List of Funding Sources



List of funding sources for produce farms in NYS

Last Updated: November 13, 2024

This is a list of grants and other sources of funds that are available to produce (fruit and vegetable) producers in New York State.  For-profit farms are eligible to apply for these grants, unless noted.  Not every program is currently accepting applications, but where possible I have tried to indicate when the funding tends to be available.  If in bold, the program is currently accepting applications.

Questions?  Contact Elizabeth Higgins at emh56@cornell.edu

  • Agriculture Energy Audit Program (NYSERDA)
  • Agricultural Environmental Management (NYS through Soil and Water Conservation Districts)
  • Ag Management Assistance Program (USDA NRCS).
  • Beginning Farmer Grant (NYS Ag and Markets through NYS Farm Viability)
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (USDA NRCS)
  • Farm and Food Workers Relief Program (USDA through contracted organizations)
  • Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (USDA FSA and AMS)
  • Farm Ops Scholarships (Cornell Small Farms Program)
  • Farmers Market Promotion Program (USDA AMS)
  • FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program (NYS Ag and Markets)
  • GAP Certification Assistance Program (NYS Ag and Markets)
  • Local Food Promotion Program (USDA AMS)
  • Off-Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans & Grants (USDA Rural Development)
  • On-Farm Labor Housing Loans (USDA Rural Development)
  • Organic Certification Cost Share Program (USDA FSA)
  • NYS Grown and Certified Grant Program (NYS Ag and Markets through NYS Farm Viability)
  • Regional Food Business Center, Business Builder Award (USDA AMS through NASDA)
  • Regional Food Systems Partnership Program (USDA AMS)
  • Resilient Food Infrastructure Grant Program: Coming in 2025 – Equipment Only Grants (NYS Ag and Markets through the Farm and Food Growth Fund)
  • Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Grants and Loans (USDA Rural Development)
  • Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Program (NYSERDA)
  • SARE Farmer Grant (USDA SARE)
  • SARE Partnership Grant (USDA SARE)
  • Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program (NYS Ag and Markets through the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust)
  • Value Added Producer Grant (USDA Rural Development)

Agriculture Energy Audit Program (NYSERDA)

Application Date: Continuous

NYSERDA offers free energy audits to identify 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. In addition, greenhouse facilities can receive a free benchmarking report that describes their energy use intensity and benchmarks their facility against an anonymous aggregate of peer facilities. Farms must be customers of a New York State investor-owned utility and contribute to the System Benefits Charge (SBC). Please check your current electricity bills.

Agricultural Environmental Management (NYS through Soil and Water Conservation Districts)

Application Date: AEM Technical Assistance is available, funding for Cost Share depends on availability of state funds, farms can do AEM planning through their county Soil and Water Conservation District.

NYS funding, administered by Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  The AEM program is available statewide and is similar to USDA EQIP. AEM is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible agricultural producers who are willing to address priority environmental issues by implementing conservation practices.  AEM’s focus has been on water quality.  AEM planning is a requirement to participate in the NYS Grown and Certified Label program.

Ag Management Assistance Program (USDA NRCS).

Application Date: Applications are accepted at any time and NRCS periodically announces cut-off dates for evaluating accepted applications.

Producers receive conservation technical and financial assistance to construct or improve water management or irrigation structures, plant trees for windbreaks or, to improve water quality and mitigate risk, diversify their operation and conservation practices including soil erosion control, integrated pest management or transition to organic farming.

Eligible land includes agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest land or other land on which agricultural products, livestock, or forest-related products are produced and where risk may be mitigated by diversifying the operation or adding conservation practices that support soil erosion control, integrated pest management and organic farming.

Funding at the farm-level will vary by project. Under CSP, participants are paid for conservation performance: the higher the operational performance, the higher their payment. Persons or legal entities cannot receive more than $50,000 in AMA program payments per fiscal year.

Beginning Farmer Grant Program (NYS Ag and Markets through NYS Farm Viability)

Application Date: Applications will open October 25, 2024, and will be available through January 24, 2025.

Administered by the New York Farm Viability Institute, the Beginning Farmer Grant Program’s goal is to assist beginning farmers with the financial costs associated with the creation or expansion of a new farm operation. The program will award grants to for-profit farm businesses operating within New York State that are start-ups or have been in business for less than ten years. A total of $850,000 is available through this program, with awards ranging from $5,000-$25,000 and $50,000-$250,000, based on project complexity.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (USDA NRCS)

Application Date: Check the NRCS state site for deadlines for review of submitted proposals, but you should plan to apply well in advance.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to address priority environmental issues by implementing conservation practices. In New York, EQIP has been used by many fruit and vegetable producers to help fund high tunnels. Funding at the farm-level will vary by project.

Farm and Food Workers Relief Program (USDA through contracted organizations)

Application Date: Currently accepting applications, program will probably end in early 2025

The U.S. Government budgeted $667 million in grant funding “to defray worker expenses incurred preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The funds are supposed to be distributed to frontline farm and food employees who worked in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For New York farmers, an agency to direct employees to receive this payment is PASA (Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture). PASA has set up a dedicated website to administer the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program. NY employers should direct employees to this website farmworkers.com to access this payment if they are eligible.

Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (USDA FSA and AMS)

Application Date: Unknown (was a pilot program in 2024)

USDA developed the FLSP Program in September 2023, in coordination with other federal agencies, to help address workforce needs in agriculture; promote a safe and healthy work environment, as well as ethical recruitment for farmworkers; and support lawful migration pathways for workers, including expansion of labor pathways for workers from Northern Central America, through the H-2A visa program. Farms selected for the program receive a payment, based on the number of farmworkers employed by the farm, in exchange for practices like improved pay and benefits (sick leave and paid time off), increasing opportunities for education and opportunities for advancement, improving housing, improving processes for employer-employee engagement and disclosing recruitment practices and advancing practices that protect workers from illegal fees, exploitation and human trafficking.

Farmers Market Promotion Program (USDA AMS)

Application Date: Applications generally due in late spring early summer

USDA’s annual grant program for developing, coordinating, and expanding direct to consumer markets. The program is not just for farmers markets. FMPP offers four types of projects, 36-month Capacity Building, 36-month Community Development Training and Technical Assistance, 24-month Turnkey Marketing and Promotion, and 24-month Turnkey Recruitment and Training. Capacity Building projects range from $50,000 to $250,000, while Community Development Training and Technical Assistance projects range from $100,000 to $500,000. The program requires a 25% match of the requested federal portion of the grant. The deadline for applications last year was May 14, 2024.

FarmOps Scholarships (Cornell Small Farms Program)

Application Date: Funding is first-come, first-served while funds are available.

The Cornell Small Farms Program is offering scholarships to veterans and active-duty military personnel who attend educational events and workshops related to farming. Veterans and active-duty military personnel are eligible.  The program currently offers reimbursement on eligible costs for agricultural trainings. Eligible costs include travel expenses and registration for trainings (i.e. hotel, mileage, event registration). Maximum funding is $100 but multiple day training events may be eligible for a higher reimbursement rate.

FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program (NYS Ag and Markets) – Must Partner with a Non-Profit or Government

Application Date: Maybe Summer 2025?  The deadline in 2024 was August.

If you are a CSA farm that already accepts SNAP (food stamps) as a source of payment for weekly CSA shares, this grant should be of interest to you. If you do not currently participate in this program, you will need to partner with a non-profit or local government to be the applicant. Your local CCE office, your county department of health, a local food pantry or other non-profits are all possible partners for this grant. Here is the information about the program:

New York producers are eligible to be reimbursed for up to to 50% of the cost of a weekly share purchased by a SNAP recipient with their SNAP benefits through an awarded third-party applicant. So, for example, if your weekly share is $30 if you charge people using SNAP $15 per share you could be reimbursed an additional $15, so would receive the full $30.

All proposals should identify the producers providing items for the programs weekly shares and or the beneficiaries of the reduced cost share. Applications must select CSAs that already accept SNAP payments as a form of payment.

GAP Certification Assistance Program (NYS Ag and Markets)

Application Date: Funds are available on first-come, first-served basis.

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. Funding for this program is provided by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets reimburses up to $2000 of the cost of the audit. Reimbursement may include the cost of food safety training, water tests, consultants needed to prepare the food safety plan, and on-site visits.

Local Food Promotion Program (USDA AMS)

Application Date: Applications generally due in the late spring early summer. The deadline for applications last year was May 14, 2024.

USDA’s annual grant program for projects that develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing. LFPP offers four types of projects, 24-month Planning, 36-month Implementation, 24-month Turnkey Marketing and Promotion, and 24-month Turnkey Recruitment and Training. Planning projects range from $25,000 to $100,000, while implementation projects range from $100,000 to $500,000. The program requires a 25% match of the requested federal portion of the grant.

NYS Grown and Certified Grant Program (NYS Ag and Markets through NYS Farm Viability).

Application Date: Applications open November 25, 2024, deadline is February 28, 2025.  This link will take you to a form to notify you when the application period is open.

NYS Ag and Markets is partnering with NYS Farm Viability Institute to offer a grant to farms that are enrolled in or are in the process of enrolling in the NYS Grown and Certified Program. The grant will fund projects with priorities for: distribution capacity enhancement; environmental sustainability related to NYS Grown & Certified participation; food safety; new product development, processing and packing, production automation and labor efficiency. The grant program is unique in that it emphasizes infrastructure improvements and will only require a 10% match. There are few grants that cover infrastructure.

Funding will be awarded within 4 regional groups:

  • Finger Lakes and Central NY: $1 million for capital projects
  • Mid-Hudson, New York City, and Long Island: $1.5 million for capital projects
  • North Country, Mohawk Valley, and Capital Region: $1.5 million for capital projects
  • Western NY and Southern Tier: $1 million for capital projects

Each regional group will also have an additional $200,000 available for research and development projects.

Off-Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans & Grants (USDA Rural Development) – Applicant must be a non-profit or government

Application Date: Last year the applications were due in the summer

This program provides affordable financing to develop housing for year-round and migrant or seasonal domestic farm laborers. Funds can be used for construction, improvement, repair and purchase of housing for domestic farm laborers is the primary objective of this program. Buying and improve land, purchasing household furnishings and Paying construction loan interest is also eligible.  Loans are for up to 33 years at 1% interest and grants are for up to 90% of project cost.

On-Farm Labor Housing Loans (USDA Rural Development)

Application Date: This program accepts applications on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.

This program provides affordable financing to develop or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for very low to moderate income domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers. It also provides funding used to increase the supply of affordable housing for farm labor; and the ability of the farmer to provide affordable, decent, sage and sanitary housing for farm workers.

This program provides low interest loans to eligible borrowers to develop or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for very low to moderate income domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers. Borrowers must not otherwise be able to get commercial credit.  The interest rate is 1% annually for up to 33 years and 100% of the cost of the housing can be financed.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (USDA FSA)

Application Date: Deadline for 2024 is October 31, 2024

Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category. FSA is now accepting applications, and organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the Oct. 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. FSA will issue payments as applications are received and approved. The application and instructions can be found at the program’s website. How to Apply: To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses

Regional Food Business Center, Business Builder Award (USDA AMS through NASDA)

Application Date: Coming in late 2024/2025. Rolling awards, anticipated to start in late 2024.

All Regional Food Business Centers will administer a Business Builder award program as part of their Capacity Building goals. Business Builder awards provide direct financial assistance of up to $100,000 to eligible small and mid-sized farms and food businesses. Awards are made for business, market, and supply chain development projects aimed at increasing business viability, developing regional market opportunities, and expanding value chain capacity.  NASDA was selected as the Regional Food Business Center lead agency for the Northeast, including New York State.  New York State Ag and Markets, Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement and Buffalo Go Green are partners with NASDA on the regional center.

The maximum award will be $100,000 per entity, but business can receive unlimited trainings and access to non-financial resources to strengthen their business through this program.  No match requirement.  Although the program is not open yet, USDA has provided a FAQ that outlines what types of projects would be eligible and not eligible for assistance.

To find out if the program is open in the Northeast or to get a sense what was done with the funding in other regions, you can check this website Regional Food Business Center Business Builder Grant Status | Agricultural Marketing Service (usda.gov).

Regional Food Systems Partnership Program (USDA AMS) – Will require partnerships with other organizations

Application Date: Unsure as it is a new program, probably late spring early summer. The deadline for applications last year was May 14, 2024.

Also, part of the LAMP program, The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. RFSP offers two types of projects, 24-month Planning and Design and 36-month Implementation and Expansion Projects. Planning and Design projects range from $100,000 to $250,000, while Implementation and Expansion projects range from $250,000 to $1,000,000. The program requires cash-only matching fund contributions in an amount equal to 25 percent of the total Federal portion of the grant.

Resilient Food Infrastructure Grant Program: Coming in 2025 – Equipment Only Grants (NYS Ag and Markets through Farm and Food Growth Fund)

Application Date: Expected application in 2025

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 after the Resilient Food Infrastructure Grant Program is completed.  They expect this to be in 2025. These awards will be $10,000 – $100,000 with no match required. Equipment must be used for post-harvest aggregation, processing, packing, or distribution of eligible agricultural products.  The Farm and Food Growth Fund (the administrator of the grant program) website indicates that information about this program will be available soon.

Rural Energy for America Program – Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Grants and Loans (USDA Rural Development)

Application Date: Open for Fiscal Year 2025 Application Windows: Grant competition deadlines are September 30, 2024, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Only complete applications can compete for funding.

Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.  Ag business with at least 50% of gross income coming from agricultural operations.  Or small businesses in rural areas (> 50,000 people).  Small projects are projects that are $20,000 or less. Businesses must be in an area other than a city or town with a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area of that city or town. Agricultural producers may be in rural or non-rural areas.  Grants for up to 25% of eligible project costs. Maximum grant for energy system is $500,000 and the maximum grant for energy efficiency is $250,000. Combined grant and loan funding of up to 75% of total eligible project costs.

REAP Technical Assistance Program (NYSERDA)

Application Date: Funding is available on a first come, first serve basis through September 30, 2026.

RTAP provides farmers with no-cost support preparing an application package seeking REAP grant funding, which can cover up to 50% of total project costs for energy efficiency improvements.  RTAP can help farmers with:

  • Preparation of a technical report in accordance with 7 CFR 4280.119(d)
  • Help filing for System Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registrations
  • Completion of environmental reports and other documentation required for REAP grant applications
  • Resources for obtaining an energy audit and additional incentive information
  • Energy best practices information to improve the energy efficiency of farm operations
  • Translation and interpretation services

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for RTAP (basically these are eligibility requirements for REAP)

  • Be a New York State agricultural producer or rural business
  • Not have outstanding delinquent federal taxes, debt, judgement, or debarments
  • Have at least 50% of gross revenue or receipts coming from agricultural operations, or be considered a rural small business
  • Provide a qualified energy audit that has been completed within the last two years. No-cost energy audits are available through NYSERDA’s Agriculture Energy Audit Program.
  • Provide your most recent utility and energy bills for the farm and any stationary equipment.

Priority will be given to applicants who meet the following criteria:

SARE Farmer Grant (USDA SARE)

Application Date:  Proposals were due Nov 12 at 5 p.m. EST. Projects will start after March 1, 2025.  Generally, proposals are due in November

Northeast SARE Farmer Grant funds can be used to conduct a research project to explore new concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques. Farmer Grant projects address issues that affect farming with long-term sustainability in mind.  Use of funds includes paying farmers for their time, for project-related materials, for project costs like consulting fees or soil tests, and any communications or outreach expenses associated with telling others about project results. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending upon a project’s complexity and duration.  Applicants should only request the funding necessary for the success of their project. Farmer Grant recipients are expected to collect and manage reliable data about their project and convey this information clearly through annual and final reports.

This grant program is not meant to help start or expand farm businesses. Farmer Grant funds cannot be used for capital costs associated with building a barn, greenhouse, or other major farm fixture, nor can funds be used to start a farm, purchase durable equipment like tractors or computers, or for any utility, telephone, or other costs that would be there in the absence of the project.

The Farmer Grant program is open to all commercial farm business owners and farm employees in the Northeast region. This grant program accepts all types and scales of farms. To be eligible, you must meet the U.S. Census of Agriculture definition of a Farm: “Any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year.”

Northeast SARE grants are paid on a reimbursement basis, advance payments are not possible. Projects must take place within the Northeast region. Proposals are limited to one per farm per year. Current grant recipients who are behind in their reporting cannot apply.

SARE Partnership Grant (USDA SARE) – Must partner with a research agency (non-profit, university, agency)

Application Date: Spring 2025 most likely

If you have a research idea or need but prefer to not take the lead on a grant you might want to consider a SARE Partnership Grant which is a grant program where a farm (or farms) work in partnership with another agency on a research project.

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program

Application Date: Applications open on December 30, 2024 and will be available through February 14, 2025.

The Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program is administered by the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust (NEFOC). Funding will be offered under the program name “Landing Access: Novel Directions (LAND) Project.” The LAND Project’s goal is to assist farmers who face disproportionate barriers to success due to discrimination. The program will award grants to for-profit business owners who experience discrimination by virtue of their membership in a particular group and whose ability to enter into farming or the success of their farm enterprise has been impaired due to disproportionate access to capital, credit opportunities or land, among other things.  A total of $3.4 million is available to famers through this program, with grants of up to $5,000 offered in this first round of funding. Subsequent rounds of funding will offer awards of up to $250,000. Questions regarding the LAND Project can be sent to info@nylandproject.com.

Value Added Producer Grant (USDA Rural Development)

Application Date: Annual program, applications usually are due in late winter early spring

USDA’s annual grant program for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. The maximum planning grant is $75,000 and the maximum working capital grant is $250,000. Each requires a 100% match of the requested grant amount. The deadline for applications last year was April 16, 2024.