Business & Financial Resources

USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs of Organic, Transitioning Producers in New York

Agricultural producers and handlers who are certified organic, along with producers and handlers who are transitioning to organic production, can now apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic and Transitional Education Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which help producers and handlers cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses. Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022.

How to Apply
To apply, producers and handlers should contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at their local USDA Service Center. As part of completing the OCCSP applications, producers and handlers will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses. Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through participating State agencies.

Additional details can be found on the OTECP and OCCSP webpages. 

Sizing-Up the 2022 Fertilizer Situation in Four Charts

At this point, everyone knows fertilizer prices are at dizzying highs going into the 2022 growing season. Rather than summarizing the latest price data - which have moderated in January and February - this post shares four charts to provide context and insights into the situation.

How challenging one perceives the 2022 fertilizer situation to be depends on timing and the measures considered. That said, fertilizer is historically expensive and burdensome by nearly every measure. The only bright spot is that the overall outlook - despite high fertilizer prices - remains optimistic thanks to higher commodity prices.

Click here to read the full article and see the charts.

Apply for the Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program

Grants of up to $50,000 are now available for eligible small businesses, including agribusinesses, that have revenues of up to $2.5 million and are experiencing hardship due to COVID-19. Empire State Development and Lendistry, the minority-led Community Development Financial Institution that was selected to administer the COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, are currently accepting and reviewing applications on a rolling basis. There is no deadline at this time.

For additional information regarding the various resources available to support businesses seeking pandemic relief, ESD has created a webpage, https://esd.ny.gov/business-pandemic-recovery-initiative. The webpage is continuously updated as more details and funding information becomes available.

Is your farm business paying more for its electric delivery service than it needs to?

The Residential Agricultural Discount Program is an electricity rate discount available to farm businesses which have a residence connected to the same electric meter as the farm business.

New applications, and yearly renewals if you already participate in the program, need to be submitted by JULY 1 ^st. If you have a residence on the same electric meter as your farm business and you file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a farm business with either an:

• IRS - Schedule F (Form 1040) or,
• IRS Form 1120, 1120S, or 1065,

you can apply for this Discount, even if you generate your own electricity. Applications are available on your utility company website, along with eligibility criteria and other information. Or you can contact your utility company directly.

National Grid website

NYSEG website

The Residential Agricultural Discount Program is funded through the New York Power Authority - ReCharge New York program.

Contact your service provider if you have questions. 

New York State Forage Exchange

Search for available forage or find someone seeking to purchase forage in New York State. 

https://nysforageexchange.com/

Drive-Thru Pantry Schedule – Mass Food Distribution Dates & Sites

See the full schedule, including many more locations throughout northeastern New York.

Last updated June 8, 2022