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
The Dairy Margin Coverage Program offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. FSA has revised the regulations for DMC to allow eligible dairy operations to make a one-time adjustment to established production history. This adjustment will be accomplished by combining previously established supplemental production history with DMC production history for those dairy operations that participated in Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage during a prior coverage year.
Learn more here! The enrollment period for 2024 is ends April 29th, 2024.
The Sky High Farm Grant Program is committed to building equity in our extended agricultural circle by supporting a range of projects helmed by farmers and food justice advocates whose work is rooted in their communities and our shared values. Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, migrant, refugee and other groups excluded from traditional funding opportunities experience profound barriers in access to land, acquiring essential farming tools and equipment, experiential and formal education around sustainable farming practices, and wages from farming that support stable housing and basic human needs.
Learn more here! Apply by April 22, 2024!
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 beginning farmers with resources, professional development, and mentorship to support their livelihood on land. Braiding Seeds fellows receive a $50,000 stipend; a menu of professional development opportunities including 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support; cohort gatherings; and individualized coaching.
Learn more here! Apply by May 1, 2024!
LOCAL
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
Marketing and Advertising of NYS Grown and Certified Specialty Products
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.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
PRIVATE
National Young Farmers Coalition Grant Program
Brighter Future Fund - American Farmland Trust
Growing Spaces Urban Farming Grant
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
ENERGY
Rural Energy for America Program (Loan & Grant)
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.
Last updated April 18, 2024
Sullivan County Revolving Loans
Ag Business Planning & Development Resources
- Investing in Your Farm: Accessing Grants and Loans for Growing Your Business (all workshops are recorded and available on the website)
- Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
- Starting an Ag-Business? A Pre-Planning Guide
- Starting a Business: Brochure from the NYS Office for Technology
- Business Planning for the Agriculture Sector: A Guide to Business Plan Development for Start-up to Mid-Size Operations
- A Practical Guide to Preparing Your Business Plan
- Incubator Without Walls Program: A Brochure from the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation
- What is Your Agricultural Commodity Really Worth?
- Tax Guide for Owners and Operators of Small and Medium Size Farms
Farm Raise, Inc. has created a Farm Service Agency 101 - comprised of videos, and resources for farmers to learn about and access major FSA programs.
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.
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
New York State Grown & Certified ITRD Grant Program: NY Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI) is partnering with NYS Grown & Certified to launch a grant program to assist New York food producers, processors, distributors, and other eligible entities in bringing NYS Grown & Certified products to market. We anticipate releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Infrastructure and Technology proposals early in 2024. Grant applications will be more competitive if the applicant is already enrolled or actively in the process of becoming part of the NYS Grown & Certified program.
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.