Eligibility & Enrollment

Start by completing a WAP Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Tier I application and returning it to the Agricultural Program office. This application gathers basic farm information and initiates the eligibility review process. 

Link to AEM Tier 1 

Program staff will confirm the farm’s location, production status, and eligibility based on the following standards: 

• Location: The farmstead, including the main production facilities and housing, must be located within the New York City Watershed boundary. 

• Farm Type and Activity: To qualify as an active farm business, an operation must meet minimum production and sales thresholds: 

Livestock Farms: 

• Must maintain at least 5 Animal Units (A.U.s), and 

• Have average annual gross sales of $10,000 or more over the preceding two years. 

• Must show the ability to manage manure responsibly through export, composting, or field spreading.

Non-Livestock Farms: 

• Must have average annual gross sales of $10,000 and at least 7 acres in agricultural production. 

• Eligible sales include crops, maple syrup, honey, Christmas trees, nursery plants. 

• Start-Up Farms: New operations that have not yet reached $10,000 in sales may qualify by demonstrating the value of raised livestock or commodities over the past tax year. 
  Start-up periods vary by enterprise (e.g., 2 years for crops and livestock, 3–5 years for orchards and berries, 8–10 years for Christmas trees). 

• Existing Participants: Current Whole Farm Plan (WFP) participants that fall below these thresholds are reviewed according to program guidelines. 

Once eligibility is confirmed, WAP staff will conduct a WFP Tier 2 based on the NYS AEM process.  The goal is learn more about the farm operation, management goals, and to identify water quality resource concerns that may be mitigated by best management practices.  

If a farm is advanced as a program participant, they would work with Whole Farm and Nutrient Management planners to develop a plan for their farm. 

The primary purpose of the Whole Farm Plan is to identify environmental risks and the Best Management Practices (BMPs) mutually agreed upon to address those resources issues, based on NRCS, NYS or local developed standards. 

As BMPs are prioritized following program guidelines and contractual obligations, projects are designed collaborative with the landowner/producer and implemented through local contractors and engineers under WAC supervision.

Once completed, the participant is responsible for ensuring that each practice is properly operated and maintained throughout its designated lifespan, and beyond as feasible. Participants in good standing remain eligible for repair, replacement, and future improvement projects as long as they stay active in the program.