The Schoharie Land Trust and four other land trusts across New York have received funding through the New York Land Trust Grants program, run by state Ag & Markets.
This program works to enhance farmland conservation projects by assisting with the cost of land appraisals needed to establish the value of development rights for agricultural conservation easement projects. 
With this information, landowners can consider whether conservation easements would benefit them as a land protection alternative.
The Land Trust Grants Program is one of several funding opportunities to preserve farmland through the state’s Farmland Protection Implementation Grants, dairy transition grants and other initiatives to encourage the preservation of agricultural land.
The project will help landowners who are weighing their options to continue, sell or reinvest in their farms. 
The funding will pay for the real estate appraisals to determine the value of those development rights.  
Once this information is known, the farmer can make a decision about further participation in New York State Farmland Protection Programs.
The state awarded a total of $231,000 and the Schoharie Land Trust will receive $50,000 to conduct land appraisals on 10 area farms. 
The awarded projects also promote objectives outlined in in the 2016 Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, adopted in 2016.
“We are pleased to be able to take this step toward helping Schoharie County farmers who want to utilize the state’s farmland protection programs, and particularly conservation easements,” Schoharie Land Trust President Andy Mason said. “This property value information is crucial for them to be able to make informed decisions.”
Schoharie County Agricultural Planner Alicia Terry agreed.
“This is great news for farmers in Schoharie County,” she said. “The Schoharie Land Trust will be able to document the monetary value for development rights.  This will be valuable information for the Land Trust, farmers, and government decision makers.  Everyone has been waiting for this data.” 
New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball said the funding will help “our land trust partners with our collective goal of protecting New York farms and the open space they preserve. 
“It brings dozens of farms, seeking to preserve thousands of acres of farmland in New York State, closer to securing conservation easements as an alternative to development.  Investing in the protection of our land sustains our longstanding agricultural traditions and improves quality of life for our communities.”