Farm Credit Awards Efforts to Develop and Promote Northeast Agriculture

ENFIELD, Conn. — The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East and CoBank, recently provided $113,000 in grant funding to 20 organizations to assist their efforts to encourage youth leadership development, support young and beginning farmer initiatives, promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and advance northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing. Applications for the next round of grant funding are due by December 1.

Many of the projects receiving these most recent grants are working to support the next generation of agriculture. These include Cornell University Dairy Fellows, Holstein Foundation/Young Dairy Leaders Institute, New York State Junior Holstein Association, New Jersey 4-H in Passaic County, Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative, Pro-Dairy Cornell Animal Science and 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm. Foodshed Alliance, KNOX, Inc. and Osamequin Farm Inc. were awarded grant funds to provide support for beginning farmers.

Additionally, grants were awarded to programs promoting Northeast agriculture, forestry and fishing including, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, NH Timberland Owners Association, Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative and Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey.

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and the Vermont Cheese Council were awarded funding to enhance economic viability in Northeast agriculture. New Hampshire Catholic Charities Food Bank and Vermont Foodbank also received grants for their food security and sustainability initiatives.

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program was created in 1996 to support projects that promote and enhance the region’s agricultural community. Since inception, the program has provided more than $3.7 million in grant funding to 1,216 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by December 1, 2025. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/AgEnhancement to learn more.

# # #