Farm Credit AgEnhancement Awards $37,800 to Farm Programs in the Northeast

 

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program recently distributed grants totaling $37,800 to agricultural programs in the northeast. 17 grant proposals were approved by the selection committee, including several from Yankee territory.

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program was founded in 1996 as a way for the northeast Farm Credit associations to support local agriculture and to foster agricultural growth. It is a joint effort between Yankee Farm Credit, Farm Credit East, and CoBank. Since 1996, the program has awarded nearly 600 grants and disbursed over $1.5 million dollars to recipients. The grants are awarded three times per year--in April, August, and December.

The August 2014 proposals approved for funding are (in no particular order):

NYS Ag Society - Awarded $4,300 to support the Century Farm Family recognition program for 2015. The program recognizes "Century and Bicentennial" farm families, and gives a brief history and overview of each family at an event that is covered by state and local media.

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) - Awarded $2,500 to help support the group's annual "working" conference, which will take place this year from November 10-12 in Saratoga Springs, NY. NESAWG's primary focus is on developing farming and food systems that are sustainable, viable, and socially responsible.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets - Awarded $3,000 for their annual Human Resource Management Training for producers in Vermont. The training will include two one-day workshops, one in White River Junction and one in Burlingon, and will concentrate on honing an employer's ability to hire the right people and build a strong employee team.

Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) - Awarded $1,000 to help fund the YDLI dairy leadership program. The program offers guidance, support, and training to young adults (ages 22-45) who are actively involved in dairy production or any ancillary industries. YDLI is a national program coordinated by the Holstein Association in Brattleboro, VT.

NOFA NJ - Awarded $1,000 to support the business and technical workshops offered by the organization. The workshops assist new and beginning organic farmers and small-scale producers in the early stages of their careers by providing them the requisite education, training, and knowledge to establish viable farm enterprises.

NJ Ag Society - Awarded $3,000 for the "Learning Through Gardening" program. The program's goal is to increase agricultural literacy by implementing school gardens and teaching students how to grow fruits and vegetables. The program will take place throughout the 2014-15 school year.

Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS) - Awarded $2,000 to help fund a project that will aid refugee farmers in growing and developing their farm businesses. The program has three goals in mind: providing day long workshops, providing follow up technical support, and training two crew leaders who will directly help the refugees in growing, harvesting, and marketing their crops.

New York Farm Bureau Fusion Forum - Awarded $1,000 to support the New York Farm Bureau's "Fusion Forum." The Fusion Forum will be held in March 2015, and attendants will be provided with several talks and workshops that aim to encourage both personal and professional growth by helping one to find his/her passion and purpose.

NH Ag in the Classroom - Awarded $2,000 to develop, publish, and distribute a book for elementary school students. The book will focus on the importance of agriculture in New Hampshire. A copy of the book will be distributed to 316 elementary schools throughout the state.

Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension - Awarded $2,000 to conduct the first phase of an academic study aimed at identifying the economic feasibility and impact of shared-use kitchens in northwestern New York. The proposed facility would be located at the Orleans Country 4-H Fairgrounds, and would serve 5 counties.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County - Awarded $2,500 to aid in the Extension's hosting of the 2-day "Hoptoberfest" workshop in October. The workshop is aimed at new and beginning growers of brewing grains and brewers, and training will focus on growing and marketing brewery hops and grains, as well as a "how to" on starting a microbrewery.

American Farmland Trust (AFT) - Awarded $1,000 to support the first pilot training of the Local Agriculture and Land Use Leadership Institute program, which provides valuable knowledge and skills about land use and policy to participants. The training program is being provided via a partnership between AFT and Cornell's Community and Rural Development Institute.

Cornell University Junior Dairy Leader Program - Awarded $5,000 for the Junior Dairy Leader Program. The program focuses on career awareness and personal/professional development for young people (aged 16-19) interested in the dairy industry.

Strafford Country Conservation District - Awarded $1,000 to help the District host 3 half-day workshops throughout New Hampshire in the fall of 2014. The workshops will provide farmers with information about soil health, no-till practices, and cover cropping.

Green Peas TV - Awarded $1,500 for the "Farm to Table to Body" project, which aims to increase awareness about the role of agriculture in America. The project will create a network of involved elementary school teachers, and will bring agricultural education back into the classroom with the aid of modern technology.

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project - Awarded $3,000 to help the project develop, produce, market, and distribute a "Guide to Farm Financing Video." The video, which will be 15-20 minutes in length and is expected to launch in August 2015, will educate farmers and allow them to improve the economic viability of their farming operations.

Massachusetts Forest Alliance - Awarded $2,000 to develop a report that examines the extent and economic importance of the Massachusetts's forest products industry. The report hopes to accurately capture the state of the MA forest industry today and objectively map and measure progress and growth.

The deadlines for submitting grant proposals to the Northeast AgEnhancement Program are April 1st, August 1st, and December 1st.

If you or someone you know is interested in submitting a funding proposal, please contact Ruchel St. Hilaire in the Williston office at (802)-879-4700. Send all proposals for funding to AgEnhancement@YankeeACA.com. For more information, including the application process and requirements, visit: https://www.yankeeaca.com/en/About-Us/Industry-Support/AgEnhancement-Grants.

AgEnhancement Grants

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program recently awarded grants totaling $26,550 to 10 organizations. The grants help promote northeast agriculture. The recipients were:

Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District - $500 to support development of a new program in Maine focused on reducing farm energy costs while improving farm productivity and profitability.

Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association - $5,000 to complete exhibits for the Grape Discovery Center, a major visitor attraction which will support the Eastern Lake Erie Grape Industry. The Center will tell the story of grape growing in the region for over 150 years.

Maine TREE Foundation - $5,000 to support the Teachers’ Tours of the Maine Forest program. This program provides teachers with a first-hand experience to share with students, colleagues and their community.

New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection - $500 to support their efforts to establish a certification program to ensure that restaurants advertising they serve local products are, in fact, using significant amounts of local farm products.

New York FFA Foundation - $11,550 to support a four day leadership development program for FFA officers from seven states (New England states and New York). (This is approved as 7 state requests for $1,650 per state.)

New York Pork Producers Empire Swine Youth Program - $1,000 for a youth program and contest held at the New York State fair. This multi-faceted program involves contests on the knowledge of the swine industry, management capabilities and interviewing skills.

Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Connecticut - $500 to support a New Farmer Summit that will allow information sharing on local food production opportunities.

Orleans County, NY Cooperative Extension - $500 to support the Western New York educational event to promote the capine industry (Goat-A-Palooza). The event includes workshops for youth and adults.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension - $1,000 to support the New Jersey 4-H Equine Science programs which use a “Learn by Doing” approach to educate youth about all types of agriculture.

Walton Regional Livestock Show - $1,000 to support a regional livestock show to encourage and promote the breeding, raising and marketing of better livestock and farm products.

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program is a shared effort of Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Maine and CoBank. Grants are awarded in April, August and December each year. Since its inception in 1996 the program has awarded 457 grants totaling $1.2 million.

AgEnhancement Grants

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program recently awarded grants totaling $32,360 to 16 organizations. The grants are intended to promote northeast agriculture. The recipients were:

New York Farm Bureau Young Farmers Program - $1,000 to support a leadership development conference to provide educational and motivational sessions for young farmers.

Down East Business Alliance - $1,000 to support workshops and speakers at the Maine Farmers’ Market Convention. The event provides direct marketing training for farmers and farmers’ market managers.

Vermont Holstein Association - $2,000 to support their Northeast Show Calf Summit in April. This event brings together over 150 youth from New England and New York to educate both farm and non-farm youth on animal agriculture and the selection and care of dairy heifers.

Harvest New England - $2,000 to support the 2011 Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show. The funds will be used for speaker sponsorships. The focus and goal of the conference is to provide the participants with the tools and skills needed to increase markets for agricultural products and grow New England agriculture.

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA–VT) - $500 to support their Annual Winter Conference, which brings together nearly 1,500 organic farmers, to take part in a variety of workshops.

University of New Hampshire (UNH) Dairy Club - $3,500 to support the Northeast Student Affiliate Animal Agriculture Academic Triathlon. This event is expected to draw 160 animal science or agricultural college students from 13 colleges and universities in the Northeast.

New York Holstein Association - $1,000 to support their annual New York Spring Dairy Carousel which offers judging contests to develop leadership skills and increases knowledge of cattle.

Cornell Dairy Fellows Program - $5,000 to provide an in-depth understanding of the dairy industry for its current class of Fellows. Cornell Dairy Fellows is a comprehensive undergraduate program that is nationally recognized as one of the best training opportunities for students considering careers in the dairy industry.

Granite State Association of FFA - $1,000 to support a leadership training conference for high school students of agriculture. The weekend-long program will include sessions on goal setting, character development, teamwork, agricultural issues and leadership skills.

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) - $500 to support the NOFA-NY Winter Conference held in January. The conference will provide workshops on farm profitability and business planning, organic farming methods, marketing, and other topics.

Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation - $3,000 to purchase selected books for educating about agriculture. This Ag Literacy program is in support of its mission of fostering awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture, and an appreciation of Connecticut’s agriculture and the food, fiber, flower and fuel system.

New York State Maple Producers Association - $1,500 for the Maple Producer’s Association Urban Youth Education project. This ongoing project brings local maple agriculture to the urban elementary/middle school students of New York City.

Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom - $2,860 to initiate a new effort for educators who are new to classroom teaching or who work in low-income urban communities. The new Agriculture in the Classroom scholarship initiative for teachers will promote an understanding of agriculture and develop connections from the farm to the classroom. The teachers will then educate children about modern day agriculture.

New Jersey Agricultural Society - $5,000 to support the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program which provides young farmers and agri-business professionals with the training and support to become leaders in the agricultural industry.

Northeast Livestock Exposition - $2,000 to support this group’s Youth Events segment of the Exposition which will focus on the variety of agricultural careers available to youth in the Northeast. Skill development, knowledge of the many facets of agri-business, leadership and teamwork skills are the focus of this three day event.

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH) - $500 to support their one-day Winter Conference to provide training, mentoring and resources to new and beginner farmers and the next generation of farmers; children and youth and those educators who have successfully integrated agriculture into academic curricula.

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program is a shared effort of Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Maine and CoBank. Grants are awarded in April, August and December each year. For 2010 the program awarded 41 grants totaling $92,160. Since its inception in 1996 the program has awarded 448 grants totaling $1.2 million.

AgEnhancement Grants

The Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement program recently awarded $30,000 in grants to 12 programs

Grants funded in April 2010:

American Farmland Trust (AFT) will use its $3,500 grant to analyze a regional supply chain of dairy consumption and dairy marketing opportunities and to identify barriers to success in the dairy industry. Staff from AFT and Tufts University’s Agriculture, Food and Environmental Program will work together on this two-year project.

With its $5,000 grant, Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County will develop a leadership and communications skills training program for agricultural producers and professionals from the Capital District and Hudson Valley. The program will include nine workshops for up to 50 participants.

A $500 grant to the Dartmouth YMCA Program will support a summer day camp that features a young farmers’ program with local farmers as camp mentors.

The Eastern States FFA Planning Committee will use its $8,000 AgEnhancement grant for the Eastern States FFA Star program, which will run during The Big E in September 2010. Through this program, FFA representatives from 14 states compete in four categories: Star Farmer, Star Agribusiness, Star Agricultural Placement and Star Agriscience.

Eden Regional Farm Museum will use its $1,500 grant to promote local food production in a five-county area while educating the nonfarm public about the business of agriculture.

The New England Green Pasture’s $4,000 grant supports agricultural programs at The Big E, such as Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year and Salute to Agriculture.

The New Hampshire 4-H Foundation uses its $3,000 grant to sponsor a trip for 25 teens from Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. The day gives the 4-Hers a first-hand look at career opportunities on a number of different farms, ag research facilities and ag businesses.

A $1,000 grant will help NOFA-NJ develop a curriculum and training program to help farmers establish and operate farm markets.

NY Pork Producers Empire Swine Youth Program applies its $1,000 grant to a multi-faceted event that helps young people challenge their knowledge of the swine industry and their management and interviewing skills. The event is held at the New York State Fair.

The New Hampshire Institute of Agriculture and Forestry will use its $1,000 grant to pilot a project on the production of four-season greenhouse vegetables and fruit.

The Last Green Valley will use its $1,000 grant to develop a Web site of resources to help Connecticut and Massachusetts farmers advance agriculture in their 35-town area.

A $500 grant will help Regional Dairy Extension provide in-service training for northeast and mid-Atlantic dairy Extension agents.

Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement is a regional grant program funded by Yankee Farm Credit together with CoBank, Farm Credit East and Farm Credit of Maine. Since its 1996 inception, the program has awarded $1,112,656 through 418 grants.

Click here for more information.

AgEnhancement Grants

Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement awards $31,000 in grants to 17 programs

Grants funded in December 2009:

VT Holstein Young Dairy Leaders Institute, $2,000
NYS All Breeds Convention 2010, $2,000
NOFA NH Organic Farming Conference, $500
Vermont Holstein Show Calf Summit, $1,500
Cornell Dairy Fellows, $5,000
Farmers Market Federation of NY, $1,000
2010 Maine Farmers Market Convention, $1,500
New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Program, $5,000
MA New Entry Sustainable Grass Farming Project, $2,000
Massachusetts Ag in the Classroom, $1,000
Empire State Forest Products Association, $500
NY Holstein Association Spring Dairy Carousel, $1,500
MA Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, $1,000
Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, $4,000
NH Farm & Community Connection Food Passport, $1,000
NOFA VT Organic Farming Conference, $500
UMASS Student Farmer Program, $1,000

Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement is a regional grant program funded by Yankee Farm Credit together with CoBank, First Pioneer Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Western New York and Farm Credit of Maine. Since it's 1996 inception, the program has awarded $1,080,800 through 406 grants.

Click here for more information.

AgEnhancement Grants

Farm Credit Awards $32,500 to 19 Northeast Farm Programs

Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement awarded $32,500 in grants to 19 programs in April. (25 organizations requested $101,255 in grant funds)

April AgEnhancement grants bring the total to over one million dollars! Press release forthcoming. Yankee Farm Credit funds the regional program with First Pioneer, Farm Credit of Western New York & Maine Associations and CoBank. Grants usually range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Farm Credit AgEnhancement April 2009 projects funded:
New Jersey Ag in the Classroom, $1,000
Rhode Island Farm Bureau, $1,000
Maine FFA, $1,000
NY Jersey Cattle Club, $2,500
Jersey Cattle Youth Event, $1,500
Vermont Folklife Center, $1,000
NOFA-Massachussets Organic Program, $1,000
NY Wine & Grape Tractor Demo, $5,000
Farm Fresh Rhode Island, $1,000
NY Pork Producers Scholarships, $1,000
New England Apple Association, $1,000
Vermont Feed Dealers Association, $1,000
Genesee Valley Farm Discovery Center, $1,000
University of Maryland Dairy Workshop, $1,000
NY Berry Growers Association, $1,500
Northern Forest Center, $1,000
New Hampshire 4-H Foundation, $1,000
Big E FFA, $5,000
New England Green Pastures, $4,000

Since it's 1996 inception, the program has awarded over $1,016,000 through 371 grants. Funding review deadlines remain August 1, December 1 and April 1. AgEnhancement guidelines and application are posted online at http://www.yankeeaca.com/about/L3/agenhance.htm.

After reviewing the guidelines, organizations are encouraged to e-mail appropriate funding requests, to include:

Cover letter
One-page application
May include supporting information (up to three pages)

Questions may be directed to Bob Smith.

UPDATE 5/11/09: Delivering the grant to Art Whitman of the Vermont Feed Dealers & Manufacturers Association. Looking on is Louise Calderwood, who wrote the grant application. The building in the background is UVM's Davis Center. Art and Louise were at UVM for one meeting and George was at UVM for another meeting, so it made a convenient place to meet.



UPDATE 5/18/09: Delivering the grant to Brent Björkman, Executive Director of the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury, Vermont. Brent was kind enough to give a tour of the Center to Ken Button and George. The grant will help support the publication of a book titled Forty-Six Years of Pretty Straight Going: The Life of a Family Dairy Farm. This book by George Bellerose is about the Wyman farm of Weybridge.

Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program

Farm Credit Awards $26,000 to 11 Northeast Farm Programs

The Northeast Farm Credit associations and CoBank recently awarded a total of $26,000 to 11 organizations as part of the Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program. The grants help recipients carry out programs that promote Northeast agriculture, support youth programs, and generate a greater understanding of the Northeast’s vital agricultural, commercial fishing, and forest products industries among the nonfarm public.

The program is a shared effort of First Pioneer Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Western New York, Yankee Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Maine, and CoBank. Individual awards are granted in April, August, and December each year.

Since its inception in 1996, the Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program has awarded more than $984,365 to 352 grant recipients. In 2009, the four Northeast Farm Credit associations and CoBank will reach their $1 million milestone in grants that they have awarded to hundreds of organizations over the past 13 years … an impressive landmark for Northeast agriculture and Farm Credit.

Recent Grant Recipients:

Cornell Dairy Fellows Program will use this $5,000 grant to provide an in-depth understanding of the dairy industry for its current class of Fellows. Cornell Dairy Fellows is a comprehensive undergraduate program that is nationally recognized as one of the best training opportunities for students considering careers in the dairy industry.

New Jersey Agricultural Society’s $5,000 grant will support the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program. This two-year program offers a solid foundation of skills and experiences to help young farmers and agribusiness professionals become productive organizational and community leaders.

Northeast Cooperative Council will apply its $5,000 grant to the 2009 Future Cooperative Leaders Conference. The conference provides a valuable opportunity for future cooperative leaders to learn more about the unique operating features and issues facing their cooperatives.

Allegany-Steuben Holstein Club, Inc.’s $2,500 grant will fund the Junior Convention portion of the 2009 New York State All-Breed Convention. The convention will be held in Corning, N.Y.

Harvest New England is the cooperative marketing program of New England’s state departments of agriculture. This $2,000 grant supports the 2009 Agricultural Marketing Conference and Trade Show, a three-day event covering valuable skills to help Harvest New England members increase their direct sales to consumers and the viability of New England agriculture.

Connecticut Farm Bureau Association will use its $1,500 grant to update and distribute information on Connecticut’s Public Act 490, a law that allows Connecticut farms, forests, and open space land to be assessed at its use value.

Granite State Dairy Promotion will use its $1,000 grant to market locally produced cheese products developed by the New Hampshire Cheesemakers Guild.

New York Holstein Association will apply its $1,000 grant to support cattle judging contests for youth at the New York Spring Dairy Carousel. This event is scheduled for April 2009.

New Jersey Junior Breeders Fund Inc. will use this $1,000 grant to run its 2009 Junior Breeder/Young Farmer Symposium, an annual day-long opportunity for attendees to focus on agricultural careers through discussions, presentations, and hands-on sessions.

Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of Vermont will apply its $1,000 grant to NOFA Vermont’s 28th Annual Winter Conference, a two-day conference in February that offers more than 60 workshops for organic famers and gardeners.

Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of New York will apply its $1,000 grant to its annual NOFA-NY Winter Conference. A full agenda of dynamic keynote speakers, 70 exhibitors, and dozens of educational exhibits will attract organic farmers and gardeners to Rochester in January.

Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program

Created: 1996
Total grant dollars since 1996: $984,356
Total projects supported: 352
Proposal submission dates: April 1, August 1, December 1
Contact: Robert A. Smith, First Pioneer Farm Credit, 2668 State Route 7, Suite 21, Cobleskill, New York 12043
Phone: 518.296.8188
E-mail: AgEnhancement@FarmCreditWNY.com