RANDOLPH – Local farmers are now able to apply for funding made available through a new grant that aims to protect farmland across New York State.

In total a record $52.5 million dollars is available part of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program.

The program works to help farmers across the state protect valuable and at-risk land.

For the first time, the program will distribute $5 million to each of the state’s 10 economic development regions. This is the highest level of funding being offered in the program’s 25-year history.

Municipalities, counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and land trusts are also eligible to apply for grants of up to $2 million each. The grants will help offset the costs of conservation easement projects that protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use.

There is no application deadline and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until available funds have been awarded to eligible projects.