New York Opens $1.7 Million Grant Round for Beginning Farmers

East End farmers with a decade or less of experience now have access to a $1.7 million state grant pool after the New York Farm Viability Institute opened its 2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program for applications Monday, March 16.

Individual awards range from $5,000 to $200,000, according to Senator George Borrello, who highlighted the program on social media. Eligible uses span land purchases, equipment, infrastructure, training, and marketing. The program is open to any beginning farmer in New York State who materially and substantially participates in operating a farm, regardless of what agricultural product the operation produces.

The New York Farm Viability Institute is running the program in partnership with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, with funding attributed to Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature. This is the program's second round; the institute noted it has doubled the original funding available.

"The New York Farm Viability Institute is excited to again partner with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets to offer a second round of the Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program," the institute said in its announcement. "In the first round, we heard directly from beginning farmers about how this support helped them make real progress on their farms. With double the original funding available, we are eager to reach even more beginning farmers and strengthen farm businesses and rural communities across New York State."

To qualify, applicants must have 10 years or less of farm operation experience and must demonstrate the project's potential to grow the business and improve financial sustainability. Farms that generated less than $1,000 in revenue in the previous year are required to include a business plan with their application.

The submission deadline is June 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, with all proposals required to go through the institute's online application system. Borrello noted that informational webinars are scheduled for later this month, though specific dates have not yet been announced. The full Request for Proposals and application portal are available at nyfvi.org.