The PMG Open Space & Farmland Protection program was created in 1999 to assist the County and its municipalities in implementing the Dutchess County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan by protecting important agricultural and open space resources. The program provides a matching portion of fee simple, development rights, or the conservation easement purchase price up to 50% of the total project cost. Applicants work in partnership with the County and other public and private funding sources in order to secure full project funding. Since its inception, the program has helped protect over 2,363 acres of farmland and open space in Dutchess County.

Application Materials (.pdf)
Map of Completed and Pending Projects (.pdf) [4.3MB]

Protected Farms:
Abel Tree Farm — 188-acre Christmas tree and nursery operation in Union Vale
Linden Farms — 234-acre vegetable farm in Red Hook
McIntosh Farm — 303-acre former dairy and current hay operation in Beekman
Mead Orchards — 100 acres of fruit orchard and vegetable farm in Red Hook
Mead Orchards II — 82 acres of orchard in Red Hook
Pleasant View —256-acre dairy farm and hay operation in North East
Pulver Farm — 166-acre corn, hay and soybean farm in Pine Plains
Silver Ledge Farm — 401-acre farm in East Fishkill
Steiner Farm — 228-acre farm in the breadbasket area of Red Hook
Wil-Hi Farm — 15-acre sheep farm in Red Hook

Protected Open Spaces:
Carnwath Farm — 99-acre site overlooking the Hudson River in Wappinger
Forbus Butternut — 1/2-acre surrounding largest butternut tree in NY, in City of Poughkeepsie
Peach Hill — 157-acre former orchard in Poughkeepsie
Rhineson  — 71-acre public park in the Town and Village of Rhinebeck
Stone Church — 58-acre woodland with naturally-formed cavern & Stone Church Brook in Dover