Farm Grant Literacy Workshop
GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!
Recordings Now Available! YouTube Playlist Link https://www.youtube.com/playli...
Are you planning to invest in projects like farm worker housing, irrigation systems, storage facilities, packing facilities, cideries, craft beverage production, cooling and refrigeration, renewable/clean energy, or greenhouses in the future? Would you like to build them at a 50% discount? It's possible with a farm grant!
Grants are an attractive funding alternative to commercial lending that are available to farmers from federal, state, local and private sources. But grants aren't available for every project, nor are they "free" in the sense that you have to do nothing. And finding appropriate grants and deciphering grant requirements can be challenging.
This free online workshop will help you identify and evaluate grant opportunities for your farm. The program consists of six online sessions that will increase awareness of farm grant opportunities and build skills needed to target suitable grants. Participants will learn how to identify components of a project plan that may qualify for a grant, research available grant opportunities, understand selection criteria and grant requirements, and choose the best funding opportunity for their project.
The first three sessions will build skills needed to identify suitable grant opportunities. The remaining sessions consist of three virtual panel discussions with speakers from federal, state, county, and private funders providing grants to farmers. Panelists will offer insight into funding priorities and tips on making successful proposals. Farmers who have received federal, state, local or private grants will also be included in each session; these folks will describe their personal experience with the grant application and post-award management.
As a result of participating in the workshop, you will:
- Identify sources of federal, state, local and private farm grants
- Learn about the types of projects for which grant funding is available
- Learn to navigate grant portals and register for announcements about new grant opportunities
- Understand request for proposals
- Identify the requirements of a grant opportunity
- Determine if a grant opportunity is a good match for your farm
Workshop Schedule, start time 12pm
- January 16, 2025
- January 23, 2025
- January 30, 2025
- February 13, 2025 - N/A
- February 20, 2025
- February 27, 2025
Event Details
Date
January 16, 2025
Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location
Zoom - Registration Required
Cost
Free Registration - includes all 6 weeks : Free
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramSession 1: Understanding Farm Grant Opportunities
Understanding Farm Grant Opportunities-Who provides farm grants and for what? Who is eligible for a farm grant? What are the pros and cons of grants versus commercial loans? How about geographic limitations?
Event Details
Date
January 23, 2025
Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location
Zoom - Registration Required
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramSession 2: Identifying Farm Grant Opportunities
How do I register with agencies to learn about upcoming grants? What kind of notices are given about grants, and what kind of timeline do they have? How should I navigate online grant portals? How do I approach funding agencies that don't have grant portals?
Event Details
Date
January 30, 2025
Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location
Zoom - Registration Required
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramSession 3: How To Read and Interpret Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
What is an RFP, and why is it important? How do you identify key information in an RFP? How should you use an RFP to formulate a winning grant application?
Event Details
Date
February 13, 2025
Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location
Zoom - Registration Required
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramSession 4: Panelists - N/A
Panelists from federal grant agencies (e.g., USDA National Resource and Conservation Service, USDA Rural Development, Northeast SARE) and farmers awarded federal grants.
Event Details
Date
February 20, 2025
Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location
Zoom - Registration Required
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramSession 5: Panelists
Panelists from state grant agencies (e.g., New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NYS Homes and Community Renewal) and farmers awarded state grants.
Event Details
Date
February 27, 2025
Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location
Zoom - Registration Required
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramSession 6: Panelists
Panelists from county and private grant agencies (e.g., Wayne County Economic and Development and Planning Agency, Farm Viability and farmers awarded state grants.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
February 27, 2026 : Session 1 - The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons Learned
The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 - The first meetup will be conducted live on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:30pm (PST)/1:30pm (EST). The webinar will last 90 minutes. The format will include brief presentations by two SPARC scientists, followed by a packer/grower panel of industry leaders across North America. The meetup will conclude with an open discussion in a very inclusive virtual format. Viewers are invited to share solutions, ask questions, and interact with scientists and panelists. The program is free of charge.
June 11, 2026 : Session 2
Details to follow.
June 18, 2026
Details to follow.
June 25, 2026 : Session 4
Details to follow.
Cornell Fruit Field Day
July 30, 2026
Geneva, NY
Join Cornell researchers in Geneva for Fruit Field Day, returning after 10 years, to tour research plots, learn from experts—including Dr. Terence Robinson with 40+ years in tree fruit research—and explore the latest orchard technologies and practices.