New Farmers Grant Fund Program

Applications must be postmarked by January 25, 2019

Since 2014 $3.27 million dollars has been provided to New York Farmers to help support New Farmers in agricultural production on their farm. Projects in the past included constructing greenhouses to extend growing season, purchase equipment for Good Agricultural Practice certification, install fence to better manage livestock for grazing, and purchase equipment to improve efficiency. For 2018-2019 $1million dollars is allocated in the state budget for the fifth round of the New Farmers Grant Fund. Application are now available for eligible beginning farmers (within the first 10 years of filing a schedule F) who are looking to improve profitability through expanding agricultural production, diversifying agricultural production, extending the agricultural season, and advancing innovative sustainable practices. Grants may provide a minimum of $15,000 and a maximum of $50,000 for up to 50% of total project costs. Eligible cost includes the purchase of machinery and equipment, supplies or construction or improvement of physical structures use exclusively for agricultural purpose.

ny Farm Viability Grants

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for April 2019 funding will open on September 4th. Applications are due November 14, 2018.
We are most interested in projects that will create knowledge to directly benefit farmers through work in one of NYFVI's strategic priority areas. The use of new technology and data analytics is of particular interest, but not required. Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review the RFP.

Agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control program

This grant program was established in 1994 by the State of New York to assist farmers in preventing water pollution from agricultural activities by providing technical assistance and financial incentives. County Soil & Water Conservation Districts apply for the competitive grants on behalf of farmers and coordinate funded conservation projects. Grants can cost-share up to 75% of project costs or more if farmers contribute in the following two areas:
  1. Planning- funds awarded to conduct environmental planning
  2. Implementation- funds awarded to construct or apply management practices

Cafo wASTE STORAGE AND TRANSFER SYSTEM PROGRAM

The goal of the CAFO Waste Storage and Transfer System Program is to provide cost-share funds through Soil and Water Conservation Districts to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) for the implementation of water quality protection projects that will establish manure storage capacity and/or reduce/prevent the nonpoint source contribution from agricultural activities.  ​Funding in the amount of $50,000,000 will be available for the implementation of Waste Storage and Transfer systems on farms regulated by CAFO General Permits.   In the first proposal period, $20,000,000.00 will be available for eligible projects.  Funding in the amount of $15,000,000 will be available in the second and third proposal periods.  The maximum state award will be $385,000.00 per proposal.  This amount includes the costs for personnel, consulting, engineering services, other direct expenses, and BMP Implementation.

Climate Resilient Farming Program

The goal of the Climate Resilient Farming Program is to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change (mitigation) and to increase the resiliency of New York State farms in the face of a changing climate (adaptation).
Soil and Water Conservation Districts use the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Framework to plan and assess their environmental risks. Historically, farmers working through the AEM framework have only been able to receive funding through the Agricultural Non-Point Source program, for water quality concerns. Climate Resilient Farming fills those gaps by allowing farmers to proactively address risks due to the changing climate while also mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions.
Farmland Protection Grants

Farmland Protection Implementation Grants

Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) are available to enable project sponsors to implement activities consistent with local agricultural and farmland protection plans. Since the inception of the program, FPIG has disbursed over $140 million, protecting over 50,000 acres of viable agricultural land on over 200 farms across the State of New York.
FPIG has been expanded to offer both a Request For Applications (or RFA) as well as a Request For Proposals (or RFP). The non-competitive grant opportunity (RFA) is available for municipalities to amend their local laws to become more farm-friendly and/or to create laws to establish a transfer of development rights program. The competitive grant opportunity (RFP) provides grant funding to eligible counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts and not-for-profit conservation organizations for implementation of conservation easement projects.

Dairy transition Farmland Protection Initiative

This grant opportunity is being offered to enable eligible applicants to specifically implement Conservation Easement Projects with owners of viable agricultural lands that are associated with a dairy Farm Operation at risk of conversion to non-farm uses.  Proceeds from the sale of a conservation easement (known as Purchase of Development Rights, or PDR) on viable agricultural land will offer these landowners an opportunity to either reinvest those monies to enable greater diversification of the farm operation or the transfer of ownership to a new owner of the same or different type of farm operation.  Moreover, the viable agricultural land permanently protected as the result of each awarded Conservation Easement Project will remain in continuing agricultural use.
Interested applicants should submit a Pre-Application to julicia.godbout@ny.nacdnet.net 

Value Added producers grant

The Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Applicants may receive priority if they are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov.
Program Funding: $18 million
Maximum Grant Amount: Planning Grants $75,000; Working Capital Grants: $250,000
Matching Funds Requirements: 50 percent of total project costs