New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today announced several initiatives to assist new and early-stage farmers, and encourage the continued growth of agribusiness across New York. The New York State New Farmers Grant Fund, which will support beginning farmers and encourage farming as a career, launched today and is now taking applications. The $614,000 Fund, enacted in the 2014-2015 New York State Budget and signed into law by Governor Cuomo, will be used to provide grants for beginning farmers who will substantially participate in the production of an agriculture product, and employ the use of innovative agricultural techniques at commercial farm operations.

The $614,000 Fund will provide grants of up to $50,000 for eligible farmers who participate in the production of an agricultural product on a commercial farm operation within New York. Funds can be used for up to 50 percent of project costs including, but not limited to: lease or purchase of farm machinery and equipment; construction or expansion of farm buildings or systems; and purchase of supplies such as root stock, seed or fertilizer. Empire State Development, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, will administer the Fund.

The application for the New York State New Farmers Grant Fund is available at http://esd.ny.gov/BusinessPrograms/NewFarmersGrantFund.html; the deadline is January 28, 2015.

In addition, State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball will be convening a working group to examine the barriers to establishing an agricultural operation. Partnering with Empire State Development, the working group will consist of agency representatives, lenders and financial institutions, land resource specialists, and select groups or individuals that represent the “new, beginning” farmer. Members are in the process of being finalized. The first meeting of the group is scheduled for October 30, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. at the Department of Agriculture and Markets in Albany.

To help encourage recent college graduates to pursue careers in farming in New York State, the New York State Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program, also passed in this year’s budget, is now taking applications. The program provides loan forgiveness awards to individuals who obtain an undergraduate degree from an approved New York State college or university and agree to operate a farm in New York State, on a full-time basis, for five years.

The application for the New York State Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Program is available at http://www.hesc.ny.gov/; the deadline is December 15.