Cornell Cooperative Extension

Dutchess County
Farmer Resources and Grant Opportunities
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Farmer Resources and Grant Opportunities

Grant Opportunities and Farmer Resources

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  • Dutchess County Agriculture/Horticulture Program Leader
    • With questions about farming, crop or livestock selection, agriculture, horticulture, invasive species, new farms, and more reach out to the CCEDC Ag/Hort Program Leader.
    • Dr. Isabella Magna Yannuzzi imy3@cornell.edu
  • Ag and Markets Program List
  • USDA FSA Farm Loans
  • Dutchess County Agricultural Navigator
  • Dutchess County Soil and Water
    • Website Home page: https://dutchessswcd.org
    • Today the District provides technical assistance to public and private landowners. Examples of our programs Include assistance with drainage issues, stormwater management and the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program which assists farms with meeting business objectives while conserving natural resources, as well many others. Technicians are available for site visits to address resource issues for both private landowners and municipalities. The district also provides many education and outreach programs to youth and adults. District staff regularly attends local events to provide educational material to the public.
    • Agricultural Assessment: https://dutchessswcd.org/mapping/ag-value/
    • Ag District Information: https://dutchessswcd.org/mapping/ag-district/
    • GIS Mapping Services: https://dutchessswcd.org/mapping/mapping-services/
  • Cornell Small Farms Program
    • Website: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu
    • Small farms can help build human capacity, revitalize communities, supply regional food systems, and foster ecological resilience in a changing world. Since 2001, the Cornell Small Farms Program has fostered programs that support and encourage the sustainability of diverse, thriving small farms. We commit to ensuring, to the greatest extent possible, that our time, energy, and financial resources are committed equitably to all people. We will continue to be actively engaged and involved in relationship building, collaboration, and support of efforts to build diverse, equitable and just food systems.
    • We have produced a collection of in-depth resources on farming to help farmers, educators and others learn more deeply about various aspects of the business of farming. Learn more about our resources.
    • Farming Guides: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/guides/
    • Beginning Farmer Projects and Resources: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/beginning-farmer/
  • Agricultural Economics and Business Management Specialist through the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Production Team
  • Dutchess County Master Gardener Horticulture Hotline
    • Website: https://ccedutchess.org/events/2025/04/02/horticulture-hotline-diagnostic-lab-2025
    • This diagnostic hotline runs through the end of September each year. The hotline is open via phone Mondays and Wednesdays 9:00-12:00 at 845-677-5067 and via email at dutchessmg@cornell.edu. Questions, inquiries, and photos of symptomatic plants, pests, and tree can be emailed over and our team of volunteers will work to diagnose and respond as soon as possible.
    • If you are interested in having a sample analyzed, please call 845-677-8223 Ext 115 to schedule a drop off time. Samples need to be brought in a completely sealed container and are only accepted by appointment and the cost of having a sample evaluated is $20 by cash or check. Additional instructions can be found at our website (https://ccedutchess.org/gardening/horticulture-diagnostic-lab). 

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  • New York Farm Bureau Mini-Grant Program 2025
    • Website: https://nyfb.org/events/farm-forward-mini-grant
    • Grant Description
    • "Got a project that could transform your farm? The NYFB Mini Grant Challenge is your chance to win $2,500 or $5,000 to support improvements that boost resilience or profitability—whether it’s diversification, conservation, labor solutions, or marketing upgrades. All NYFB members are invited to submit a short application describing their proposed project. Selected finalists will pitch their ideas live at the NYFB State Annual Convention on December 3, in front of hundreds of attendees. It’s not just a chance to win funding—it’s an opportunity to gain visibility and connect with ag leaders across the state.”
    • Grant Deadline: November 15th
  • Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization Grant
    • Website: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/farm-improvement-modernization/
    • Application Information
      • Provided by the Northeast Diary Business Innovation Center
      • Awards will range from $15,000-$100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution
      • Total funds available $750,000
      • Eligible applicants are dairy farmers and/or producer associations and/or technical assistance providers and/or milk buyers/processors
    • Grant Overview
      • This grant will fund projects that help dairy farmers improve their operations for long-term success. Eligible projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, reduce climate impacts, improve milk quality or value, improve worker conditions, and strengthen the farm’s ability to respond to challenges. Competitive projects will take a strategic, systems-level approach, involve expert guidance such as farm planners or technical assistance providers, and may benefit individual farms or groups of farms. Projects that only replace old equipment without broader improvements to farm systems are not eligible. Eligible applicants include dairy farmers, producer associations or technical service providers applying on behalf of groups of farmers, and milk buyers focusing on on-farm milk production or transfer. Grants are available to applicants in all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. “
      • With grant questions contact Ali Boochever: Ali.Boochever@vermont.gov| (802) 261-5740, or book an appointment to talk.
      • Grant Deadline: December 4th 2025 

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  • The Fruitguys Community Fund
    • Website: https://fruitguyscommunityfund.org/apply/
    • Application information
      • Grants up to $5,000
      • Small U.S. farms 250 acres or less
    • Applicant must be farm owner/operator or have long-term, legal land access (leased land requires landowner support letter with lease length)
    • 501(c)(3) agricultural nonprofits in operation for minimum 3 years may apply; must submit 501(c)(3) documentation and board list
    • For profit farms must be active for at least 2 years
    • Applicants may re-apply for the same project or a different one if they have not been funded in earlier grant cycles
    • Only one application per farm per cycle is allowed
    • Grant opening in December 2025
  • New York Soil Health Mini-Grants
    • Website: https://www.newyorksoilhealth.org/mini-grant/
    • The New York Soil Health Initiative invites you toapply for a mini-grant! This mini-grant program supports soil health related projects, activities, and travel within New York State. The goal is to assist in expanding soil health research, education, and awareness to communities across NYS.
    • Eligible individuals or organizations may apply for up to $2000 for a project and up to $500 for a travel mini-grant. Interested applicants should submit a mini-grant application for either a project or a travel grant, see below for details.
    • Opening in May 2026

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  • American Farmland Trust: National Grant for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers
    • Website: https://farmland.org/bff-ufr#application-deadline-and-instructions
    • Instructions on how to apply click here: https://farmland.org/files/bff-sma-how-to-apply.pdf
    • The Brighter Future Fund National Grant for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers was launched in 2020 to assist farmers in successfully launching, growing, and sustaining farms in the face of forces impacting the food and agricultural system, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changing markets, severe weather, and climate change. A major commitment of this program is to uplift, support, and amplify the work of a wide range of farmers. Funding will be allocated to help farmers improve farm viability; access, transfer, or permanently protect farmland; or adopt regenerative agricultural practices.
    • Award amount and project eligibility
      • Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $5,000 per project. A project may involve one or more individual farmers or farm families. Only one grant can be awarded per farmer/farm family.
      • Funding for this program is limited. As funding remains, awards will be made on an ongoing basis to eligible applicants who fulfill all application requirements and meet selection criteria.
      • Land tenure (ownership, a lease, license, or other written agreement) for a reasonable time period will be required for projects that involve on-the-ground improvements to farmland. If tenure is less than five years, please be prepared to demonstrate in the application that the tenure is sufficient in relation to the improvements being made or services being provided.
      • Grant Contact Information
    • For general questions or requests for assistance, or if you need materials in Spanish, email brighterfuture@farmland.org.
    • Para preguntas generales o solicitudes de asistencia, o si necesita materiales en español, envíe un correo electrónico a brighterfuture@farmland.org.
  • RFA 0331: New York State Grown & Certified Cooperative Marketing Program
    • Website: https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfa-0331-new-york-state-grown-certified-cooperative-marketing-program
    • The Department, with partial funding through a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service, invites to apply for funding through the New York State Grown & Certified Cooperative Marketing Program. Funding will help increase producer sales through marketing and promotion efforts.
    • The NYS Grown & Certified Program is a voluntary certification program for New York State agricultural producers that adopt food safety standards and enroll in an environmental management program.
  • On-Farm Labor Housing Loans
    • This program provides affordable financing to develop or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for very-low to moderate income(1) domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers (2). 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, safe 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.
    • This grant is currently accepting applications and will accept applications until the funds are depleted
  • Cornell Small Farms Veteran Scholarships
    • Website: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/farm-ops/veteran-scholarships/
    • The Farm Ops project facilitates veterans' access to agricultural education and training resources. Our scholarship program is designed for veterans who are exploring farming as a career, already engaged in farming, or seeking employment in the agricultural sector. With support from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Farm Ops offers scholarships for veterans and active duty military personnel currently residing in New York State. These scholarships support participation in agricultural educational events, workshops, and online courses. Click on the two categories below to explore veteran scholarship options.
    • Online Course Scholarship: This scholarship supports the enrollment of veterans into aCornell Small Farms Program’s online course. Veterans may receive one scholarship per course season, which runs from September to March each year.
    • Event of Choice Scholarship: This scholarship helps veterans attend agricultural training and education that furthers their agricultural pursuits.
  • Black Farmers Learn
    • Website: https://airtable.com/appIuvD7avwALhu4b/pagjeZHkmZvylw6SM/form
    • The Black Farmers Learn Scholarship provides financial support to Black farmers and land stewards seeking to grow their agricultural skills. Recipients can receive up to $500to cover tuition or registration fees for training programs, conferences, schools, or collectives that deepen farming knowledge and capacity.
    • Key Details:
      • Eligibility: Black farmers or land stewards who are NEFOC Network Memberspursuing publicly available, structured education programs.
      • Land Steward: Someone who devotes a significant portion of their time to care for land in a way that is in sync with ecosystem restoration, climate healing, and cultural preservation.
      • Farmer: A person who is making the day-to-day operating decisions on a farm or spending half of their time cultivating the land.
    • Funding: Covers tuition/registration fees only (not travel, food, or lodging).
    • Application Period: Open during the first week of every month.
  • Berkshire Ag Ventures Resilience Grant Fund
    • Website: https://www.berkshireagventures.org/resilience-grants-fund
    • The Resilience Grant Fund is a micro-grant program that helps farmers adapt to ever-changing realities and ensure farms remain viable while meeting the demand for local food, in-line with BAV’s mission of supporting a stronger, more equitable food system. Resilience Grants support a range of projects, with priority given to applications that can demonstrate proof of concept; are unable to secure project funding (full or partial) from other sources; is a farm run by and or prioritizes serving historically marginalized communities; the project has a community and larger food systems benefit.
    • BAV will not support applications for normal business operations. Both for-profit and nonprofit local farm/food focused entities within BAV’s service area are eligible to apply.
    • Recent examples of use of grant funds:
      • Supported a portion of the total project cost to build and install on-farm infrastructure that would help this farm better meet customer demand.
      • Contributed to a farmer lead multi-day skill building workshop for new and beginning farmers.
      • Farm was awarded a state grant to support climate friendly growing practices, BAV provided a grant to help towards closing the required state grant match.
    • Grant Review
      • Currently, grants are reviewed by the BAV Team the first Tuesday of every month. Please note, it can take up 30 days to review and process your application.
      • Grant awards vary, and requests may be funded in part. The maximum award amount is $2,500.
      • Funding for this program is limited. To ensure funding is distributed equitably, any group that has received a BAV grant within the current calendar year (2025) is not eligible for another contribution. As funding remains, awards will continue to be made to eligible applicants.
  • New York State Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit
    • Webpage: https://parks.ny.gov/preservation/programs/tax-credit/historic-barns
    • Tax Credit Information
    • “Owners of historic barns may qualify for a New York State tax incentive for qualified rehabilitation work. The Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit program offers a New York State income tax credit equal to 25% of the Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures (QREs). Work may be interior-only, exterior-only, or both. Generally, in-kind repairs and some amount of retrofitting and replacement materials are allowed, but work that changes the historic appearance of the barn does not qualify.”
    • Qualifications
      • You must be a NYS taxpayer
      • The barn must have been constructed prior to 1946
      • Barn must have been originally used as an agricultural facility or for related purposes
      • Your qualified rehabilitation expenditures (QREs) must amount to $5,000 or more
      • The barn must not have been used as a residence within one year prior to applying for the credit
      • The project must not convert the barn into a residence
    • Application Information
      • Part 1: Provide baseline information about the applicant and the barn
      • Part 2: Describe the proposed work and break down the work items into categories. Does not require formal estimates from a contractor to submit your application but you will need a brief description of the barn’s existing condition, description of the proposed rehabilitation, estimated costs, images
      • Part 3: This is submitted after the work is completed. The tax credit is claimed for the tax year in which the Part 3 is approved. You will need to submit a description of each complete work item and completed work photographs.
    • Program Contacts

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  • By clicking here you can access a public calendar with upcoming programming from CCEDC, extension offices in surrounding counties, and other local organizations. The calendar also has upcoming grant application deadlines.

Contact

Isabella Yannuzzi
Agriculture/Horticulture Program Leader
imy3@cornell.edu
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Last updated October 27, 2025

Agriculture

Upcoming Agriculture/Horticulture Programming, Trainings, and Workshops

By clicking here you can access a public calendar with upcoming programming from CCEDC, extension offices in surrounding counties, and other local organizations. The calendar also has upcoming grant application deadlines.