Farm Credit Awards Efforts to Develop and Promote Northeast Agriculture 

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East and CoBank, recently provided $106,000 in grant funding to 15 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. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by April 1.

Many of the projects receiving these most recent grants are working to support the next generation of agriculture, including youth leadership development and education and support for beginning farmers. Several northeast state FFA associations were awarded grant funds, including Granite State FFA along with the regional New England FFA associations for an officer training event. The Somerset County 4-H and New York State 4-H Animal Science programs were also awarded grant funds. New York Farm Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture received funding for leadership development programs as well.

Additionally, grants were awarded to programs promoting Northeast agriculture, forestry and fishing, including economic viability, food infrastructure, and security and sustainability initiatives. Recipient organizations include New Jersey Agricultural Society, The Carrot Project, The Campaign Against Hunger, Hudson Valley Young Farmer Coalition, New York Beef Council, The Foodshed Alliance, Northeast Cooperative Council and New York Pork Producers.

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 $3.5 million in grant funding to 1,169 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by April 1, 2025. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/AgEnhancement to learn more.