Please Note: if the application deadline for a particular grant has expired, plan ahead for next year. Generally these grants come around about the same time each year. Request information anytime so you know what is expected in the application.

New York State Sources

NY Agri-Tourism and Education Project - Available in some Central NY counties in 2004
Purpose : promote public awareness of agriculture and opportunities for school children and others to visit and learn about farms
Projects : stop & look: signs, parking, etc. to educate the passing traveler about farming-up to $10,000; stop-look-visit: develop facilities for hosting farm tours-up to $25,000; stop-look-stay: for developing overnight lodging on farms-up to $50,000
Last application deadline: summer 2004
Information : 1-866-AGTOURS; www.nyagtours.com
Note : the future of this program is in question since it was the initiative of Senator Nancy Lorraine Hoffmann who was not re-elected and there is no funding in the budget for 2005 at this time. Call the number above or Ag & Markets if you want to find out where this program stands (518-457-7076). .  

NYS Barns Restoration & Preservation Program
Purpose: A matching grant program for the restoration and preservation of agricultural buildings, including barns, sheds and silos, that were constructed at least fifty (50) years prior to the date of the grant application, and in need of repair.
Eligibility: farm buildings-barns, sheds, silos 50 years +, stabilization work and painting to retain structural integrity, cosmetic work to convert to non-farm use not permitted.
The applicant must have a significant ownership interest in the property.
Selection criteria : active agricultural use, emergency repair needed, visible from main roads, unique structure, tourism interest
Funding: up to $25,000 per applicant, applicant provides 20 % match cash, labor or services
Application deadline: not currently available
Information: Contact regional NYS Parks office for information; in
Central NY: 315-492-1756; in Finger Lakes: 607-387-7041;
website: www.nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/

NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets - Farmland Viability Program
Purpose : Funds to help develop farmland viability business plan or assist with project implementation to improve overall farm profitability, improve environmental management-including CMNP-CAFO plan development, increase efficiency, facilitate expansion, value-added production, further processing of ag products, marketing and promotional activities.
Eligibility: individuals, partnerships, association, cooperative, and corporations eligible to receive ag assessment with demonstrated need Funding: matching grants up to $20,000 (75% provided by state: 25% provided by farm business - 20% is this cash, balance in-kind)
Last application deadline: 7/13/04 - not currently available
Information: 518-457-2713;
website: www.agmkt.state.ny.us

NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets – Food and Agriculture Industry Research & Development Grant Program (FAID)
Purpose : fund demonstration projects, feasibility analyses, applied research projects with near term application involving new or alternative technologies, practices or organizational arrangements, which stimulate agriculture development and economic activity
Eligibility: private or public agencies, organizations, businesses, industry, educational institutions, government and individuals
Funding : 50% match up to maximum of $60,000 (match can be cash, in-kind services, other resources)
Last application deadline: 8/31/04 - not currently available
Information : 518-457-2713;
website: www.agmkt.state.ny.us

NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets – Agriculture & Farmland Protection Projects
Purpose: state assistance for purchase of agricultural conservation easements
Eligibility: Counties or municipalities with approved Ag & Farmland Protection – Farmers should contact county/town government (Planning departments or Cooperative Extension) if interested in selling development rights. Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board approval required.
Funding : No cap, State 75%, Local 25%
Last application deadline: 10/1/2004 - not currently available
Information : 518-457-2713;
website: www.agmkt.state.ny.us

NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets – Grow NY Enterprise Program
Purpose: Funding for farm business development and expansion. Funds can be used for financing of machinery and equipment, building construction, working capital or real property acquisition; business development and marketing assistance is available along with project financing.
Eligible businesses: Emerging or expanding farm enterprises
Applicants: Municipalities with a population under 50,000 must submit application on behalf of the farm Funding: Loans for production agriculture and agribusiness development/expansion for a project that will result in job creation; projects are expected to generate one full time job per $7,500 funds provided
Application: open deadline, apply any time; work with your municipality to prepare pre-application, followed by interview with Ag & Markets
Information : 518-457-2713;
website: www.agmkt.state.ny.us

NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets – Pride of NY Cooperative Promotional Projects
Purpose : for costs directly associated with the development of cooperative advertising or promotion of NY farm and food products.
Eligibility: Pride of NY program member
Funding: up to $15,000 matching funds
Last application deadline: 9/27/04 - not currently available
Information: Call for a Pride of NY participation agreement - 518-457-7229 or 800-554-4501; email: sue.santamarina@agmkt.state.ny.us;
website: www.agmkt.state.ny.us

 NYS DEC Water Quality Improvement Projects
Purpose: implement management programs, plans or projects including non-point source abatement and control (ag & non-ag), aquatic habitat restoration and pollution prevention.
Eligibility: Municipalities & SWCD’s
Information: 518-485-7728 or contact your county SWCD for info on local funds

NYSERDA- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Programs
Purpose : Several programs offer incentives and loans for farm-waste management; improved energy efficiency; solar and wind generation; and innovative business practices for energy use.
Funding : varies with program
Last application deadline: dates vary with program
Information: 518-862-1090; toll free 800-NYSERDA or check www.nyserda.org - look at current funding opportunities for project descriptions and who to contact for details

NYS Funding for Organic Certification
Purpose : reimburse producers and handlers for a portion of their annual organic certification renewal costs (program administered by NY Ag & Markets on behalf of USDA)
Eligibility : organic producers meeting federal organic standard; must complete NY's Organic Certification Reimbursement Application Form
Last application deadline : open funding
Funding levels : 75% reimbursement up to a maximum of $500
Information : Ag & Markets - 800-554-4501 or 518-457-2195
website: www.ams.usda.gov/nop - National Organic Program information
Forms can be downloaded from: www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AP/agservices/OrganicApp.pdf

Federal Sources

USDA-SARE/Sustainable Ag - Farmer/Grower Grant
Purpose: supports producers who want to try something new—a technique for adding value, a new crop, new marketing methods, develop and test sustainable ag practices. Supports on-farm demonstrations, marketing, adding value and other projects.
Funding : grants in the range of $5000 maximum, capital improvements limited to $500 of total project Eligibility: collaborate with a technical advisor (Extension, NRCS, SWCD, etc.)
Last application deadline: 12/7/04 - annual deadline in early December
Information: 802-656-0471 or email nesare@zoo.uvm.edu;
website: www.uvm.edu/~nesare/

USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service – Value Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant Program (VADG)
Purpose: encourage producers of commodities to refine products to increase value – for feasibility studies, business and marketing plans, studies to establish venture.
Eligibility: independent producers or producer associations of raw commodities
Last application deadline: 7/30/04 - not currently available
Funding levels: up to $500,000 per proposal
Information: call Scott Collins - 315-477-6409 or email scott.collins@ny.usda.gov
website: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm

USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service - Renewable Energy and Efficiency Program
Purpose : help farmers and rural businesses purchase renewable energy systems and make energy improvements, create new uses for ag products and waste.
Eligible projects : systems that generate energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal sources, energy efficiency improvements-upgrade equipment or processes
Eligibility: producers and businesses in city/town with population under 50,000; 50% gross income from farm production; business with fewer than 500 employees and $20 million in receipts
Last application deadline: 7/30/04 – not currently available
Funding levels : up to 25% of project costs, maximum grant was $250,000 for energy efficiency; up to $500,000 for renewable energy (could apply for both for a max of $750,000)
Information : call Scott Collins - 315-477-6409 or email scott.collins@ny.usda.gov
website: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/

USDA NRCS – Farm Bill Initiatives for Conservation Practices
Purpose: The 2002 Farm Bill authorized several new initiatives geared at land conservation and water quality protection.
Information : find out what is available by contacting your county or regional USDA Service Center.
Websites: www.nrcs.usda.gov/NY or www.fsa.usda.gov/NY

 IPM Partnership Grants for the Northeast Proposals
Purpose: projects that apply to individual growers might include: IPM tactics, crop profiles, and pest management plans. Funding is mainly geared towards developing state networks, working groups, publications and emerging issues.
Eligibility: Private individuals, public and private institutions or organizations, businesses, and commodity groups are encouraged to apply. 
Last application deadline : January 21, 2005
Information : Northeastern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center - Request Applications on the Center's web page at http://northeastipm.org/abou_fund.cfm, where it can be downloaded in various formats. For more information contact John Ayers at 814-865-7776; email jea@psu.edu

Organic Farming Research Foundation
P.O. Box 440 , Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Purpose: research into organic farming methods, dissemination of results
Eligibility: projects must involve farmers or can be submitted by farmers
Funding: modest proposals encouraged; under $10,000; matching funds encouraged but not required
Last application deadline: 12/15/04 - for 2005 deadline will be 12/15/05
Information: 831-426-6606; email: research@ofrf.org;
website: www.orfr.org

Organic Valley Organic Transition Fund
Purpose: Organic Valley Family of Farms, the nation's largest independent farmer-owned organic dairy cooperative, recently announced the Transition to Organic Fund, a financial assistance program for dairy farmers who are making the transition to organic.
Funding : offset the costs of transitioning to organic
Eligibility : dairy farmers who become members of the Organic Valley cooperative
Information : call the Producer Hotline at Organic Valley, tel. (888) 809-9297.
website: www.organicvalley.coop/

 Please Note : if the application deadline for a particular grant has expired, plan ahead for next year. Generally these grants come around at about the same time each year. Check website for past applications forms and start answering questions- they often they do not change application forms or call to find out if and when grant opportunities will become available.

If you know of other grant sources that producers may apply to directly, please contact Monika Roth at the number below.

Revised 1/1/2005
For Grant Information or Assistance, contact:
Monika Roth
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-2292