Open for Applications Now
Ag Management Assistance Program, USDA NRCS. Contact your USDA NRCS Service Center. https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app. Applications are accepted at any time and NRCS periodically announces cut-off dates for evaluating accepted applications.
- Purpose: Producers receive conservation technical and financial assistance to construct or improve water management or irrigation structures, plant trees for windbreaks or, in order to improve water quality and mitigate risk, diversify their operation and conservation practices including soil erosion control, integrated pest management or transition to organic farming.
- Eligibility: Eligible land includes agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest land or other land on which agricultural products, livestock, or forest-related products are produced and where risk may be mitigated by diversifying the operation or adding conservation practices that support soil erosion control, integrated pest management and organic farming.
- Funding: Funding at the farm-level will vary by project. Under CSP, participants are paid for conservation performance: the higher the operational performance, the higher their payment. Persons or legal entities cannot receive more than $50,000 in AMA program payments per fiscal year.
Agricultural Environmental Management, NYS funding, Administered by NYS Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Available statewide. Funding awards depend on availability of state funds. Program also helps farmers access other sources of funding.
- Purpose: AEM is similar to USDA EQIP. Voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible agricultural producers who are willing to address priority environmental issues by implementing conservation practices. AEM’s focus has been on water quality. AEM planning is a requirement to participate in the NYS Grown and Certified Label program.
- Eligibility: Agricultural producers in NYS, funding is tied to needs identified in an AEM plan.
- Funding: Funding at the farm-level will vary by project.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program, USDA NRCS. Available statewide. Check the NRCS NY State site for deadlines for review of submitted proposals, but you should plan to apply well in advance. The link to the NYS site is: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ny/programs/financial/eqip/
- Purpose: The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to address priority environmental issues by implementing conservation practices. In New York, EQIP has been used by many fruit and vegetable producers to help fund high tunnels.
- Eligibility: Agricultural producers
- Funding: Funding at the farm-level will vary by project.
FarmOps Scholarships, NYS, Administered by Cornell Small Farms Program with funding from NYS. Contact Dean Koyanagi by drk5@cornell.edu or at 607-255-9911. Funding is first come, first served while funds are available.
- Purpose: Offering scholarships to veterans and active duty military personnel who attend educational events and workshops related to farming.
- Eligibility: Veterans and active duty military personnel
- Funding: The program currently offers reimbursement on eligible costs for agricultural trainings. Eligible costs include travel expenses and registration for trainings (i.e. hotel, mileage, event registration). Maximum funding is $100 but multiple day training events may be eligible for a higher reimbursement rate.
Good Agricultural Practices Certification Assistance Program, NYS funding from Ag and Markets. https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/gap/gap-for-growers/fundingsupport-for-growers/. Funding is first come first served while funds are available. Funding is available statewide.
- Purpose: To help growers receive GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) certifications by reimbursing growers and handlers the cost, of GAP and GHP audits, as well as the costs of water testing.
- Eligibility: Farmers and handlers of produce in NYS who are going through GAP certification.
- Funding: Reimburses the cost, up to $1000
NYS Grown and Certified Farmer Grant, Northern NY (Clinton, Essex, Frankllin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis St. Lawrence Counties). NYS funding administered by Development Authority of the North Country. https://www.danc.org/business-development. Applications are first come first served until funding is obligated.
- Purpose: To help producers meet the food safety standards necessary for participation in the NYS Grown & Certified Program (standard available at https://certified.ny.gov/get-certified).
- Eligibility: The program is open to agricultural producers of dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, pork, sheep, goat, produce, shellfish, Christmas trees, maple, cut flowers, craft beverage ingredients, wine, spirits, beer and cider. Applicant must be applying to the NYS Grown and Certified Program and be able to meet the terms of participation with the assistance of the funding.
- Funding: Grants for up to $50,000. Applicant must provide at least a 10% match.
Organic Certification Grant, USDA-AMS, but applications are accepted through the county USDA-FSA offices, Funding available, no deadline. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occsp
- Purpose: Provides cost share to farmers to help them obtain or renew their certification under the National Organic Program.
- Eligibility: Farmers entering the National Organic Program
- Funding: Operations may receive up to 75 percent of their certification costs paid, not to exceed $750 per certification scope.
Rural Energy for America Program – Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Grants and Loans, USDA Rural Development https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency/ny. Application deadline for small projects (< $20,000) is October 31, 2019. Deadline for Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants is January 31, 2020 and deadline for unrestricted (small or large) projects is March 31, 2020.
- Purpose: Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.
- Eligibility: Ag business with at least 50% of gross income coming from agricultural operations. Or small businesses in rural areas (> 50,000 people). Small projects are projects that are $20,000 or less. Businesses must be in an area other than a city or town with a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area of that city or town. Agricultural producers may be in rural or non-rural areas.
- Funding: Grants for up to 25% of eligible project costs. Maximum grant for energy system is $500,000 and the maximum grant for energy efficiency is $250,000. Combined grant and loan funding of up to 75% of total eligible project costs.
Value Added Producer Grant, USDA Rural Development. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants. 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. Deadline is March 10th if mailed to NYS Rural Development and March 5th on Grants.gov.
- Purpose: The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income. Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include: processing costs, marketing and advertising expenses, and some inventory and salary expenses.
- Eligibility: Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures, as defined in the program regulation, are eligible to apply for this program.
- Funding: The total funding available is $37 million. The maximum planning grants is $75,000; the maximum working capital grants: $250,000. The grant program requires a 50% match and the matching funds must also be an eligible expense for the grant.
Future Grants (not accepting applications right now, but will likely accept applications in the future)
Conservation Innovation Grants. USDA NRCS.
- Purpose: National and State CIG - Public and private grantees develop the tools, technologies, and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions to resource challenges. Grantees must match the CIG investment at least one to one. On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials – On-Farm Trials supports more widespread adoption of innovative approaches, practices and systems on working lands. On-Farm Trials projects feature collaboration between NRCS and partners to implement on-the-ground conservation activities and then evaluate their impact. Incentive payments are provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches. Learn more about On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials.
- Eligibility: All non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.
- Funding
Conservation Stewardship Program. USDA NRCS. Rounds open and close depending on funding. Funding is first come first served. Applications are through NRCS county service centers https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/
- Purpose: Provides rental payments to farmers for implementing conservation practices on working agricultural lands as part of an environmental management plan. Wildlife enhancement, water quality, decreased inputs, resilience to weather extremes are examples of practices.
- Eligibility: farmers with a USDA environmental management plan
- Funding: Producers enter a 5-year contract with NRCS for rental payments. Payments vary by practice.
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). USDA AMS https://www.ams.usda.gov/. Grants generally are open for application in the spring. Deadline is generally around June. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp.
- Purpose: The purpose of the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets by developing, improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, improvement, and expansion of, domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. FMPP offers two types of projects: Capacity Building and Community Development Training and Technical Assistance.
- Eligibility: Eligible applicants include agricultural businesses or cooperatives, producer networks or associations, community supported agriculture networks or associations, food councils, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities, and tribal governments.
- Funding: Funding ranges from $50,000 to $500,000. Grants require a 25% match (this is new). Up to $6,500 can be used for upgrades to equipment to improve food safety.
Labor Ready Farmer HR Technical Assistance Grant, USDA BFRDP funding, administered by the Cornell Small Farms Program.
- Purpose: To help farmers improve their Human Resource practices on their farm. Grant can include assistance with paperwork, compliance, development of employee manuals and policies, H2A readiness, assistance with training and assessment.
- Eligibility: Beginning Farmers (farm owners), Next-gen farmers moving into managerial roles, farm managers who plan to own a farm (with support of current farm owner). Also some funding to support Latinx farmworkers, who have the support of their farm’s owner to gain skills to improve their job.
- Funding: Up to $1200 or 12 hours of direct technical assistance from a consultant.
Local Food promotion Program (LFPP), USDA AMS. Grants generally are open for application in the spring. Deadline is generally around June. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp
- Purpose: LFPP offers two types of projects: 18-month Planning Grants and 3-year Implementation Grants. LFPP Planning Grants are used in the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise. LFPP Implementation Grants are used to establish a new local and regional food business enterprise, or to improve or expand an existing local or regional food business enterprise.
- Eligibility: Eligible entities may apply if they support local and regional food business enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products. Eligible applicants include agricultural businesses or cooperatives, producer networks or associations, community supported agriculture networks or associations, other ag business entities, nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities, local and tribal governments.
- Funding: Funding ranges from $50,000 to $500,000. Grants require a 25% match. Up to $6,500 can be used for upgrades to equipment to improve food safety.
NYS Grown and Certified Farmer Grant, Mohawk Valley (Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie Counties). NYS funding, administered by CCE Oneida County) http://cceoneida.com/agriculture/buy-local/new-york-state-grown-certified.
- Purpose: To help producers meet the food safety standards necessary for participation in the NYS Grown & Certified Program (standard available at https://certified.ny.gov/get-certified).
- Eligibility: The program is open to agricultural producers of dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, pork, sheep, goat, produce, shellfish, Christmas trees, maple, cut flowers, craft beverage ingredients, wine, spirits, beer and cider. Applicant must be applying to the NYS Grown and Certified Program and be able to meet the terms of participation with the assistance of the funding.
- Funding: Grants for up to $50,000. Applicant must provide at least a 10% match.
NYS Grown and Certified Farmer Grant, Capital District (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington Counties). NYS funding, administered by Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development). https://hvadc.org/nys-grown-and-certified. The website says that they have allocated all of their funding.
- Purpose: To help producers meet the food safety standards necessary for participation in the NYS Grown & Certified Program (standard available at https://certified.ny.gov/get-certified).
- Eligibility: The program is open to agricultural producers of dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, pork, sheep, goat, produce, shellfish, Christmas trees, maple, cut flowers, craft beverage ingredients, wine, spirits, beer and cider. Applicant must be applying to the NYS Grown and Certified Program and be able to meet the terms of participation with the assistance of the funding.
- Funding: Grants for up to $50,000. Applicant must provide at least a 10% match.
NYS New Farmers Grant Fund, NYS Empire Development. Applications are typically due around January. https://esd.ny.gov/new-farmers-grant-fund-program
- Purpose: This grant fund helps beginning farmers improve farm profitability through one or both of the following goals: Expanding agricultural production, diversifying agricultural production and/or extending the agricultural season; or Advancing innovative agricultural techniques that increase sustainable practices such as organic farming, food safety, reduction of farm waste and/or water use. Eligible costs include the purchase of new or used machinery and equipment, supplies, and/or construction or improvement of physical structures used exclusively for agricultural purposes.
- Eligibility: Eligible applicants are farm businesses, in which all owners are in the first ten years of having an ownership interest in any farm operation. The farm must have a minimum of $10,000 in sales of agricultural products grown or raised on the farm.
- Funding: In the past the grant required a 1-1 cash match and the maximum grant was $50,000 (for a $100,000 project).
Orange County Farmworker Housing Rehabilitation Program, (Orange County) Administered by Orange County Office of Community Development, made available through the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). https://www.orangecountygov.com/1651/Farmworker-Housing-Rehabilitation-Progra. The application should be available in early 2020.
- Purpose: Owners of housing occupied by farmworkers with low incomes (less than 80% of the County median) are offered deferred grants in order to repair and upgrade their units.
- Eligibility: To qualify, the properties must be a working, owner operated farm in Orange County, NY and buildings to be rehabilitated must be used as a residence for seasonal or year-round farmworkers at rental rates that do not exceed 30% of household income. Owners must agree to make residential units assisted under the Program available for this purpose for a regulatory period of time.
- Funding: The County will provide owners with deferred grants in amounts not to exceed 75% of the total rehabilitation costs of the project. The applicant/owner will be required to provide a cash match of at least 25% of the total rehabilitation cost. The cash funds necessary to complete the rehabilitation shall be delivered to County at the time of the Grant Agreement/Promissory Note execution. The County will place these funds in escrow with the grant funds in the name of the premises. If project costs increase post-contract the owner will be responsible for the additional costs.
Small Business Innovation Research Program - Phase I, USDA NIFA. https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rfa/fy-20-21-sbir-program-phase-i-rfa-20190725.pdf. Funding is available statewide to eligible applicants.
- Purpose: The USDA SBIR program focuses on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR program supports small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enables the application of research advancements from conception into the market. Different from most other investors, the USDA SBIR Program funds early or "seed" stage research and development that has a commercial potential. The program provides equity-free funding and entrepreneurial support at the earliest stages of company and technology development. Proposed Phase I projects should prove the scientific or technical feasibility of the approach or concept. Projects dealing with agriculturally related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies are encouraged across all SBIR topic areas. USDA SBIR's flexible research areas ensure innovative projects consistent with USDA's vision of a healthy and productive nation in harmony with the land, air, and water.
- Eligibility: Small businesses and small proprietorships that are in business for profit are eligible to submit applications to this program. Each organization submitting a proposal must qualify as a small business concern for research or research and development purposes.
- Funding: Funds may be awarded up to $100,000 for a Phase I project. Estimated total program funding is $25,000,000