named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Donating a Conservation Easement
Assists landowners in donating conservation easements to protect farmland in perpetuity, offering support with legal documentation, tax incentives, and long-term stewardship planning.
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
Partners with municipalities and landowners to secure state-funded grants that pay up to 87.5% of the non-agricultural development value of farmland, protecting it from development while allowing continued agricultural use.
Stewardship and Monitoring Program
Conducts annual monitoring of conserved properties to ensure compliance with easement terms, maintains baseline documentation, and enforces long-term conservation commitments.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 3 activities
- Conserving farmland through conservation easementsProtects working agricultural and forest lands in New York by placing farmland under permanent conservation easements, including preparation of customized easement agreements, Baseline Documentation Reports, and filing with county clerks and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure long-term protection from development. The organization has protected at least 717 acres through multiple easement projects, including 684 acres at Kyle Farms and 129 acres on other properties.
- Monitoring conservation easement complianceConducts annual monitoring of properties under conservation easement to verify compliance with easement terms, ensuring the long-term integrity of protected farmland and supporting woodlands.
- Providing technical and planning support for farmland protectionOffers technical and planning assistance to landowners and municipalities for farmland protection projects under the NYS Purchase of Development Rights program, including developing conservation land plans and ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Collaborating with local partners to identify priority farmlandPartners with farmland protection boards and local municipalities to identify and prioritize key agricultural lands for protection in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Seneca Counties.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operating a working dairy and diversified farmDirectly operates a diversified farming operation that includes a milking herd of 160 cows and 170 head of youngstock, producing 4.1 million pounds of milk annually, along with growing corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. The farm also raises beef cattle and produces organic dairy, beef, strawberries, broilers, and turkeys, with composting of organic dairy manure for on-farm use and public sale.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$4.94M
Contributions & grants$4.92M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$18K0%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$4.86M
Program expenses99%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$77K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$797K
Cash$240K
Investments$557K
Liabilities$143K
Net assets$654K
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +224.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandy Colebrook | Executive Director | 25 | $47K |
board members · 6
- Amanda Barber — Secretary
- Dan Welch — Treasurer
- Ed Mills — Member
- Kenneth Holden — Vice Chair
- Mike Barry — Member
- Nancy Hourigan — Board Chair
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- American Farmland Trust Partner — NYALT references data and reports from American Farmland Trust to support advocacy for farmland protection.
- Brandy Colebrook Partner — Staff member of New York Agricultural Land Trust involved in closing ceremony for Pearce Farms.
- Chobani Partner — Sells milk under contract through Preble Milk cooperative.
- Farmland Protection Boards Partner — Collaborates with local farmland protection boards to identify and prioritize farmland for conservation in Upstate New York counties.
- Fesko Farms Partner — Partnered with Fesko Farms to place a conservation easement on the property.
- Hourigan Family Dairy LLC Partner — Partner farm in conservation easement project to protect 717 acres of agricultural land.
- Kraft Foods Partner — Sells milk under contract through Preble Milk cooperative.
- Kyle Farms Partner — Partnered with Kyle Farms to place conservation easements on 684 acres of farmland.
- Kyle Farms Partner — Partnered with Kyle Farms to place three conservation easements on 684 acres of farmland.
- Local municipalities Partner — Partners with NYALT in farmland protection projects, including providing funding or in-kind services such as computerized mapping.
- Nancy Hourigan Partner — Staff member of New York Agricultural Land Trust involved in closing ceremony for Pearce Farms.
- New York Agricultural Land Trust Inc Government — Represented by Brandy Colebrook and Nancy Hourigan at the closing ceremony for Pearce Farms, indicating involvement in securing a conservation easement or land transaction.
- New York State Comptroller Government — NYALT cites economic data from the New York State Comptroller to highlight the importance of agriculture to the state economy.
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Government — Administers the Purchase of Development Rights grant program that NYALT participates in to protect farmland.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Receives copies of recorded conservation easements as part of compliance with state environmental regulations.
- Organic Valley Partner — Sell organic dairy products through Organic Valley as a commodity.
- Preble Milk Network — Member of the Preble Milk cooperative for milk sales.
- Senate Government — NYALT encourages engagement with Senate representatives to advocate for increased funding for farmland protection.
- State Assembly Government — NYALT encourages engagement with State Assembly representatives to advocate for increased funding for farmland protection.
- business affiliates Partner — Supports NYALT's conservation efforts through business affiliation.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Land Stewardshipmethodology: community-driven conservationBy engaging farmers and farm communities in conservation decisions, we ensure local buy-in and long-term success, because community-led efforts foster ownership, trust, and culturally appropriate land use practices.
- Conservation as Intergenerational Legacymethodology: conservation-easement-donationBy framing conservation easements as a legacy gift, we motivate landowners to protect farmland for future generations, because positioning land protection as a moral and familial commitment strengthens stewardship and community resilience.
- Financial Incentives for Land Protectionmethodology: purchase-of-development-rightsBy compensating landowners through purchase of development rights, we align economic interests with conservation goals, because financial incentives enable landowners to forgo development while maintaining ownership and agricultural use.
- Flexible Easements to Support Farm Viabilitymethodology: flexible conservation easementBy designing flexible conservation easements that allow compatible uses like home-based businesses and renewable energy, we maintain agricultural viability while meeting landowners’ economic needs, because adaptability increases landowner participation and long-term compliance.
- Perpetual Conservation via Voluntary Easementsmethodology: perpetual conservation easementBy using voluntary, perpetual conservation easements that run with the deed, we permanently protect farmland from development, ensuring long-term agricultural availability and stewardship across ownership changes, because legal restrictions tied to the land itself provide durable protection.