August 20, 2024

2025 USDA Sustainable Agriculture Farmer Grant Project Information

Farmers in the Northeast can apply for up to $30,000 in funding for sustainable agriculture projects starting in 2025. These projects can range from experiments to on-farm events and demonstrations or other educational activities.

The Call for 2025 Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer Grants is now available. Approximately $850,000 has been allocated to fund projects. Awards of up to $30,000 are available. Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 12,2024.

Q&A Sessions are taking place alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October. Register once to attend any of the sessions.
Sessions will take place on: Oct 8, 16, 22, 30. from 12 to 1 EST

To register see https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlcO-qrjguGtSNrOemAOP7pZWbUCcl5GqN#/registration

To see the call for proposals https://www.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Northeast-SARE-Farmer-Grant-Call-for-Proposals.pdf

To learn more about the SARE Farmer Grants https://northeast.sare.org/grants/get-a-grant/farmer-grant-program

For More Information contact USDA NESARE or your State Coordinator: Stephen Komar at komar@njaes.rutgers.edu

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
May 6, 2024

NJDA Announces 2nd RFP for Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program

Last Friday, the NJDA closed the Request for Proposals (RFP) period for our Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program. Due to a recent increase in interest in the program, we have decided to extend a second RFP window to members of our specialty crop community who qualify. The second RFP will be open to the public starting May 10th, with the final application deadline now May 31st @ 5PM.

A number of exciting applications from members of NJ’s specialty crop community were received during this first application period. To expedite the review process, all applications submitted prior to May 3rd will be reviewed over the next few weeks. Applicants from the first RFP period can expect a funding decision following the NJ Board of Agriculture meeting on May 22nd. Applicants who apply during the second RFP period can expect a decision following the June 26th NJ Board of Agriculture meeting.

For those interested in learning more about this program, the NJDA will be hosting a webinar to promote the Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program on Friday, May 10th at 11 am EDT. Please join to learn more about the program guidelines, eligibility, and application process. Q&A will follow the presentation.  Registration is not required. A recording of the webinar will be available for those who are unable to attend.

More information about the program is available at the following links:

Program Webinar – May 10th at 11am.

Program Webpage

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,
February 16, 2024

Deadline February 29, 2024 NJDA is offering USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants

The NJDA is offering USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants. The deadline for grant submissions is February 29th. For more information visit the NJDA grant site: Department of Agriculture | Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants. 

Types of projects that could be funded include:
• Expanding processing capacities, including adding product types, increasing production volumes, and supporting new wholesale/retail, product lines;
• Modernizing equipment or facilities through upgrades, repairs, or retooling; (e.g., adapting product lines for institutional procurement or adding parallel processing capacity);
• Purchase and installation of specialized equipment, such as processing components, sorting equipment, packing and labeling equipment, or delivery vehicles;
• Modernizing manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
• Enhancing worker safety through adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements; Construction of a new facility;
• Increasing packaging and labeling capacities that meet compliance requirements under applicable laws (e.g. sealing, bagging, boxing, labeling, conveying, and product moving equipment);
• Increasing storage space, including cold storage;
• Develop, customize, or install climate-smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals;
• Modernize equipment or facilities to ensure food safety, including associated Hazard, Analysis, and Critical Control Points (HACCP) consultation, plan development and employee training;
• Training on the use of all equipment purchased under the grant and associated new processes.

Contact at NJDA:

Deelip Mhaske
Grants Administrator
Division of Marketing & Development New
Jersey Department of Agriculture
PO Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625-0330

Phone: 609-913-6628 Fax: 609-984-2508
E-mail: deelip.mhaske@ag.nj.gov

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
July 18, 2023

Farm Credit East Report on Grants & Incentives Available for Northeast Agriculture Businesses

One of the most frequent calls over the past few years has been, “I want to start a farm/business/value-added product (etc.).”

That is usually followed up with, “What grants/funding sources are available?”

After rattling off a list of a few common sources of funding for new farmers there’s an added caveat that I don’t know the current status of those programs or what restrictions they have regarding new farming ventures. There are more programs out there with available funding, but there’s no comprehensive list of all grant programs supporting agricultural businesses, until now.

Farm Credit East has just released a report “identifying federal, regional and state grants, loan guarantees, and other incentives available to assist Northeast producers of all types and sizes.”

“Grants can be a great resource to provide additional funds needed to take on larger projects,” said Chris Laughton, Farm Credit East Director of Knowledge Exchange. “Unfortunately, they’re often under-utilized because they can be time consuming and involve quite a bit of paperwork.”

The report, from Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange, includes funding opportunities available in the eight states served by Farm Credit East. Programs are categorized by their main focus:  beginning farmers; conservation, environment and forestry; energy; fisheries and aquaculture; organic; rural business development; and research, education and promotion.

The report titled Grants and Incentives for Northeast Agriculture is available at FarmCreditEast.com or by contacting Chris Laughton at (800) 562-2235 or Chris.Laughton@farmcrediteast.com for more information.

Farm Credit East also has grant writing assistance services. Information is available on their grant writing page.

[Source:  https://www.farmcrediteast.com/en/about/NewsRoom/press-releases/230717FundingforNortheastAgriculturalProducers]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , ,
May 17, 2023

Application for Cost-Share Grant Funding for Installation of Deer Fencing on UNPRESERVED Farmland – Out NOW

“The NJDA Deer Fencing Program makes cost-sharing funding available for the installation of deer fencing on unpreserved farms. The program is conducted in accordance with N.J.S.A 4:40-6.1.”

Please click here for the full application, eligibility, and other important information

Timing is important if considering this program. NJDA began accepting applications on 5/15/23.

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , ,
September 20, 2022

SARE Farmer Grants for 2023 – Webinar on October 4th

Truck spreading fertilizerMultiple Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grant recipient Tommye Lou Rafes, of T.L. Fruits and Vegetables in West Virginia, is sharing her experiences to help other farmers experiment with new ideas through the Farmer Grant program.

At noon on October 4th, 2022, Rafes will join Northeast SARE Grant Coordinator Candice Huber for an informational webinar to assist farmers interested in applying for up to $30,000 in funding for projects beginning in March 2023. Registration is required and participants are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the event. The Call for Farmer Grant Proposals is currently available and the online system for submitting applications is opening soon. Applications are due November 15, 2022.

Northeast SARE Farmer Grants are perfect for farmers looking to grow through new practices. Rafes first learned about SARE while attending a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training. One of the professors hosting the meeting was a SARE reviewer who invited the attendees to apply for a grant. Rafes knew sustainable practices like using renewable-powered high tunnels to extend growing seasons could be good for business as well as the planet. “Growing in the winter months is a completely different way than you do in the summer months,” she said. “I decided to test varieties that were successful during the winter months as well as growing conditions that could be improved so that people would be more successful.”

Grant Coordinator Candice Huber says Farmer Grants are an opportunity for farmers to try things that could improve their operations. SARE funds can cover the farmer’s time on the project, any farm workers time spent on the project, supplies that are not capital purchase, technical support, soil testing and other budgeted items. Farmer grant projects generally are for one year.

If you have an idea and you need resources to really explore it, a Farmer Grant can connect you with those resources. This webinar will be a good starting point and participants must pre-register. See below.

To sign up for the October 4th webinar at 12:00PM go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6516611235851/WN_RoG_IkMmSDGsduZwmFgKkA

For information about the application for SARE Farmer grants see https://www.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Northeast-SARE-Farmer-Grant-Call-for-Proposals.pdf

For general information about Northeast SARE go to Northeast SARE Home Page – SARE Northeast

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,