Farm and Food Growth Fund

08/20/2026

Additional support for New York’s dairy producers of all sizes is now available through Round 2 of the Dairy Modernization Grant Program which FFGF is administrating for the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Application deadline is October 28, 2026. Virtual Open Business Hours will be held September 9.
https://www.ffgrowthfund.org/dairymodernization

We're excited to share that $8.5 million is now available to dairy farmers and cooperatives through Round 2 of the New York State Dairy Modernization Grant Program! 🐮

The program, which is administered by the Farm and Food Growth Fund helps New York’s dairy farmers and agricultural marketing cooperatives expand on-farm milk storage capacity and supports projects that will improve the transportation and storage of milk, particularly during emergency events.

Last June, funding was awarded to 103 dairy farms and cooperatives across the state through the program. We encourage all eligible farmers to apply to this opportunity! Learn more about the program and how to apply here: https://www.ffgrowthfund.org/dairy-modernization

07/28/2026

Our affiliate organization Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation is administrating Round 2 of the NYS Meat Processing Expansion Grant Program.

Helping to further strengthen processing capacity for NYS producers, the application period for the NYS Meat Processing Expansion Grant Program Round 2 is now open. HVADC is administrating the program on behalf of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Application deadline is September 23, 2026. Learn more in an HVADC Cultivator article at https://www.hvadc.org/news-22/hvadc-program%3A-nys-meat-processing-expansion-grant-program

06/30/2026

NYS producers: the deadline to apply for the NYS Tariff Relief Program is August 11, 2026.

This morning, Governor Hochul announced the opening of the $30 million Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program to help offset rising costs and market loss that New York farmers faced in 2025 because of federal tariff policy.

The program will provide direct payments of a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $25,000 to eligible producers. Distribution of funds will be determined through two tracks:

🐮Track 1: Cow Dairy Farms
🍎Track 2: Livestock, Livestock Products, Specialty Crops, Aquaculture

The deadline to apply for the Tariff Relief Program is Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

We encourage all eligible farmers to take advantage of this opportunity and to begin the application process early to ensure all parts are completed and submitted by the deadline.

The application and detailed instructions on how to apply for funding are available on our website here: https://agriculture.ny.gov/agricultural-resiliency-against-tariffs-program

Read the announcement here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-launch-30-million-tariff-relief-program-new-york-agricultural

03/19/2026

At last week’s Northeast Dairy Innovation Summit in Albany FFGF President/CEO Todd Erling delivered Day 2 opening remarks and the FFGF team met with attendees and discussed FFGF projects. FFGF was a proud Gold Sponsor of the event which was hosted by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center and brought together dairy farmers, processors and stakeholders from across the region.

03/18/2026

Join the FFGF team for Virtual Open Business Hours on March 25, 2026 at 12:00pm Eastern to ask questions and learn more about the NYS Food and Fiber Processing Grant Program. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UhoJjMoITRK5HASKLrrNcg #/registration

03/04/2026

Please join us in welcoming Channon Greer to the FFGF team as our Grants Program Specialist. Channon will be working across all our grant programs providing administrative and program support and serving as coordinator for individual grant programs, facilitating activities and communications between grant applicants, grant awardees, staff, and consultants. Welcome Channon!

02/13/2026

Welcome Taylor Mignone to the FFGF and HVADC teams as our Business Services Manager.

Meet the newest member of the HVADC team. After working in commercial banking, Taylor Mignone was ready to work more directly with people — not just spreadsheets. As HVADC’s and FFGF’s new Business Services Manager, he’s doing just that. From technical assistance to grants and bridge loans, Taylor is focused on meeting agribusinesses where they are and supporting them for the long haul. Learn more about Taylor and his new role at HVADC: https://www.hvadc.org/news-22/gadget-review%3A-release-of-new-airy-pods

02/10/2026

Bring your questions about the NYS Food and Fiber Processing Grant to Open Business Hours on Wednesday, February 11 at 12:00pm Eastern. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yu-b4FFbSZ-Y6tAUruV4IQ #/registration

01/29/2026

The Farm and Food Growth Fund is administrating the Food and Fiber Processing Grant Program for NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. The State’s investment will be transformational for our food system. It will provide new processing capacity to serve market opportunities and develop the infrastructure and processing capabilities to serve as a leader in the region.

We’re excited to share that $8.5 million is available through the Food and Fiber Processing Grant Program, a first of its kind program that will provide funding to ag operations to expand food and fiber processing capacity and increase local sourcing across the state.

The Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) is administering this program on behalf of the Department. Funding is available for the construction and renovation of facilities, as well as the purchase and installation of equipment.

The deadline to apply for funding is April 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. Additional program details and the application are available at the Farm and Food Growth Fund website: https://ffgf.smapply.us/prog/ffgf_-_nys_food_and_fiber_processing_grant_program/

To learn more about how this funding opportunity will help position New York as a regional leader in the food and fiber industry, read the full release on our press room page (linked in our bio)!

01/15/2026

NYS Dairy Modernization Grant recipient Irish Settlement Farm is now able to install new equipment, including an 8,000 gallon bulk tank and new compressors. Their story was recently highlighted at New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball’s State of Agriculture Address at the 194th New York State Agricultural Society Annual Forum.

Take a look at how farmers Lee and Clayton O’Brien can install new equipment on their farm, including an 8,000-gallon bulk tank and two new compressors, than...