Read these stories and more in the October 2026 news here.
INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE NYC WATERSHED
Steve Bishop Jr. operates a 40-cow dairy where he raises his own replacements, grows his own crops, and pastures his milking herd and bred heifers during the summer.
For Steve, one of the biggest challenges is keeping productive pasture through the summer. The farm’s gravelly soils dry quickly, and pastures can struggle by mid-June.
Through the AEIDP Grant, Steve is testing a no-till drill to establish new forage directly into existing pasture. The project will look at different forage varieties, including winter rye, clover, chicory, and bird’s-foot trefoil, as well as potential summer annuals that can provide quick nutritional value.
The project builds on Steve’s previous experience with frost seeding. After turkeys consumed much of the seed, he moved away from that approach. The no-till drill offers a different solution by placing the seed directly into the soil.
The project will look at forage quality and quantity, pasture performance, cow behavior, labor and fuel use, and the practical impacts on the farm. Time-lapse cameras may also help show whether cows stay on pasture or return to the covered feed bunk when forage or summer conditions become limiting.
This program is administered by the Watershed Agricultural Council and funded by the New York State Office of the Attorney General. Learn more about the grant here.
DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR FARMLAND OR WOODLOT?
American Farmland Trust details in its report, Farms Under Threat, that between 2001 and 2016, 11 million acres of agricultural land were lost or fragmented in the US, converted to development or low-density residential use, and taken out of agricultural production. Another 18+ million farmland acres are on track to be converted out of farmland by 2040.
The United States Forest Service projects that 34 million forested acres will be lost to development in the next three decades.
We are fortunate to have abundant forests and productive farmland in the NYC Watershed region. Farms and forests provide natural beauty, economic development, clean water, wildlife habitat, flood absorption, and – importantly – food!
Are you a landowner in the NYC Watershed interested in protecting your forest or farmland with a conservation easement?
You can contribute to the critical goal to protect forests and farmland for generations to come!
WAC’s Easement Program is currently accepting applications for Agricultural Conservation Easements or Forest Conservation Easements.
BENEFITS OF A WAC CONSERVATION EASEMENT:
• Maintains working landscapes, protecting forests and farmland.
• Supports farming and forest management, contributing to the local economy.
• Protects water quality from Delaware County to New York City.
• Promotes historic preservation and local communities’ rural character.
• Protects wildlife habitat and allows for recreation.
• Land remains in private ownership and on the tax rolls.
• Get free appraisal of your land value with no commitment.
Must be in the NYC Watershed. Learn more about eligibility and other details here.
For more information about easements, or to request an application, contact Rebecca Morgan, Land Planning Coordinator at: rmorgan@nycwatershed.org or call 607-865-7790 ext 120
REGIONAL NAVIGATOR GRANT CONNECTING FARMLAND TO FARMERS
WAC’s Easement Program was one of 40 recipients awarded funds by American Farmland Trust (AFT) to build the capacity to connect available farmland to potential farmers (new farmers, expanding farmers, relocating farmers, etc.) through AFT’s Regional Navigator program.
With a goal to “keep working lands in working hands”, WAC will develop an up-to-date data base of farmland owners looking to lease, lease to own, or other arrangement, that ensures their farmland stays in agriculture. With a primary emphasis on landowners with agricultural easements, but extending to all farmland owners in the watershed region, the project will create a database of available farmland, on-site farm infrastructure, and other farmland assets that are relevant to potential farmers.
Serena Orleski, WAC’s Easement Program Manager, emphasizes the importance of the Regional Navigator program: “Across New York, farmland affordability, an aging farmer demographic, workforce challenges, land fragmentation, and an uptick in non-operating landowners threaten the long-term vitality of working lands. WAC is eager to commence work on a detailed landowner survey, a critical first step in orchestrating successful and sustainable matches between farmland owners and farmland seekers. Long-term, WAC envisions the survey to spur a permanent emphasis on land access, affordability, and collaboration within and beyond the easement program, to better ensure the economic viability of the region’s working landscapes.”
For more information about the program click here.
If you are a landowner interested in having your land farmed, please contact: sorleski@nycwatershed.org.
