Please review each grant’s Request for Proposals (RFP) before applying to understand all program details and what is required of the applicant. Contact Andrew Holden, Business Management Educator, with any questions at azh6192@psu.edu or by calling 716-640-2656. If you know of a grant that wasn’t listed and would benefit the industry, please contact Andrew.

Grant info was compiled in January of 2025 and is subject to change.

Payments for Farmers Available Through FSA’s NEW Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program

***DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, 1/10/25***

The USDA has announced a 2-day extension to the MASC Program and has also increased the MASC payment limit from $125,000 to $900,000. 

MASC helps specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs with no cost to the producer. This program offers a payment to producers based on their previous year's sales. The program was announced as a onetime event, so do not miss this opportunity if you are eligible. 

I highly recommend you consider applying for this program with your local FSA Office. The extension and increased limit may indicate that there are more funds available than previously anticipated. For most operations, you can apply for this over the phone and computer, without having to go in. The deadline is Friday, 1/10/25, so please contact your local FSA office prior to the 10th. 

Who Is Eligible?

• Fruits (fresh, dried); (Both juice and wine grapes are eligible)

• Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);

• Tree nuts;

• Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;

• Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and

• Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass, and grass seed.

Eligible producers or legal entities must:

• Have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 for tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023, unless the producer or legal entity’s average adjusted gross farm income is at least 75 percent of their average AGI;

• Be in the business of producing a specialty crop at the time of application and be entitled to an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025;

• Be a U.S. citizen, resident alien, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under state law, Indian Tribe or Tribal Organization, or a foreign person or foreign entity who meets certain eligibility requirements;

• Comply with the provisions of the “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations, often called the conservation compliance provisions; and

• Not have a controlled substance violation.

This is the link to the program website Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) | Farm Service Agency

This is the link to the Federal Register Notice that provides the most detail about the program.

New York State Grown & Certified ITRD Grant Program

Funder: The New York Farm Viability Institute

Details: All grantees must be NYS G&C prior to reimbursement for their project. Grant applications will be more competitive if the applicant is already enrolled or actively in the process of becoming part of the NYS Grown & Certified program. That is why we are encouraging all potential applicants to take a look NOW at the NYS Grown & Certified program and determine if it is a good fit for their business.

Amount: Grant sizes will range from $20,000 to $250,000 for infrastructure and technology projects. A 10% match (cash, grant, loan) will be required for all projects

For: Growers, Wineries

Availability: The Request for Proposals for Infrastructure and Technology projects will be released no later than November 25. Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2025.

More Info: https://nyfvi.org/new-york-state-grown-certified-itrd-grant-program-2024copy/

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program - Equipment-Only Grant

Funder: New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, USDA

Details: This competitive opportunity is focused on funding equipment for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products).

Amount: Eligible applicants may request awards in the amount of $10,000 - $100,000. No match is required for Equipment-Only Grants.

For: Growers, Wineries

Availability: Anticipated release in 2025 - check back for more information soon

More Info: https://agriculture.ny.gov/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program

New York State Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program

Funder: The New York Farm Viability Institute

Details: Farmers who have not operated a farm for more than 10 years and who will materially and substantially participate in operating the farm within the State are eligible to submit proposals. It is expected that all applicants will have a serious interest in building a financially sustainable, independent, commercial agricultural enterprise.

Amount: $5,000 - $250,000

For: Growers (Less than 10 years in business)

Availability: The RFP opened on October 25th and applications will be accepted through January 24, 2025.

More Info: https://nyfvi.org/bfcg-program/

Business Management Contact:

Andrew Holden, Business Management Educator

Mobile (call or text): (716) 640-2656

Office: (716) 792-2800

Email: AZH6192@psu.edu