staff confirm eligibility, then conduct a WFP Tier 2 and develop a Whole Farm Plan; BMPs are placed into the annually prioritized workload and implemented as funding is available.

Deadline text on the page: Enrollment in the Watershed Agricultural Program is based on eligibility, available program capacity, and annual prioritization of new Whole Farm Plans. Submission of an application does not guarantee immediate enrollment.