New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that applications are now open for the second offering of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program. The grant program aims to expand opportunities to farmers who are less likely to enter or succeed in the agricultural field, due to discrimination and the inability to access resources. Funding is available for a wide range of start-up and operational costs, including support for marketing, training, and more.
Commissioner Ball said, “The Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program allows New York to assist farmers who have not always had the same opportunities to start and grow a farm operation. I’m grateful to our partners, the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, for continuing to administer this grant program and ensuring individuals who have encountered certain barriers have access to the resources they need to cultivate a successful business. I encourage all eligible farmers to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program
The Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program is administered by the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust (NEFOC). The Department announced its partnership with (NEFOC) to administer this program on its behalf in 2023. The program was funded in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 New York State Enacted Budget and builds upon the State’s priority to expand opportunities in agriculture to more New Yorkers.
The Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program aims to expand opportunities to socially and economically impaired individuals who are less likely to enter or succeed in the field, due to diminished capital, credit opportunities or access to land, among other things. Opening doors to all farmers is a critical step in ensuring a strong, diverse, and well-supported agricultural future for New York.
Source : ny.gov