Improve Your Farmland
An Opportunity:
Agricultural Conservation Practices
If you are farming land around the Tomhannock Reservoir, we invite you to explore putting conservation practices in place on your farm.
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Conservation practices can help you:
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Solve soil and water problems that cost you time and money
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Improve crop yields and herd health
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Help keep your farmland in the family for generations to come
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Reduce the risk of government inspections and fines
There are many programs available to help farmers like you put conservation practices in place. But are they right for you? If so, which one?
You don’t have to figure it out yourself. Rensselaer County Soil & Water Conservation District works with producers, landowners, and municipalities by providing technical assistance and tools to manage and protect land and water resources in Rensselaer County.
Don’t leave money on the table that could help you improve your farm! Contact us to begin a confidential discussion about whether conservation practices are a good fit for you
We will spare you many hours chasing down answers on your own.
Don’t leave money on the table that could help you improve your farm! Contact us to begin a confidential discussion about whether conservation practices are a good fit for you.
What is the Tomhannock Rural Land Campaign?
It is a program to preserve open space, woodlands, and agricultural land around the Tomhannock Reservoir, which is the water supply for more than 100,000 people in Rensselaer County. The campaign partners are the Rensselaer Land Trust, Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, and Agricultural Stewardship Association.
What Are Agricultural “Conservation Practices?”
They are common-sense solutions to problems on your farm — soil erosion, flooding, gullies, livestock health, and paying your bills. The practices focus on restoring poor soils and protecting and repairing stream banks. Some specific practices include streamside buffers, livestock fencing, no-till cropping, and cover crop planting.
The Rensslaer County Soil and Water Conservation District can help you think through which programs are right for you.
There is money available to help farmers put these practices into place. Typically federal and state programs will provide technical assistance to landowners and reimburse them for somewhere between 70% and 100% of the cost. We will help you think through which program is right for you — so you don’t have to chase down the answers yourself.
Who Should Use Agricultural Conservation Practices?
Conservation practices may be the answer for any farmer who has challenges with the land that make it hard to pay the bills.
When Do I Have to Apply for Financial Assistance?
If you are interested and would like to learn more, it’s best to reach out early. Federal and state conservation assistance programs have application deadlines throughout the year. It takes time to prepare an application.
Where Can You Offer Assistance?
The Rensselaer County Soil & Water Conservation District is offering to help farmers around the Tomhannock Reservoir consider their options for conservation practices.
How Do I Get Started?
Call or write Megan Myers, Rensselaer County Soil & Water Conservation District, at (518) 271-1740 Extension 3 or Megan.Myers.RenscoSWCD@gmail.com