News

TIMELINE: Our Legacy of Farmland Protection

May 31, 2017

1992-93

Secured conservation easements on an orchard and vineyard in the Town of Greenport, Columbia County. Permanent preservation of these 220 scenic acres is critical to protecting the Olana viewshed.

1996

Established a diverse farmland protection advisory committee to assist in developing a pilot project involving the purchase of development rights (PDR) on working farms.

1997

Established the goal of protecting a critical mass of working farmland in valley agricultural communities.

1998

Through the purchase of development rights (PDR), permanently protected seven working farms totaling over 1,000 acres in the Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County. These include two vegetable farms, one field crop farm and four orchards.

2001

Permanently protected through PDR five working field crop farms in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County, conserving over 1,900 acres. Leveraged over $300,000 in state funding.
Purchased a conservation easement on a 57-acre apple orchard in the Town of Marlborough, Ulster County, adjacent to the Gomez Mill House historic site.

2002

Secured a conservation easement on a 230-acre horse farm in the Town of Clermont, Columbia County, adjacent to Clermont State Historic Site.
Secured a conservation easement on a 153-acre apple orchard in the Town of Livingston, Columbia County, critical to protecting the Olana viewshed.

2003

Purchased conservation easements on a dairy farm and field crop farm in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, totaling more than 700 acres. Leveraged over $500,000 from state and other private sources.

2004

Purchased a conservation easement on a 230-acre vegetable farm in Red Hook, Dutchess County, leveraging $465,000 in funding from Dutchess County.
Partnered with the Town of Warwick, Orange County, to purchase development rights to a 41-acre field crop farm — the first transaction via the town’s publicly funded farmland protection program.
Purchased a conservation easement on a 174-acre field crop farm in the Town of Stockport, Columbia County, adjacent to a Scenic Hudson nature preserve. The easement contains the right to create a public trail across a highly scenic stretch of the farm, while not interfering with agricultural operations.
Began background work to initiate a “critical mass” farmland-protection project in the towns of Clermont, Germantown and Livingston, Columbia County.

2005

Purchased a conservation easement on a 139-acre orchard in Red Hook, Dutchess County, leveraging $393,311 in town funding.
Partnered with the Town of Warwick, Orange County, to protect through PDR two working farms on over 165 acres. Leveraged more than $1,000,000 in public funding.

2006

Partnered with Ulster County and the Open Space Institute to purchase a conservation easement on 269 acres of fertile cropland in the Rondout Valley — the first state-funded PDR project to close in the county. Leveraged over $400,000 in public and private funding.
Partnering with the Town of Warwick and Orange County — and with funding from the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program — purchased a conservation easement on a 200-acre angus farm. Leveraged over $1.67 million in public funding.
With The Nature Conservancy purchased a conservation easement on a 167-acre sheep farm in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, leveraging over $200,000 in other public funding and a charitable contribution from the landowner.

2007

With the Town of Warwick and Orange County Land Trust purchased a conservation easement on a 300-acre beef and hay operation. Leveraged $870,000 in public funding to complete our preservation efforts in this community.
Secured four conservation easements to protect three leased field crop farms totaling over 500 acres in Clermont, Columbia County, creating the core of a “critical mass” of protected farmland in this community.
Partnered with Ulster County and the Open Space Institute to purchase a conservation easement on 325 acres of fertile cropland in the Rondout Valley, leveraging over $850,000 of other public and private funds. A subsequent portion of this project protected 45 adjacent acres of historic farmland, allowing the launch of a new dairy operation.
Protected two family-operated orchards totaling more than 70 acres in the Town of Marbletown, Ulster County.

2008

Protected two farms in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, ensuring their highly prized soils on 469 acres will continue to support the town’s agriculture-based economy.
Built a four-property farmland assemblage in a crucial agricultural corridor of Red Hook, Dutchess County, that placed an additional 225 acres under permanent protection.
Purchased a conservation easement in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, on 52 acres of high-quality agricultural land adjoining a 452-acre farm protected by Scenic Hudson in 2003.

2009

Purchased a conservation easement on 69 acres in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, including a 35-acre prime hayfield; increases contiguous farmland protected to 595 acres.
PDR on 60 scenic acres in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, guarantees its 45 acres of high-quality soils continue supporting a local dairy operation and the town’s economy.
Secured a conservation easement on a 140-acre Clermont, Columbia County, farm that includes 95 acres of USDA Prime Soils or Soils of Statewide Significance.
Purchased a conservation easement on a 378-acre beef cattle/equine training and boarding operation in Red Hook, Dutchess County, creating a 1,045-acre block of protected farmland. Leveraged a charitable contribution from the landowners.

2010

Partnered with the Open Space Conservancy to purchase 170 agricultural acres in Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Together we’re working to transfer the land to a farmer, subject to a conservation easement.

2011

Partnered with the Open Space Conservancy to purchase a conservation easement on a 90-acre biodynamic farm in Greenport, Columbia County, that is critical to protecting the Olana viewshed.
Purchased a conservation easement on 82 acres in Stuyvesant, Columbia County. This partnership with Columbia Land Conservancy enabled the purchase of the land by Monkshood Nursery.
Partnering with Columbia Land Conservancy, secured a conservation easement on a 233-acre farm property in Stuyvesant, Columbia County.
Purchased a conservation easement on 150-acres of family farmland in Stuyvesant, Columbia County.

2012

Partnering with Dutchess Land Conservancy, the Town of Red Hook and the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program secured conservation easements on eight farm properties, totaling 440 acres in Red Hook, Dutchess County.
An additional three conservation easements on more than 240 acres in Clermont and Germantown, Columbia County were also made possible with funding from the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program. The purchase of the development rights on the two farms in Clermont enabled the purchase of the land by Hearty Roots Community Farm and Gansvoort Farm.

2013

Partnering with Dutchess Land Conservancy, the Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County and the USDA-Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program secured conservation easements on more than 300 acres on two farm properties in Red Hook.
Also with USDA funding and collaboration with Columbia Land Conservancy, acquired conservation easements on more than 950 acres on five Columbia County farms—three in Stuyvesant and one each in Taghkanic and Livingston.

2014

Partnering with Columbia Land Conservancy and with support from the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, conserved over 750 acres on agricultural land in Livingston, Stuyvesant, Kinderhook and Clermont.
In collaboration with Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC) and support from the USDA and Town of Red Hook, secured conservation easements on 175 acres of prime agricultural land on two family farms.
Secured an easement on 60 acres in Greenport, Columbia County, enabling group of young farmers to purchase property and secure operations of Letterbox Farm—supplying vegetables, meat and eggs to regional, NYC markets.
Partnering with Columbia Land Conservancy and Northeast Farm Access, conserved 189 acres in Copake, supporting investor-driven initiative to make farmland available for young farmers and experienced farmers seeking to expand operations.

2015

Partnered with Columbia Land Conservancy to protect 143 acres in Schodack, Rensselaer County, vital to operations of multigenerational Dutch Hollow Farm in Stuyvesant, Columbia County.
Collaborating with Columbia Land Conservancy, secured an easement on 60-acre Whistle Down Farm in Claverack, supporting farm supplying vegetables and berries to local consumers and NYC food pantries.
With Columbia Land Conservancy, protected 130 acres in Stuyvesant leased to a neighboring farmer producing hay for dairy feed.
Partnering with Columbia Land Conservancy and Equity Trust, acquired an easement on 83 acres on third-generation Delapenta Farm in Taghkanic, dairy farm in operation since 1913.
With Columbia Land Conservancy, protected 390-acre Old Mud Creek Farm in Livingston, supporting landowner’s efforts to restore farm’s soil health following years of pesticide experimentation by previous corporate owners.
Acquired 196 acres in Stuyvesant, Columbia County, leased to a neighboring farmer to produce field crops supporting local dairy operations.

2016

Collaborated with Columbia Land Conservancy and funding from USDA Agricultural Land Easement Program, Equity Trust and The 1772 Foundation to protect 350-acre Walt’s Dairy in Copake—fourth-generation farm, founding member of Hudson Valley Fresh dairy cooperative.
Partnering with Dutchess Land Conservancy and funding from NYS Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program, conserved 186 acres in Pine Plains vital to sustaining operations of Ronnybrook Farm, hailed as “the most sustainable milk and yogurt producer in upstate New York.”
With Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Orange County Land Trust and NYS Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program funding, acquired a conservation easement on 88-acre Jones Farm in Cornwall. Fourth-generation owners sell fruits, vegetables at on-site store.
Collaborating with Orange County Land Trust and NYS Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program funding, protected 143-acre Windfall Farm in Hamptonburgh. Farmer has sold produce at NYC Union Square Greenmarket for three decades.
Partnered with Columbia Land Conservancy to protect 163-acre farm used to grow corn and soybeans that support operations of local, food-producing farms.
With the Agricultural Stewardship Association, Equity Trust and NYS Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program funding, conserved 175-acre Laughing Earth Farm in Brunswick, Rensselaer County, enabling a new generation of farmers to acquire the land. Farmers raise meat, vegetables sold at Troy Waterfront Farmers Market and via a CSA.

2017

Partnered with Columbia Land Conservancy to acquire conservation easement on 210 acres in Ancram helping sustain operations of Ronnybrook Farm, which sells milk, other dairy products throughout valley, NYC and NY Metropolitan Area.
With Dutchess Land Conservancy, Dutchess County and NYS Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program funding, conserved 158-acre Duncandale Farm in North East. Owned by Duncan family since the 1700s, farm produces hay for beef and dairy cattle.