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.
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Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course
February 25, 2026 : Week 1 - IPM Fundamentals + Tools
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 4, 2026 : Week 2 - Insects: Part 1
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 11, 2026 : Week 3 - Insects: Part 2
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 18, 2026 : Week 4 - Diseases
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 25, 2026 : Week 5 - Weeds, Wildlife, + Wrap-Up
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
Northeast Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Apple Color and Sunburn
February 25, 2026 : The Dating Game; Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
March 4, 2026 : Update: USEPA Endangered Species Act and Implications for Pesticide Use
March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
2026 Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training
March 9, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
Albion, NY
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 13, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Albion, NY
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.