LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Farm-
land Protection Program

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that the continuing
welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched and
reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of programs which are
committed to the preservation of our natural environment and the
enhancement of the appreciation of the distinctive features of our
surroundings, and to the economic well-being of the areas in which they
exist; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 20th Anniversary of the Farmland Protection Program and to
recognize the important role it plays in New York State; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, the Farmland Protection Program was enacted to
protect and conserve farmland and preserve prime, unique, and productive
soil from the nonagricultural uses of such land; and
WHEREAS, Supported by farmers and citizens concerned about the rapid
loss of farmland to development, the Farmland Protection Program has
helped save millions of acres of farmland from development and has led
the way in establishing sound environmental practices on millions more;
and
WHEREAS, The Farmland Protection Program strives to create public and
private conservation easement programs which keep farmland in the hands
of farmers, enabling them to resist development pressure, and compensat-
ing them for giving up development rights; and
WHEREAS, Today, nearly 30 percent of New York's farmers are over the
age of 65, and subsequently, will be transitioning out of farming in the
coming years; these farmers manage nearly two million acres of land
across New York which could be lost to real estate development when they
retire; and
WHEREAS, Research conducted by the United States Department of Agri-
culture, American Farmland Trust and the American Farm Bureau Federation
has demonstrated that accessing farmland is one of the biggest barriers
for new farmers; and
WHEREAS, In 1992, then Governor Mario Cuomo and the New York State
Legislature passed the Agricultural Protection Act which created Article
25-AAA of the State Agriculture and Markets Law and authorized the
Commissioner of Agriculture to establish an Agriculture and Farmland
Protection Program to protect New York's working farmland; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its 20 year history, the Farmland Protection
Program has played a key role in supporting sustainable farm practices,
providing incentives for farmers to adopt best management practices, and
keeping farmers on their land; and
WHEREAS, To date, the Farmland Protection Program has provided signif-
icant funds to permanently protect 59,150 acres of farmland on 222 farms
in 29 counties across New York State; and
WHEREAS, An important goal of the Farmland Protection Program has been
to save family farms by building community support for agriculture, and
ensuring access to land for the next generation of farmers; and
WHEREAS, With America losing an acre of farmland every single minute
of every day, the Farmland Protection Program fills a critical need in
protecting valuable farmland for future generations; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Farmland Protection Program has
helped farmers who want to see their land remain in farming, through the
use of innovative approaches to farm succession and transfer, and the
preservation of farmland for younger generations; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
important progress which has been made in New York to protect prime,
unique and working farmland over the last two decades, and to thank the
hundreds of farm families which have made a permanent commitment to
keeping their land available for future generations of farmers; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Farmland Protection Program; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to David Haight, New York Director, American Farmland Trust.