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
NY Farm Viability Institute is now accepting applications for the NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program. It is anticipated that this program will receive a high number of applications from a wide range of beginning farmers. Farmers who have not operated a farm for more than 10 years and who will materially and substantially participate in operating the farm within the State are eligible to submit proposals. It is expected that all applicants will have a serious interest in building a financially sustainable, independent, commercial agricultural enterprise. More detail about eligibility is provided in the RFP. This grant is a reimbursement-based award. No costs will be reimbursed until a project has achieved key milestones, or is successfully completed and all required documentation has been submitted. Grant recipients must be able to self-finance or secure financing to implement their project.
The program will be managed entirely online. Applicants must first register in the online system. The link to the online application is available here. Applications must be submitted by January 24, 2025.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) are administrating the Dairy Modernization Grant program, which will provide grants for on-farm milk storage and transfer technologies and infrastructure which will improve dairy supply chain efficiency and avoid raw milk dumping related to emergency events. Funds provided by this grant to farms and agricultural marketing cooperatives are intended be used for the services and expenses to expand on-farm milk storage capacity, improve efficiencies, invest in milk transfer systems, cooling technologies, or other purposes deemed necessary to further opportunities for dairy farmers to transport or store their products.
Access the application here. The application deadline is February 14th, 2025 at 5 PM.
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, cultural & identity, biodiversity, innovation, accessible scale and education, and how a grant would reinforce the long term resilience and impact of their work. You can access the application guidelines here.
You can access the application here. The application deadline is December 30th, 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 December 6, 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.