Farm Credit Awards Efforts to Develop and Promote Northeast Agriculture

May 12, 2021

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit and CoBank, recently provided $73,100 in grant funding to 20 organizations to assist their efforts to support young and beginning farmer initiatives, encourage youth leadership development, promote diversity and inclusion, and further northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing.

The most recent grant funding supported projects and programs that enhance agricultural education and food security programs, educate consumers and community leaders, recognize industry leaders, promote diversity and inclusion, and support producer training and development.

Recipients implementing projects for youth agricultural education include Connecticut FFA Association and the Connecticut FFA Foundation, Cornell University Dairy Fellows, New England 4-H Program, New York Pork Producers, the Northeast Youth Sheep Show, and the University of Rhode Island Foundation and Alumni Engagement on behalf of University of Rhode Island 4-H.

Other educational and development programs for those new to or involved in agriculture include CADE Farms ripeCommunity program; Hudson Valley Young Farmers Coalition Farm Connection series; NOFA Vermont’s farm beginnings program; Vermont Grape and Wine Council’s viticulture and enology conference; and support to encourage farmer participation in Vital Communities’ programs.

A number of programs aim to further northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing by way of consumer and community leader education. Organizations hosting such programs include the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine TREE Foundation, New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, Hop Growers of New York and the Northeast Grainshed Alliance.

Additionally, America’s Grow a Row aims to use grant funding to improve food security in the Northeast and American Farmland Trust plans to use its grant to connect next generation farmers with available farmland.

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 $2.7 million in grant funding to 983 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by August 1. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/AgEnhancement to learn more.