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This week Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $16.2 million has been awarded to support agricultural water quality conservation projects across the state.

As part of the funds awarded, Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District will receive $95,105.00 to provide assistance to three farms to address erosion and phosphorus export, stormwater control and green infrastructure improvements to roofs and gutter systems to direct stormwater away from sensitive areas. Since the inception of the Ag Non-Point program, WCSWCD has assisted over 40 farms with the implementation of best management practices. These BMPs have had a direct effect on potential pollutants from entering the waterways and provide substantial water quality improvements to the watersheds of Wayne County.

All projects support the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program by funding the implementation of agricultural water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect natural resources while maintaining the economic viability of New York State’s diverse agricultural community. In total, more than 90 farms will benefit from the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program. For a complete list of projects awarded, please visit the Department of Agriculture website.

“New York is a leader in the fight to protect clean water, preserve agriculture for the future and combat climate change,” Governor Cuomo said. “From our aggressive clean energy plan to environmentally responsible farm practices, we are committed to supporting projects that will protect our natural resources and ensure a better future for the next generation. This program, which paved the way for many of our other on-farm environmental protection programs, continues to help our farmers use cost-effective methods to protect our waterways.”

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program in coordination with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. The program is a part of the Agricultural Environmental Management framework, a broader effort that helps farmers achieve higher levels of environmental stewardship and more efficient, cost-effective farming systems.

Through the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program in coordination with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee projects include best management practice systems to keep nutrients and other potential pollutants from entering waterways. BMPs include a variety of measures including, vegetative buffers along streams, cover crops, nutrient management through manure storage, and other conservation measures.

The Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program is funded in the 2018-19 State Budget through the historic $300 million New York State Environmental Protection Fund. Since 1993, New York State has dedicated approximately $210 million to the program.

The Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program builds on the Governor’s efforts to provide historic water quality protections across the state through the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017. In 2019, the New York State budget also committed an additional $500 million for capital costs of clean water infrastructure projects.

Following Governor Cuomo’s 2018 State of the State announcement, state agencies allocated more than $82 million in competitive grants for projects to address nutrient pollution in water bodies that have been affected by harmful algal blooms. For more information visit https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/

 

 

Filed Under: District News
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The agricultural assessment program allows eligible farmland owners to receive real property assessments based on the value of their land for agricultural production rather than on its development value.  Any assessed value which exceeds the equalized agricultural assessment on the land may qualify for a reduced tax assessment.

Landowners must apply through the local town assessor for an agricultural assessment. Further Information on Agricultural Districts can be found here, contact information for local assessors can be found here.

Do you qualify? Find out by visiting the Soil Group page, there you can find more information about the program and will be able to download a brochure. You may also call our office at 315-946-7200

Filed Under: District News
5 Nov by

What Are Grass Pavers?

Grass or block pavers, or grow-through pavers—are an alternative to traditional asphalt that can be made from concrete or recycled plastic. The open cells in the paver system allow grass to grow through them making them eco-friendly. Applications include driveways, walkways, crossovers on medians, boat launching ramps, fire lanes, and even RV and boat parking lots.

Creative Grass Paver Driveway
 The example shown is the center strip of a fully functioning ribbon driveway which showcases a variety of succulents and thymes. Although a portion of the garden is necessarily hidden when the car is in residence and occasionally a flower will get decapitated when an auto pulls in, this complex assemblage of succulents provides a startling pop of beauty in a totally unexpected place!

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What Are The Benefits?

    • Paver systems help to reduce stormwater runoff and filter out pollutants. Stormwater runoff on a regular pavement can pick up oil and other road pollutants and washes the toxic mess into rivers, bays, and streams.
    • Pavers also absorb water, reducing or slowing down the water that races over the pavement in a rainstorm, preventing erosion.
    • Grass pavers recharge groundwater. Those spots of grass allow rain to soak into the ground, putting it back into aquifers.
    • Through the magic of transpiration, porous pavers will keep the air around your driveway cooler!
Many Shapes and Styles

Be creative. Paver designs come in many shapes and sizes. You can even create your own design.

How to Install

Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering

#1 Stake out the area for your paver system.  Make a phone call to 811.  Often time homeowners make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even “small” projects like a paver project. 
#2  Clear the area of grass or other material and dig at least 6 inches or the height of the paver system. Make certain you allow at 2 inches or more for stone. This provides good drainage.
#3 Level and compact the area. This can be accomplished with any of the remaining soil that was removed.
#4   After the area is leveled add a layer of filter fabric and a 2″ layer of pea gravel for drainage.
#5 Install the grass paver system or any pattern design.
#6 Plant grass, thyme or other low plant material. Sod plugs work best if available.
Filed Under: InFocus
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The NYSDEC and iMapInvasives team are holding a training webinar for people interested in becoming Certified iMapInvasives Trainers on October 30th, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Join the iMapInvasives Certified Trainers Network! Are you interested in training others to report invasive species to the New York invasive species database, iMapInvasives? Each training webinar will last approximately two hours with time for discussion throughout. The training will include a walk-through of the iMapInvasives website, observation database and steps for hosting a training. Registration is required. Webinar registration is limited to create a more inclusive environment.

For more information and to register, email imapinvasives@dec.ny.gov

More information can be found at the Certified Trainers Network at https://www.nyimapinvasives.org/certifiedtrainersnetwork

Filed Under: Events of Interest
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Presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County Master Gardeners

What could be better than spending a Saturday morning creating wonderful holiday decorations out of evergreen boughs? Start the holiday season off with our workshop on selection and use of holiday greens to decorate your home! During the three hour session, participants make a fresh wreath, an evergreen swag, and a tabletop centerpiece to take home and enjoy through the holiday season. Please bring small pruners & gloves.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7th from 9:00 AM – Noon at the Town of Ontario Recreation Lodge, Casey Park, and Knickerbocker Road, Ontario.

Attendees: Bring garden gloves and hand pruners if you have them and plan to arrive around 8:30 so you are ready to start at 9 am.

A registration fee of $40.00, to cover materials, is required. This class fills up fast and class size is limited to first 45 paid participants. Registration opens October 1st.

Cornell can not accept any early registrations. To register mail your payment to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County, 1581 Rte. 88 North, Newark, NY 14513 or bring it to  their offices between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. M-F.

Please include your phone number and e-mail address, if you have one, with your payment. If you have any questions please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension 315-331-8415.

For special needs please contact us two weeks prior to this event. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Filed Under: Events of Interest
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Spotted lanternfly (SLF) feed on many different tree species but are particularly attracted to an invasive tree species known as tree-of-heaven). Any SLF that make their way to New York will be drawn to tree-of-heaven – and they will not stop there. They will next move to feed on native and economically valuable New York plant species, such as maple trees, apple trees, hops, grapes, poplar species, and many others.

This is where you come in: report any tree-of-heaven that you see across New York, and we will be able to watch for and locate SLF more easily!

You can record data on invasive species right from your smartphone by using iMapInvasives, (https://www.imapinvasives.org/) New York’s invasive species database, available for iOS and Android.

Visit:

https://www.nyimapinvasives.org/calendar-of-events   to learn more about the app or to find a training hosted by your local Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM).

 

Photo Credit NYS Ag and Markets / USDA APHIS

Tree of Heaven

If you think you’ve seen the Spotted Lantern Fly, send photos and location info to spottedlanternfly@dec.ny.gov, or fill out an online report: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/116595.html

How can your business help?

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Spotted Lantern Fly Fact Sheet

Penn State Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners

 

 

Filed Under: District News Tagged With:
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