Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program

$586K in Grants Awarded to 9 Ulster County Farms for First-Ever Ulster County Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program to Support Local Agriculture

The recipients of the County’s first-ever Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program were announced on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, awarding a total of $586,256 to nine farms across the County to strengthen farm businesses, improve energy efficiency, and build climate resilience.

Grant Recipients and Projects:

• Balsam Ridge Farm (Clintondale): Expanding from apples and Christmas trees into garlic production to diversify crops and extend market reach year-round. Infrastructure improvements include a weather-tight pole barn for storage and production space and a new irrigation well to support consistent yields and resiliency through changing climate conditions.

• Catskill Wagyu at Hilltop Farm (Accord): Upgrading milking operations to a modern, energy-efficient facility with installations such as a tube cooler, milking station, and clean room renovation. These improvements will reduce water usage and compressor demand while optimizing milk handling efficiency. Funds also support the construction of a more accessible and energy-conscious entryway.

• Honeybee Sun Farm (Kerhonkson): Responding to flood-related damage and erosion by establishing a contour chestnut orchard and an embankment pond with a spillway to manage surface runoff. A compact tractor will aid in maintaining the farm’s agroforestry systems, supporting sustainable land use and climate adaptability.

• Hudson Valley Grown (Milton): Replacing an 80-year-old refrigeration system with energy-efficient equipment to reduce spoilage, environmental impact, and operating costs. The upgraded system improves temperature control, lowers refrigerant usage, and strengthens produce preservation — boosting both viability and sustainability.

• Long Season Farm (Kerhonkson): Consolidating infrastructure by constructing a fully insulated, energy-efficient four-season wash/pack facility equipped with mini-splits, coolers, and wash equipment. The project also supports a new septic system, enabling reliable year-round operations and long-term viability.

• Prospect Hill Orchards / Clarke Farm Enterprise LLC (Milton): Purchasing a biodiesel-powered box truck to replace two aging delivery vehicles, reducing fuel costs and emissions. This upgrade addresses transportation limitations, expands distribution capacity, and supports both economic and environmental goals.

• Sugarshack Mushrooms Farm (Highland): Installing solar panels on the barn and farmhouse to offset energy demands for climate control and pasteurization systems. Beginning in fall 2025, the system will generate over 22,000 kWh annually — making the semi-indoor mushroom farm fully solar powered, with surplus capacity to support future growth.

• Treadlight Farm (Accord): Acquiring an all-electric cargo van and charging station to expand delivery capacity and eliminate fossil fuel use from transport operations. The investment furthers sustainability goals, enables broader customer outreach, and reduces the farm’s carbon footprint.

• Westwind Orchard (Accord): Investing in strategic infrastructure and crop diversification to adapt to climate variability. Grant funds will support overhead frost-protection sprinklers, cider-cooling systems to extend product shelf life, and new crop varieties that help stabilize operations amid extreme weather and shifting market conditions.

Ulster County received 37 applications to the Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program.

Grant Resources for Ulster County Farms

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger announced the launch of a $586,000 Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program, with grants that range from $25,000 to $75,000 to support local farmers in maintaining viable and resilient farms now and in the future. The grant program is funded through the ARPA-supported Agricultural Crisis Relief Program passed by the Legislature in 2023.

The County grant program is being administered by the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC).

A live virtual Open Office Hours session was held on April 2, to provide farmers with more information and answer any questions. To watch the virtual information session, visit tinyurl.com/ycka9ztm.

The program is specifically for projects that address both farm viability and energy efficiency/climate resiliency. Funding is available for projects related to the following program priorities:

• Increased Farm Viability: Market development, enhanced production, and improved profitability/cost savings

• Energy efficiency related to on-farm or farm-business operations

• Facility upgrades in farm operations

• Climate resiliency in farm operations and practices, including projects, equipment, and supplies that improve soil health, prevent erosion, and save/reuse water

• Projects that increase a farm’s product diversity, health, and self-reliance with the ability to adapt when confronted with changing market conditions, uncertain environmental conditions, and/or supply chain interruptions

Farm Viability & Sustainability Grants are intended to be used for services, equipment, production costs, and other expenses to build both economic and environmental sustainability within Ulster County’s farm sector. Examples of eligible equipment and expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Biodiesel/electric trucks/tractors
• Cold storage
• Farm equipment
• Precise irrigation systems
• Solar panels
• Washing/packing materials
• Associated supplies
• Energy-efficient upgrades of equipment and/or systems

Grant Applications

Eligible applicants include for-profit farms classified as “Farm Operations” under Section 301 of NYS Agriculture and Markets Law, as well as not-for-profit organizations involved in farming activities, and must have an annual net income below $1 million. Applicants must also have filed a Schedule F in 2023 and received an Agricultural Assessment to be eligible.

Farmers were able to access the full Request for Proposals, apply online, and explore additional resources through the application portal at www.hvadc.org/ulster-county-farm-grants. Technical assistance was available throughout the application process up until the April 30, 2025, deadline. For any questions, reach out via email at ucfarmviability@hvadc.org.

The HVADC is the region’s sole economic development agency with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the Hudson Valley. It assists both new and existing agri-businesses, such as farms, food businesses, and food distributors, by providing technical and business consultation, access to capital, and resources. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the non-profit promotes balanced, market-based solutions that lead to enhanced agricultural entrepreneurship, rural economic growth, diversity, inclusion, and community enhancement.