Farm Credit Awards Efforts to Develop and Promote Northeast Agriculture

ENFIELD, Conn. — The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East and CoBank, recently provided $65,000 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. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by April 1.

In the latest round of grants, recipients implementing projects to support young and beginning farmer initiatives, youth leadership development, and educational opportunities include: Maine Agriculture in the Classroom ; Connecticut FFA Association; New Hampshire Agriculture in the Classroom; the New Jersey Agricultural Society; New Jersey 4-H Youth Development Program; Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire; the Northeast Cooperative Council; The Horticultural Society of New York; New Jersey Breeders Association through the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; and the University of Massachusetts.

Other programs focused on promoting diversity and inclusion and advancing northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing include CNY Fiber Arts Festival; Foodshed Alliance’s Sustainable Agriculture Enterprise program; Isle’s, Inc., a community development and environmental non-profit; Maine Farmland Trust; New York Restoration Project; and the Vermont Foodbank, including the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters program.

Additionally, Long Island Wine Country will use grant funds to promote educational and cultural activities in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Long Island New York wine region in 2023.

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 $3.0 million in grant funding to 1,044 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by April 1, 2023. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/AgEnhancement to learn more.

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