November 12, 2024: Jan 1 deadline to file a Beneficial Ownership Report, NYS Grown and Certified Grant Program Dates Announced, Crop Insurance Deadline for Perennial Fruit Crops looms, FSA Disaster Loans and Assistance available from Tropical Storm Debbie in August 2024, Resources for Farms facing Financial Hardship, NYS Beginning Farmer Grant, Upcoming Programs
Author: emh56@cornell.edu
Research: The Impact of Large-scale Solar Development on Farmland Values: Evidence from New York State
Large-scale solar energy projects compete for land with agriculture, potentially leading to undesired farmland loss and appreciation. The study authors looked at more than 12,000 parcel-level farmland transactions between (2007-2021) before and after 2015 when policies like the Shared Renewables Program (SRP) boosted the demand for land for large scale solar projects.
Recommended Resource: Using Farm Assets for Retirement
Using Farm Assets for Retirement This immensely helpful and well-written guidebook by Steve Richards, published by NY FarmNet, lays out concrete strategies for planning for retirement.
The Bottom Line #13
October 17, 2024. Three events in NYS to help farmworkers receive $600 federal payment, NYS Ag and Markets announces 2 new grant programs, the beginning farmer grant program and the socially and economically disadvantaged farmer grant program. CCE Orange County is hiring an Ag Program Manager, new ENYCH website with current list of ag funds, USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Upcoming Programs
The Bottom Line #12
September 25, 2024. FSA loan rates begin to drop, grapevine insurance, research of impact of solar on farmland values, COVID relief funds still available for farmworkers, Upcoming programs.
GAP Certification Assistance Program
The GAP certification assistance program is a cost-share/reimbursement program designed to assist the specialty crop industry with the cost of an operation’s GAP food safety audit.
Strategies for a Successful NYS Grown and Certified Grant Application
While in Western NY in late June I met with Aileen Randolph of NY Farm Viability, and she provided some tips for growers who are interested in the upcoming NYS Grown and Certified Grant Program.
Governor Hochul Announces New Refundable Farm Employer Overtime Tax Credit Application Period Now Open
Farm employers who have registered in the new online portal at taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov may enter eligible employee overtime information and submit their application to the Department of Ag and Markets for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime.
SARE Farmer Grant
SARE Farmer Grant Call for Proposals Open Proposals due Nov 12 at 5 p.m. EST. Projects will start after March 1, 2025.
2024 New York Land Value Trends
A new joint publication from the American Society of Farm Managers, Rural Appraisers Northeast Chapter, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Dyson School discusses trends in agland values for New York State.
Reminder – new H2A rules take effect on August 28, 2024
The new worker protections that must be incorporated into job orders filed in connection with H-2A Applications (criteria clearance orders) will apply to workers employed under any criteria clearance orders and associated H-2A applications submitted on or after 12:00AM Eastern Daylight Time on August 29, 2024. Here is a webinar from the USDOL that outlines the changes you will see in the forms ETA 790 and 790A and 9142A.
Coming in 2025 – Equipment Only Grants (NYS Ag and Markets)
According to the NYS Ag and Markets website, NYS Ag and Markets Farm and Food Growth Fund applications for Equipment Only Grants will be launched in 2025.