New York Agriculture Grants

This grant provides financial support to primary and secondary schools in New York City to create gardening projects that promote hands-on learning and environmental awareness among students.

This funding program provides financial support to non-profit organizations, schools, and municipalities in New York for establishing or expanding urban farms and community gardens to promote local food production and enhance food security.

This funding provides financial support for municipal and nonprofit animal shelters in New York to improve their facilities for the care and containment of dogs and cats, particularly in underserved areas.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects throughout the Northeast. Donor Name: Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The goal of this program is to help develop competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability, supporting operations of all sizes in successfully launching and sustaining their products in the marketplace.  This program is for:  Dairy farmers ready to begin processing,  Value-added entrepreneurs with proven experience in dairy processing and/or value-added business startups, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market, or  Dairy processors established after January 1, 2023, who are in the start-up phase of business development. Funds are intended to support start-up operations, focusing on tangible implementation rather than research and development, concept development, or initial planning. Funding Information Total available funds: $500,000 Minimum: $15,000  Maximum: $75,000 Project Period Grant periods will range from 12 – 18 months, depending on the project.  Eligibility Criteria This grant is open to applicants from all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:  Dairy farmer that:  Produces milk within the Northeast  Is a licensed dairy operation in compliance with all required state and federal standards  Value-added business entrepreneur that meets the following requirements:  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components  Has a business entity prior to applying  Can demonstrate experience in dairy processing and/or related value-added business startup, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market  Dairy processor established after January 1, 2023 that:  Has a business entity and milk processing license prior to applying  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components.  Is in the start-up phase of business operations All applicants must also:  Be headquartered or based in the Northeast  Provide Proof of Concept demonstrating the viability of the business idea and product  Have a plan for new value-added dairy processing that includes market research, financial projections, a branding and marketing strategy, and a facility location  Obtain licenses to sell dairy products across state lines by the end of the grant period Launch their products in the marketplace or have a Letter of Commitment from a buyer, distributor, or retailer indicating plans to sell the product by the end of the grant period For more information, visit NE-DBIC.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (the “Department”) is pleased to announce the availability of funds for the 2024 Farm- to-School Competitive Grants Program. Donor Name: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets State: New York County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/27/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Farm-to-School is the promotion and use of foods produced by New York State farmers in meals served in cafeterias of K-12 schools. Associations between farms and schools through the cafeteria and classroom can enhance the quality of food served. With over 700 school districts in New York State, there is the opportunity to foster relationships among New York State farmers, food hubs, producers, processors, and distributors to benefit school-age children. While serving New York State produced food in school cafeterias may seem simple, developing Farm-to-School connections highlights several challenges, particularly the lack of an established infrastructure or network of stakeholders that includes all the necessary parties: farmers, food service directors, food service contract management companies, food distributors, processors, agricultural organizations, and commodity organizations. Other challenges include: Seasonality: Farmers plan their crops in January, long before schools make purchasing decisions and place bids for products in the summer. In addition, the summer growing season is when schools are not in session. Inconsistent quality, quantity, and sizing: schools require produce to be served in standard units and meet specifications. Processing and packaging: schools require vegetables and fruits to be processed and packaged in standard units. Bidding: sending and reviewing bids from individual farmers can be time-consuming and complex for school procurement and fiscal staff. Delivery/pick up: distribution can be complicated when purchasing from multiple growers. Lack of equipment and skills to store, prepare and serve fresh produce procured for school meals programs. Connecting diverse populations with their culturally appropriate foods. Lack of training and workforce development for culinary staff. The New York State Farm-to-School Competitive Grants Program began in 2015 to increase school’s purchase of New York specialty crops by building relationships between schools and New York farm product suppliers. Secondary goals of the program include increasing agricultural education opportunities for students, improving nutrition and exposing students to new, local, culinary experiences. The objective of Farm to School projects must be to increase the volume and variety of New York State farm products purchased by schools/districts and served in school meal programs. Applicants are encouraged to include other objectives including agricultural and nutrition education gardening activities and relationship building with local agricultural food businesses and farmers. Projects that partner with producers or food processors are strongly encouraged. Applicants may include partners in their project budget as contractors Funding Information A total of $1,500,000 is available for the Farm-to-School Competitive Grants Program. This year, $300,000 will be set aside for first-time recipients. Grant awards may range from $50,000 to $100,000. Applicants may apply for only one grant per funding period. Applicants must apply for $50,000 to $100,000. Project Duration Proposed projects must be completed within two years of the contract start date. Contract term will be 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2026. Eligible Applicants  Eligible applicants include: K-12 School Food Authorities Charter schools Not-for-profit organizations Indian tribal organizations. For more information, visit NYSDAM.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations and public agencies in developing and sustaining small, community-focused agricultural projects, such as farmer's markets and urban gardens.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and local or tribal governments in New York State to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of specialty crops through research, development, and education initiatives.

The Research and Education Grant program funds projects that result in gains in farmer knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes that are then applied to make measurable on-farm changes leading to greater sustainability. Donor Name: Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 4 Years Details: The focus on farmer behavior change is a key requirement of this grant program. A wide variety of topics can be funded by Northeast SARE, including marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture and much more. Other aspects of projects funded through the Northeast SARE program include those that address climate-smart agriculture practices intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change; increase carbon sequestration; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-smart practices include reduced and no-till, cover crops, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. In addition, projects may address traditional ecological knowledge. Funding Information Awards typically range from $30,000 to $250,000. Grant Period Typical project length is 2 to 3 years. The maximum project length allowed is 3.5 years. Geographical Focus  The Northeast region includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Eligible Applicants Research and Education Grants are open to anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, municipalities, tribal governments, state departments of agriculture, federal agencies, research farms and experiment stations, for-profit business entities (such as private consultants, farmers and veterinary practices), etc. Northeast SARE encourages projects submitted from or in collaboration with women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, they encourage projects submitted from or in collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (including 1890s and other historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and tribal colleges and universities) and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities. Your organization must have the legal structure and financial capacity to receive and implement a Northeast SARE contract, including expending funds needed for the project prior to receiving reimbursements from Northeast SARE; advance payments are not possible. Projects must take place within the Northeast region. Applicants and host organizations may be located outside of the Northeast region if the project activities and the farmers served are located within the Northeast region. For more information, visit Northeast SARE.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and local governments in New York to develop infrastructure projects that improve food access and resilience in underserved communities.

This funding opportunity supports businesses and non-profit organizations in Lewis County, NY, by providing financial assistance for creative projects that enhance their visibility in the community.

The Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants in New York aim to support local initiatives that sustain the economic viability of the state's agricultural industry and its supporting land base, while also preserving the environment and landscape values associated with agriculture. These grants are available to municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) for developing local farmland protection plans through zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations. Eligible municipalities can receive grants up to $25,000 or 75% of the cost for plan development, with a required local funding share of at least 20% in cash. Collaboration between two municipalities on an application is permitted. Additionally, any municipality without a previous agricultural and farmland protection plan is eligible for funding.

This funding opportunity supports not-for-profit organizations and local governments in New York State to provide food boxes and nutrition education in communities eligible for SNAP benefits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations, tribal groups, and local governments in New York to create community gardens that promote nutrition education and increase access to fresh produce for low-income residents.

This funding opportunity supports licensed dairy processors and brands in the Northeast to initiate or expand co-packing arrangements, scale production, and enhance their product offerings.

This program provides financial support to small and mid-sized farms in Ulster County, New York, to enhance their economic viability, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local governments to help subsidize the cost of Community Supported Agriculture shares for SNAP recipients, increasing access to fresh, locally grown food in New York.

This grant provides financial support to municipalities and public K-12 schools in Dutchess County, New York, for implementing food waste reduction initiatives, including in-vessel composting systems and food waste drop-off programs.

This opportunity invites K-12 students in Dutchess County, New York, to create artwork from recyclable materials, promoting awareness of recycling and sustainability through an art challenge.

This grant provides financial support to dairy farmers and related organizations in the Northeast to improve farm operations, enhance milk quality, and address climate challenges.

This grant provides funding for agricultural research, education, and technical assistance projects aimed at improving farming practices in the Northern New York region, specifically targeting operating farms and agricultural research facilities.