State Agriculture Department Seeking Input for a Program Supporti...
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that the Department of Agriculture and Markets is now accepting letters of interest from prospective program administrators with experience working with or representing socially and economically disadvantaged farmers for Round 3 of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program. The grant program aims to expand opportunities to farmers who are less likely to enter or succeed in the agricultural field, due to discrimination and the inability to access resources. Funding for the program was provided in the New York State Budget and builds on the State’s work to expand opportunities in agriculture to more New Yorkers.
“This is a great opportunity for entities to play a direct role in helping our agricultural industry grow,” Commissioner Ball said. “I encourage all eligible entities to take advantage of the opportunity to administer the third round of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program and help provide farmers across our state with the funding they need to start or improve their business.”
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program (RFI 0431)
The Department is seeking input from organizations that can provide financial assistance, including capital assistance, to grant awardees to ensure effective distribution of grant funds. Entities eligible to administer Round 3 of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program include municipalities, public benefit corporations, local development corporations, or not-for-profit organizations. The RFI is not a solicitation of actual proposals to administer this program. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be published on a later date. Responding to this RFI is not a prerequisite to submitting a proposal in response to any future RFP and will not result in a contract.
The selected Program Administrator will administer the $2 million third round of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program, which was funded in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 New York State Budget to assist farmers who face disproportionate barriers to success due to discrimination. The selected administrator will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000, on a competitive basis to eligible socially and economically disadvantaged farmers who will materially and substantially participate in operating a farm within a region of the state. This may include urban farmers. Grants will be awarded to start up, improve or expand farm operations; provide worker or apprenticeship training; purchase agricultural land, infrastructure, equipment, or livestock; and more.
Socially disadvantaged individuals include those who have been subject to discrimination due to their race or ethnicity, including those who identify as Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian or Pacific Islander. Economically disadvantaged farmers are socially disadvantaged individuals whose farming opportunities have been hindered due to diminished capital, credit opportunities, or access to land, among other things, as compared to other similarly situated individuals who are not socially disadvantaged.
For more information about this opportunity, visit agriculture.ny.gov/rfi-0431-program-administrator-round-3-socially-and-economically-disadvantaged-farmers-competitive. Letters of Interest must be received by the Department by October 07, 2026.
The Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program offers support to New York farmers who face disproportionate social and economic barriers to success. Opening doors to all farmers is a critical piece of New York’s agricultural landscape that will help ensure a strong, diverse, and well-supported agricultural future.
This program builds on Governor Kathy Hochul’s pledge to strengthen New York agriculture by building a strong agricultural workforce pipeline and increasing access to careers in agriculture for all New Yorkers. This includes efforts like the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant Program; continued funding for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS); and dedicated funding committed in New York State’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 Enacted Budget to advance New York’s agricultural workforce. In addition, the Governor dedicated $30 million to the Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program to provide relief to farmers impacted by federal tariffs, reinforcing New York’s commitment to the agricultural community while safeguarding local jobs and ensuring farmers have the certainty needed to compete in a changing global marketplace.
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