ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) is expanding its footprint in Yates County.

On August 7, the Ithaca-based conservation group announced three agricultural easements in the towns of Benton and Torrey at Christiansen Farms, totaling 246 acres.

The agreement, which is the second conservation project completed with the Christiansen family, ensures that the property between Seneca and Keuka Lakes will remain farmland.

According to FLLT, the Christiansens operate a third-generation, NOFA-NY-certified organic dairy and crop farm. Their milk is shipped to the Upstate-Niagara Cooperative,  while their soft red wheat and soft white wheat are sold to Wegmans Food Markets to be used in their bakery. The farm also grows corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.

FLLT now protects over 650 acres at Christiansen Farms, and nearly 2,300 acres in Yates County. Of that conserved land, 1,266 acres are prime farmland.

The deal was made possible with funding through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Farmland Protection Implementation Program.