New York Farm Viability Institute Website Press Releases 

June 5, 2006

Contact: R. David Smith, New York Farm Viability Institute, 315-453-3823

NYFVI Announces Requests for Proposals for Three Grant Programs

Syracuse, NY -- The New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc. (NYFVI), an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing the strength and profitability of the New York agricultural production sector, has announced its 2006 grants programs. Agricultural Innovation Center grants focus on value-added product development and business planning. Extension Innovation grants focus on new and unique ways of providing technical assistance, education and outreach that will foster the adoption and implementation of new technologies, practices, production systems or management strategies. Applied Research Partnership grants include field tests, demonstration plots and research trials implemented directly on farms.

Requests for proposals for the NYFVI grant programs are on the Institute’s website at www.nyfarmviability.org. Farm organizations, agricultural producers, Cornell Cooperative extension staff, educators and researchers from other private and public sector organizations are encouraged to apply for the NYFVI grants. Guidelines and submission dates are on the website.

The Institute’s most recent reports of identified barriers to NYS agriculture, specifically for the dairy, berry, juice grape, tree fruit and vegetable production sectors.  Click here to view the barrier reports. The barrier reports will be used to prioritize grant project proposals. The reports list challenges and potential opportunities identified by farmer/producer panels addressing both production management and business management. Producer panels consisted of members of the New York State Horticulture Society, New York State Vegetable Growers, New York State Berry Growers, juice grape growers, and the Organic Dairy Task Force. Input from conventional dairy producers representing large and small farms across the state is also on the NYFVI website.

In 2005, the New York Farm Viability Institute awarded $2.8 million to 33 projects that addressed challenges to a diverse mix of horticultural, fruit, vegetable, dairy, and livestock enterprises. Projects that received funding range from equine economic development and dairy manure management to value-added maple products and high tunnel horticultural production enhancement. With the $5 million in funding NYFVI was awarded in the 2006 State budget by Governor George Pataki and the NYS Legislature, the Institute expects to fund projects addressing an even broader set of barriers to and opportunities for New York’s agricultural production industry.

NYFVI funds projects that will result in measurable farm-level impacts, increase the overall success and profitability of NY farm businesses, strengthen the NYS agricultural production sector, enhance agricultural environmental stewardship and contribute to the vitality of rural communities. For more information on the New York Farm Viability Institute, visit the website at www.nyfarmviability.org or call 315-453-3823.