Farm Financial Management

Agricultural Funding Opportunities

There are many opportunities for existing and beginning farmers to access loans and grant programs, both locally and at the federal level. Below are some of these funding opportunities.

CURRENT

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Reopened

The USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program is back open, with applications due April 22, 2026. This year’s scoring strongly favors first-time applicants, smaller requests (under $125,000), and geographic diversity. New applicants can earn up to 10 priority points, while entities with three or more prior VAPG awards receive no points under the updated rubric. Applications that rely heavily on paid grant writers (more than 15% of the request) will not qualify for priority points.

Learn more through USDA Rural Development.

Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is accepting applications for Round 4 of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program (RFA 0381), with a deadline of 3 p.m. on March 4, 2026. This grant offers funding to help farmers’ markets across New York increase long-term viability and adapt to challenges by improving market infrastructure, online systems, marketing/outreach, and delivery capabilities. Applications must be submitted online through the Statewide Financial System; mailed, emailed, or faxed submissions will not be accepted. See the full Request for Applications on the Agriculture and Markets website for eligibility and details. Applications must be submitted via the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System (SFS GM) to be considered for funding. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program

The NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program from the New York Farm Viability Institute is returning with a Round Two funding pool of $1.7 million early in 2026. This competitive grant helps beginning farmers grow financially sustainable, independent agricultural businesses by supporting proposals that demonstrate clear financial impact and business growth potential. Round One awarded $850,000 to 19 projects, and Round Two will continue to support farmers with eligible proposals that show how grant funds will help start or expand their operation. The program is funded by the New York State Legislature and administered in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the analysis as well as the grant information and resources that were provided for the first round here.

Farm Fund grants are open to farmers who are 35 and under in Australia, Europe, the USA and the UK who are committed to agroecological cultivation methods. We ask applicants to demonstrate how their project reinforces soil health, biodiversity, innovation, accessible scale and education, and how a grant would reinforce the long term resilience and impact of their work.

The application deadline is May 31st, 2026.

LOCAL

Braiding Seeds Fellowship

The Braiding Seeds Fellowship, a project of Soul Fire Farm Institute in collaboration with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, carries on the legacy of the braided seeds by providing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, &/or People of Color) beginning farmers with resources, professional development, and mentorship to support their livelihood on land. Applications due by October 15th. Application details here.

Sullivan County Agri-Business Revolving Loan Fund

The Sullivan County Revolving Loan Funds provide seed capital and early-stage loans to eligible entrepreneurial companies who want to establish or expand within the county. Special consideration shall be given to assisting businesses owned and operated by persons of low-to-moderate income, as required by the specific program. For more information call the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Community Development at 845-807-0527 or visit their website.

Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Agri-Business Revolving Loan Fund

The IDA administers a revolving loan fund for agri-businesses. For more information on the loan program and an application, contact the County of Sullivan IDA office at 845-295-2603 or visit their website.

Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development

Through the Sullivan Investments Revolving Loan Program and the Incubator Without Walls Revolving Loan Program, the Partnership provides financing along with technical assistance to businesses. For more information on the loan program and an application contact the SC Partnership office at 845-794-1110 or Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development.

STATE

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

The Department offers various funding opportunities to ensure the growth of New York’s agricultural communities. These opportunities touch many parts of the diverse agricultural sector: connecting farmers with new markets; supporting marketing efforts for producers and retailers; getting local, healthy foods into schools; improving infrastructure on fairgrounds and in companion animal shelters statewide; ensuring climate-resilient farming practices; and more.

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program

Climate Resilient Farming

Marketing and Advertising of NYS Grown and Certified Specialty Products

Dairy Runway Program

visit: https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities to explore relevant opportunities.

NORTHEAST

Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center Funding Opportunities

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grants

FEDERAL

USDA National Agricultural Library: Grants & Loans for Farmers

Although limited, financial support for small farms and farm-related businesses is available from a variety of federal, state, and local agencies, and from non-governmental organizations. Grants & Loans for Farmers

USDA Farm Service Agency Farm Loans - Online application launched for Direct Loan Customers.

USDA Rural Development

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

PRIVATE

Food Shed Capital

KIVA loans

Farm Credit East

Fruit Guys Community Fund

National Young Farmers Coalition Grant Program

Sky High Farm Grants

Brighter Future Fund - American Farmland Trust

Black Farmer Fund

Braiding Seeds Fellowship

Growing Spaces Urban Farming Grant

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

ENERGY

Rural Energy for America Program (Loan & Grant)

NYSERDA

NYSERDA offers financial assistance to identify electric and natural gas energy efficiency measures for eligible farms and on-farm producers, including but not limited to: dairies, orchards, greenhouses, vegetables, vineyards, grain dryers, and poultry/egg. Farms must be customers of a New York State investor-owned utility and contribute to the System Benefits Charge (SBC). Please check your farm’s current utility bills.

Contact

Haley Collins
Ag Program Coordinator
hc2246@cornell.edu
845-292-6180 ext. 131

Last updated February 24, 2026

Explore our Farm & Food Business Funding Resource Worksheet through the image link above! (updated on January 2, 2024)

Farm Tax Info

What does the New Tax Law Mean for Northeast Agriculture?

The largest overhaul of the U.S. tax code in 30 years provides overall positive benefits to many Northeast farmers. While a major promise of the tax reform movement was to “simplify the tax code,” a great deal of complexity remains. Some of the provisions of the tax law that will affect producers in 2018 are discussed in this report. Below are links to helpful resources for farmers.

Farmer's Tax Guide

New Tax Law

Agricultural Value Assessments

The agricultural assessment program allows eligible farmland located both within and outside agricultural districts to be taxed at its agricultural assessment, rather than at its fair market value. The agricultural assessment value establishes an “upper limit” for taxable assessments on eligible farmland. Any assessed value which exceeds the equalized agricultural assessment on the land may qualify for a reduced tax assessment. Landowners must apply to their local town assessor annually for an agricultural assessment.

Learn about how to qualify for agricultural assessment here. And for more detailed information on Ag Value Assessments, visit the NYS Department of of Taxation & Finance website here.

Explore Farmland Access Legal Toolkit's resources and information for farm property tax savings through the image link above!

Upcoming Funding Opportunites

Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF): USDA has opened sign-up for the $1 billion program through the Farm Service Agency.

Deadline: March 13, 2026 (5 p.m. ET)

This one-time payment is based on 2025 planted acres. To qualify, producers must be actively engaged in farming, report 2025 acres by the deadline, and have AGI of $900,000 or less.

Payment limit: $155,000 per person/entity.
Crop-specific rates will be announced in late March. Crop insurance is not required. Many specialty crops are eligible.

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Reopened – Strong Preference for First-Time Applicants.

Deadline: April 22, 2026.

This year strongly favors first-time applicants, smaller requests (under $125,000), and geographic diversity. New applicants can receive up to 10 priority points, while entities with three or more prior VAPGs receive none under the updated scoring.

Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development Resource Center: The Ag Workforce Journal provides news, updates, and other helpful information for the agricultural industry, including information on funding programs for farms due to COVID-19.

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Sullivan County