News & Events from the Peconic Land Trust
Conservation News
ExxonMobil Donates Land and Conservation Easement in Greenport
 In early December, the Trust received a donation from Exxon Mobil of a two-acre waterfront parcel, a former terminal property for the company, in Greenport overlooking Shelter Island Sound. Additionally, a conservation easement on the property was donated to the Town of Southold. The Village of Greenport will be a party to the easement as well, ensuring that the property is preserved, in perpetuity, as natural habitat and open space. For more on this conservation story, please read the press release.
Growing Farmers on the Screen
Growing Farmers, the documentary film about the Trust's work with farmers on Long Island will be  on the screen in communities near and far this winter and spring. The film, produced by the Trust's Vice Chair Hilary Leff and director Michael Halsband, won the audience choice award for best short at the Hamptons International Film Festival this past fall. We hope that you will be able to catch the film and presentations at one or more of these upcoming venues:
- Jan. 20: The Quogue Library will screen the film followed by a panel discussion, moderated by the Press News Arts & Living Editor Dawn Watson. Panelists include Michael Halsband (Director/co-Producer), John v.H. Halsey, Scott Chaskey, Katie Baldwin & Amanda Merrow of Amber Waves Farm at 2:00 pm.
- Jan. 24: The NOFA-NY Winter Conference in Saratoga Springs will screen and host a panel with Scott Chaskey and co-producer (and Trust Vice Chair of the Board) Hilary Leff.
- Feb 20: Screening and panel hosted by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy at ABC Carpet & Home in NYC with Scott, Katie and Amanda.
- Feb 21-24: The film will make its second film festival stop at the prestigious Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden, CO.
- Mar 22: Sylvester Manor Educational Farm will host a screening and discussion at the Manor house at 7 pm.
- Mar 23: Long House Reserve in East Hampton will host a screening and panel featuring Michael and Hilary beginning at 4:00 pm.
- Mar. 29: Screening and panel at the Just Food Conference in NYC, featuring Hilary, Scott, Katie and Amanda.
- Apr. 20: Hampton Library in Bridgehampton will screen the film followed by a discussion at 2:30 pm.
- PlumTV: as part of its new documentary series, PlumTV is showing Growing Farmers on its channels across the US.
Additional details available on our online calendar. If you are interested in screening the film for your community or school group, please contact Kathy Kennedy at 631.283.3195 or KKennedy@PeconicLandTrust.org.
Legislative Update
The following is an update on the current legislative outlook adapted based on information provided by the Land Trust Alliance: - Enhanced Easement Incentive: A renewal of this incentive was passed for 2012 (retroactively) and 2013 as part of the bill that averted the "fiscal
 cliff" on January 1st. This will help land trusts work with farmers, ranchers and other modest-income landowners to increase the pace of conservation. If you have questions regarding easement donations, including bargain sales, please contact Peri Grandone, Director of Conservation Planning at 631.283.3195 or PGrandone@PeconicLandTrust.org. - Charitable Deduction: This remains largely intact, however, the current bill does bring back the "Peace Amendment," which gradually reduces the value of itemized deductions against income exceeding $250,000. It is expected that deductions will be on the chopping block again in March -- however, we have averted capping or cutting the charitable deduction, for now.
- Estate Tax Incentives: The Estate Tax retains its current $5 million unified credit, indexed for inflation, but the top rate rises to 40%. Also, geographic limitations on conservation incentives that lower estate taxes are permanently repealed. The Peconic Land Trust continues to pursue the deferral of estate taxes on land of conservation value with our local representatives. For more information, contact Julie Zaykowski at 631.283.3195 or JZaykowski@PeconicLandTrust.org.
 - Farm Bill Easement Programs: The 2008 Farm Bill is extended through September 30, 2013. The USDA believes that the extension will allow new enrollment in the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) this year. The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) had already been extended through 2014 under a previous appropriations bill (the FRPP was instrumental in the protection of the farmland at Sylvester Manor). Nonetheless, Congress must now renegotiate the new Farm Bill, having lost $500 million from the funding "baseline" for easement programs over the next decade. The Land Trust Alliance will be working with land trusts across the country to engage the agricultural committees as this legislation is under consideration.
Thank you to everyone who reached out to your local representatives on behalf of the enhanced easement incentive and the charitable deduction. Your voices were heard in Washington. And, please continue to advocate, particularly on these two items as the budget debates in March will surely put these two pieces of legislation in jeopardy again. For more information and updates on conservation legislation, visit our website or Land Trust Alliance website. For links to your local representatives, visit our Public Policy page. Upcoming Connections Activities:
January 20: Growing Farmers Screening at the Quogue Library.
2:00 - 4:00 pm 
Join us for the screening of this award-winning short documentary about the Trust's work with new farmers on Long Island, followed by a panel discussion moderated by the Press News Group's Dawn Watson and featuring director Michael Halsband, Trust President John v.H. Halsey, Quail Hill Farm Director Scott Chaskey and Amber Waves Farm's Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow. A reception will follow the panel.
This program is free to attend. For more information, including directions, visit the Quogue Library's website or call 631.653.4224.
February 23: Trail Clean Up in Amagansett
9:00 am to noon
Join us on the trails in Amagansett as we once again team up with the volunteers from the East  Hampton Trails Preservation Society for a clean up on the trail system through the Stony Hill area. We will meet on the road at the intersection of Old Stone Highway and Accabonac Road. Please bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Last year we removed over 3,000 pounds of debris and we hope to make a bigger impact this year with your help. For more information, directions and to volunteer, please contact Kathy Kennedy at 631.283.3195 or email kkennedy@peconiclandtrust.org.
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