New York State Grants and Incentives

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Program funds are available for nonpoint source abatement and control projects that plan or implement Agricultural Best Management Practice Systems on New York State farms. All projects must consist of activities that will reduce, abate, control or prevent nonpoint source pollution origination from agricultural sources. Grants can cost share up to 75% of project costs or more if farmers contribute to the areas of planning or implementation. Funding Amount: up to 75% of project costs. For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Agriculture Energy Audit Program Sponsor/Agency: New York State Energy and Research Development Authority. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (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. Eligible Recipients: Farms who are customers of New York State investor-owned utilities and contribute to the electric System Benefits Charge (SBC).  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Climate Resilient Farming Program Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The goal of the CRP Program is to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change and to increase resiliency of New York State farms in the face of a changing climate. Soil and Water Conservation Districts use the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Framework to plan and assess their environmental risks. CRF allows farmers to proactively address risks due to the changing climate while also mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions. For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Dairy Advancement Program Sponsor/Agency: Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY. The Dairy Advancement Program is an initiative of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation designed to enhance profitability of New York dairy farms. Funding is made available for business planning/analysis, certification management or designing new/remodeled facilities. In the past, this program has been utilized for Farm Credit East Consulting Services. Eligible Recipients: New York Dairy Cattle Farm that ships milk. Funding Amount: Dependent on Project Type For more information about this opportunity, click here. For more information about Farm Credit Consulting Services, click here. 

Farmers School Tax Credit (FSTC) Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The FSTC is a credit that can be claimed on school district property taxes based on the amount of the taxes paid and the number of qualified acres. Eligible Recipients: Individuals or Businesses engage in the business of farming and paid school district taxes on qualified agricultural property.  Funding Amount: Dependent on the number of qualified acres and the amount of school district property taxes paid.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Municipalities, counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and land trusts are eligible to apply for individual grants of up to $2 million to help offset the costs of conservation easement projects that protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use. Eligible Recipients: Dependent on Grant. Funding Amount: Dependent on Grant. For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Farm-to-School Program Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The New York State Farm-to-School Program was created to connect schools with local farms and food producers to strengthen local agriculture, improve student health, and promote regional food systems awareness. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets provides financial assistance to New York State schools through New York State's Farm-to-School program. It also provides technical and promotional assistance to schools, farms, distributors and other supporting organizations to bring more local, nutritious, seasonally varied meals to New York students. Eligible Recipients: •Kindergarten through Grade 12 Food Authorities •Public, Charter, and Not-for-Profit Schools •Indian Tribal Organizations •Other entities participating in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, or the Summer Food Service Program •Non-for-profit entities working with school food authorities and eligible schools. Funding Amount: up to $100,000. For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture. Credit equals 5% of investment (up to $350 million; 4% rate on amount over $350 million and for personal income taxpayers) on buildings and tangible personal property, acquired by purchase, with a useful life of four years or more and used in production, qualified film production facilities, waste treatment and pollution control property, or research and development property. Eligible Requirements: Individuals or Businesses who placed qualified property into service during the tax year. Funding Amount: 20% of investment credit base on qualifying property. For more information about this opportunity, click here.

John May Farm Safety Fund Sponsor/Agency: New York Center for Agriculture and Health.  Cost share funding for New York farmers that need financial help improving safety on their farms. After a NYCAMH farm safety audit occurs, 50% up to $5,000 of the cost to improve priority area concerns could be made available. Eligible Recipients: An active farmer who is a New York State resident, that has a gross annual farm income of $10,000-$350,000 or a dairy farm milking fewer than 1,000 cows. Funding Amount: up to $5,000 (must not exceed 50% of the estimated total project cost).  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Milk Security Program Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  The main objective of the security program is to protect producers against loss of income in the event a milk dealer defaults in paying for milk received. Pursuant to Section 258-b of Agriculture and Markets Law, licensed dealers who purchase milk directly from producers or cooperatives are required to secure their purchases by either participating in the state's Milk Producers Security Fund (MPSF) or by filing full alternate security in the form of a bond or letter of credit. Milk sales between cooperatives are exempt from this security provision. Eligible Recipients: Licensed Dealers who purchase milk directly from producers or cooperatives.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

National Grid Incentives Sponsor/Agency: National Grid.  For businesses whose energy provider is National Grid, the company has a number of incentives for renewable energy projects or energy efficiency programs. Eligible Recipients: Dependent on Service/Rebate.  Funding Amount: Dependent on Service/Rebate.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

New York State Grown & Certified Program Sponsor/Agency: New York State Grown & Certified Program.  The New York State Grown & Certified Seal indicates the product has been inspected for safe food handling and environmental stewardship. The label indicates that the food was grown in-state. Eligible Recipients: Producers whose products are grown and produced in New York State and participate in an environmental management program.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Nourish New York Sponsor/Agency: New York State Grown & Certified Program.  A total of $147 million has been dedicated to the program so far. The funding allows New York's emergency food providers to continue to purchase surplus products from New York farmers and dairy manufacturers and deliver them to New York families in need. This program not only benefits the less fortunate but also provides a new market for farmers to sell excess products. For more information about this opportunity, click here. 

FVI Grant Program Sponsor/Agency: NY Farm Viability Institute.  NYFVI proposals will be judged based on the project's potential to help NYFVI achieve its mission to help New York farms become more economically viable. NYFVI is most interested in projects that will create knowledge to quickly and directly benefit farmers through work in one of the five portfolio priority areas: •Improve Operational Practices •Foster Industry-wide Innovation •Incubate New Ideas •Increase Routes to Market and Improve Marketing Practices •Develop Human Capital Eligible Recipients: •Farmer Groups •Researchers and Educators •Organizations, Agencies, and Businesses Funding. Amount: $15,000-$125,000.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

NYFVI Focus Opportunity Grants Focus Opportunity (FOC) projects typically have unique conditions related to urgent, emerging needs or high priority areas. Projects may have a broader scope or require more coordination and multi-discipline collaboration than other efforts funded by the New York Farm Viability Institute. FOC funds have also been used as matching funds for other grants. Funding priority goes to proposals that include farmer participation across agriculture sectors, production and management systems or regions of the state. Eligible Recipients: •Farmer Groups •Researchers and Educators •Organizations, Agencies, and Businesses.  Funding Amount: $15,000-$125,000.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Sponsor/Agency: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. NYSERDA has a number of programs to help farmers with energy conservation and renewable energy projects. Eligible Recipients: Dependent on Program. Funding Amount: Dependent on Program.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

NYS Good Agricultural Practices/Good Handling Practices Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  The Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)/Good Handling Practices (GHP) Certification Assistance Program is a cost-share/reimbursement program designed to assist New York State's specialty crop industry with the cost of a GAP/GHP food safety audit. Funding Amount: up to $2,000 the cost of the audit.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Retrofit Program Sponsor/Agency: National ROPS Program.  The ROPS Rebate Program will rebate 70% of the cost of purchasing and installing the Rollover Protective Structure on farm equipment. Funding Amount: 70% the cost of purchasing and installing the ROPS ($500 out of pocket cap).  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Urban and Community Forestry Grants Sponsor/Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  This reimbursement grant program focusses on partnerships, volunteers, community groups, professionals, and outreach and education because these are components of strong and sustainable community forestry programs. Eligible project categories include tree inventories, management plans, tree planting, maintenance and education programming for those who care for community trees. Eligible Recipients: •New York municipalities •Quasi-government entities •Not-for-Profit Corporations.  Funding Amount: Dependent on Grant Program.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

USDA Specialty Crop Block Program Sponsor/Agency: NY Farm Viability Institute.  The New York Farm Viability Institute partnered with New York State's Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) to manage the New York State's USDA Specialty Crop Block Program. This program seeks work that will achieve the following outcomes: improve pest control & disease control processes, develop new seed varieties & specialty crops, expand specialty crop research and development, and improve environmental sustainability of specialty crops. Eligible Recipients: •Non-for-Profit Organizations •Not-for-Profit Educational Institutions •Local and Tribal Governments.  Funding Amount: $50,000-$100,000.  For more information about this opportunity, click here.

For the source document, see here.