Pre-applications are now open for Cayuga County farmland owners looking to protect their land from future development.
The Cayuga County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) has announced it has opened a new round of pre-applications for its farmland protection program. Those interested in having their land permanently protected from future development are encouraged to apply.
The program permanently protects farmland from development through a conservation easement while allowing the land to stay in private ownership.
The Cayuga County Planning Department will receive and review the pre-applications. They will then be ranked by the AFPB.
The AFPB added that, because the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets is conducting open rounds of funding rather than highly competitive rounds as it had previously done, it expects “a much higher number of Cayuga County pre-applications endorsed by the AFPB this year than previous years.”
Farms endorsed by the AFPB will remain on file so they can be selected by one or more area land trusts when funding becomes available.
The AFPB is asking that only Cayuga County farmland owners who have not applied since 2021 should apply this year. Anyone who has applied since 2021 already has their information on file. Those who have previously applied but have seen significant changes in their farm operations or land ownership are asked to contact the county.
Interested farmland owners and those who need to make changes to their previous applications should visit the county’s website or contact Planner Emily Antonacci at 315-253-1482 or [email protected].
The deadline to apply is December 30, 2025.
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