Farm Credit Awards Efforts to Develop and Promote Northeast Agriculture

February 18, 2022

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East and CoBank, recently provided over $60,000 in grant funding to 17 organizations to assist their efforts to support young and beginning farmer initiatives, encourage youth leadership development, promote diversity equity and inclusion and advance northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing.

Recipients implementing projects to support young and beginning farmer initiatives, youth leadership development, and educational opportunities include: The University of Massachusetts; National Agriculture in the Classroom; City Green, Inc; Northeast Cooperative Council; NOFA Vermont; Rural Vermont; New Jersey Agricultural Society; Unadilla Community Farm Education Center Inc.; and CNY Fiber Artists and Producers, Inc.

Other programs focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, and advancing northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing include the; The Horticultural Society of New York; Buffalo Go Green Inc;; Foodshed Alliance; and the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success.

Gardening the Community and The Campaign Against Hunger aim to improve food security and advance community involvement through programs supported by grant funds.

Additionally, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and NOFA New Hampshire will use funds to run programs advancing stewardship and resilience in northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing.

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 $2.8 million in grant funding to 1,015 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by April 1, 2022. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/AgEnhancement to learn more.