Purchase of Development Rights

A Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) is a voluntary legal agreement, or conservation easement, that restricts all future non-farm development while encouraging farming, forestry, and other land uses that are compatible with agriculture. PDRs allow land to stay in private ownership and on the tax rolls.

Farmland Protection Program

Cayuga County's Farmland Protection Program launched in 2001 with an award of over $1,000,000 dollars from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) for protection of 676 acres on the DeGroff Farm in the Town of Fleming, through the purchase of development rights on that farm. Between 2001 and 2024, Cayuga County has helped secure  $19,415,911 in funds to protect a total of 10,753.67 acres on 20 farms in the Towns of Aurelius, Brutus, Cato, Fleming, Ira, Mentz, Montezuma, Scipio, Sennett, Springport, and Sterling. This active farmland is now protected by permanent conservation easements; and these easements are currently held, monitored, and enforced by the New York Agricultural Land Trust (NYALT). NYSDAM administers New York State's Farmland Protection Program, which can pay for up to 87.5% of the cost of PDRs. 

Cayuga County's Selection Process

Once pre-applications have been received, members of the Cayuga County AFPB will review and score each farm project using criteria developed by the Board that aligns with the State’s scoring criteria. Applicants will be required to meet with County Planning staff briefly to identify both the Farmstead Area (agricultural buildings and area for future expansion) and any areas for Exclusion on a map in order to move on to the AFPB review.

The AFPB will utilize the scoring process and other relevant information to select one or more farm projects to receive the Board’s endorsement for the FPIG program and to move on to the next stage of application. 

Land trusts in CNY like the New York Agricultural Land Trust (NYALT) and the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) will review copies of AFPB supported pre-applications and determine which farms they would like to work with. The land trust will then contact property owners directly to prepare the final application to the State. Cayuga County will maintain a “pool” of supported farm pre-applications for the land trusts to choose from as funding from NYS becomes available.

After the 2021 pre-application round, farms will not need to submit a pre-application to the county each year. Only those farms who have not yet applied may submit a pre-application during the annual window. Farms that previously applied will be able to submit updated information though (e.g. parcels purchased or sold, change in farm type/operation, etc.).

Important Information & Documents

Beginning in 2008, the AFPB began requiring that all landowners applying for State funding for farmland protection MUST have completed a Tier 1 and Tier 2 worksheet in the State’s Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program in order to be eligible. The AFPB stands behind this decision today and maintains this eligibility requirement for landowners. The Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District provides Tier 1 and Tier 2 AEM services at no cost to the landowner. Please contact the District at (315) 252-4171 to go through this process prior to submission of the pre-application. CCPED staff will verify with CCSWCD staff that all applicants have completed both a Tier 1 and a Tier 2 worksheet. 

The AFPB also requires that all applicable property taxes (county, town, school, etc.) are current (paid in full or in good standing in a payment plan with the county) on all parcels listed in this pre-application in order for the applicant to be eligible for funding. CCPED staff will verify this information with the County Treasurer’s Office.

Below are some important links for anyone looking to apply for NYSDAM PDR funding.

2024 PDR Application NOW OPEN - Accepting Applications from November 1st, 2024 - December 30th, 2024!!

• 2024 Cayuga County Pre-App (PDF)
• Suitability of Parcels for Farmland Protection (Map from County Ag Plan)
• 2024 PDR Program Information (PDF)

NEW REQUIREMENTS FROM NYS FOR AWARDED PROJECTS - STARTING  IN 2023!

The NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets just announced that for all new PDR awards beginning in 2023, landowners will be required to complete AEM Tier 3 Conservation Plans and submit a certification to that effect as part of the final project file prior to closing the project and receiving the funding from the state. Landowners will have at least two years from the time that they receive an award letter from the state and get under contract to complete this requirement if they do not already have a Tier 3 or higher plan in place. As with Tier 1 and Tier 2 AEM the Tier 3 process can be completed with assistance from the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District. The documents below have been provided by NYSDAM regarding this new requirement. This information IS NOT required as part of the pre-application submitted to Cayuga County, but is required as part of the contract for any farm awarded state funding through the FPIG program going forward. Farms will work with the land trust submitting their state application to make sure the required information is provided back to the state.

• Sequence of Communications-Conservation Plan Required for FPIG (PDF)
• AEM or Equivalent Landowner Participation Verification Form (PDF)
• Notification to All Participating Landowners in FPIG Awarded Farmland Protection Project (PDF)
• Status of Conservation Plan Certification Form (PDF)

Developing Strong Partnerships

Cayuga County's success has been made possible by developing strong partnerships with our farming communities, land trusts such as the New York Agricultural Land Trust and the Finger Lakes Land Trust, and our funding partners - NYSDAM and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS offers federal matching funds through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

Useful Links

Below are some additional useful links for anyone looking to protect farmland in Cayuga County

Frequently Asked Questions and Map of Protected Land in Cayuga County

• FAQ Sheet for PDR in Cayuga County  Opens a New Win
• Map of Protected Farmland in Cayuga Countypens a Ne Opens a New Window.  Opens a Ne Opens a Ne

Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District

• Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Opens a New Window. 
• Cayuga County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office

Land Trusts

• New York Agricultural Land Trust (NYALT)NYALT) fsda New Window. Window. 
  • NYALT Conservation Easement Brochure
• Finger Lakes Land Trust

New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM)

• Farmland Protection Program
• NYSDAM Model Agricultural Conservation Easement

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS)

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
• ACEP Fact Sheet
• Getting Started with NRCS