Thiele: $1 Million in Grants For New Farmers Now Available

State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) recently announced that $1 million is available to assist new farmers begin their careers.

Now in its second year, the New York State New Farmers Grant Fund will build upon a successful 2015 when more than $610,000 was awarded to 19 farms across the state in order to support the continued growth of New York’s agricultural industry.

The $1 million New Farmers Grant Fund will provide grants of up to 50 percent of total project costs.

Funds may provide a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $50,000 for up to 50 percent of project costs with the remaining 50 percent being matched by the recipient.

Eligible project costs include the purchase of farm machinery, supplies and equipment, and construction or improvement of farm buildings.

Empire State Development, in consultation with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, will administer the Fund which is open to New York farmers in the first ten years of having a farm operation of 150 acres or less.

The application and guidelines for the New York State New Farmers Grant Fund are available online here and the deadline for submission is January 22, 2016.

In addition, the New York State Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program, which encourages new college graduates to pursue farming careers in New York State, is now accepting applications for 2016.

The Incentive Program, available through New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, provides loan forgiveness awards to individuals who obtain an undergraduate degree from an approved New York State college or university and agree to operate a farm in New York State, on a full-time basis, for five years.

In its first year, funding was provided for up to 10 awards and all 10 awards were given to eligible farmers.

The application for the New York State Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Program is available online here and the deadline for submission is December 1, 2015.