News Release 

Date: May 30, 2008

Contact: Rebecca Schuelke, communication specialist
Telephone: (315) 453-3823 extension 103
Cell phone: (315) 427-2714
Email: rschuelke@nyfvi.org


NY Farm Viability Institute offers grants funds for innovative agriculture projects

The New York Farm Viability Institute seeks proposals for innovative projects that help farmers increase profits and provide models for other farmers to follow. Formal Requests for Proposals to the Institute's annual grant programs are available on the web at www.nyfvi.org.

Eligible grant applicants include farmers, producer groups, researchers, educators, organizations, agencies and businesses. Applicants may represent nonprofit or for-profit sectors.

Projects should work with New York State resident farmers and outcomes should benefit agriculture in New York State.

The New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit group that receives state funds.

The Institute is committed to funding projects within all of New York's agriculture sectors, commodities and regions, as well as on farms of diverse sizes, production practices and management styles.

The Institute offers several unique grant programs.

- Agriculture Innovation Center: projects focus on business planning, business structure, marketing, marketing planning, distribution, business expansion, business transfer, keeping/ expanding land in agricultural production, and developing or enhancing value-added product recipes and techniques. Proposals due: July 15

- Energy Management and Bioenergy: projects include practical applied research and outreach education on energy issues from the farmer's perspective, including on-farm energy conservation, bioenergy feedstock production, balance and integration of energy systems and animal agriculture, integrated food and energy systems, and bioenergy systems optimization. Proposals due: July 15

- Education Innovation Network: projects offer new approaches or innovation in outreach education, including technical assistance, information transfer, and implementation of new technology, production practices and management strategies. Efforts should focus on outreach to an underserved audience, or dissemination of underutilized information and technology. Proposals due: July 31

- Applied Research Partnership: projects emphasize practical, on-farm efforts designed to produce measurable benefit to participating farms within the lifespan of the project, including testing theory in farm conditions, adapting technology for not-yet-tested conditions, etc. Proposals due: Sept. 9

Proposal approval dates vary, but begin in late September and conclude in early 2009.

For maximum funding amounts and other grant details, consult the full request for proposals for each grant program.




New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit organization that directs and funds farm-level research to increase profits, reduce costs and other barriers, create jobs and encourage practical innovation on the farm. The Institute receives funds from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Visit www.nyfvi.org.