FARM OPERATIONS

The NYS Urban Development Corporation, doing business as Empire State Development, in consultation with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, is soliciting applications for the New York State New Farmers Grant Fund to support beginning farmers who have chosen farming as a career and who materially and substantially participate in the production of an agricultural product within a region of the state.

New York State has allocated $1 million to be used to provide grants between $15,000 and $50,000 for up to 50% of eligible project costs. Eligible project 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. All project costs must be directly related to achieving Program Goals. Projects are expected to be completed within a two-year contract term.

Program Goals: Improve farm profitability through one or both of the following goals:

• Expanding agricultural production, diversifying agricultural production and/or extending the agricultural production season;

• Advancing innovative techniques that increase sustainable agricultural practices such as organic farming, food safety, reduction of farm waste and/or water use.

Eligibility: All of the following criteria must be met in order to be eligible to apply for funding:

• A farm operation located wholly within New York State which produces an agricultural product as defined in the program guidelines; and

• The farm operation must have a minimum of $10,000 in farm income from sales of agricultural products grown or raised on the applicant’s farm operation as reflected in either personal or business 2017 tax returns; and

• All owners must be New York State residents who are at least 18 years of age; and

• As of April 1, 2018, all farm operation owners must be in the first ten years of having an ownership interest in any farm operation; and

• All owners must materially and substantially participate in the day-to-day production of an agricultural product grown or raised on the farm operation.

Applications must be postmarked by January 25, 2019. Applicants can access the application form, guidelines, any amendments to the guidelines and additional information about the program on the ESD website: https://esd.ny.gov/new-farmers-grant-fund-program

Additional information can be obtained by writing to: [email protected]