Business & Financial Resources

USDA Launches Assistance Network to Support Financially Distressed Farmers and Ranchers

Reduce Your Farm Energy Bills

Take Advantage of the Agricultural Energy Audit Program This Winter

The Agricultural Energy Audit Program (AEAP) has been implemented by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority since 2016. Eligible farms and on-farm producers, including but not limited to: dairies, orchards, greenhouses, vegetables, vineyards, grain dryers, and poultry/egg qualify to participate. NYSERDA will assign a Flexible Technical (FlexTech) Program Consultant to perform the energy audit for eligible farms and then all energy audits are reviewed for technical soundness and program compliance by a company called Ensave. Presently there are approximately 750 dairies in the AEAP that have received an energy audit.

The AEAP provides farms and on-farm producers with no-cost energy audits, including recommendations to improve energy efficiency. The program also helps participants access funding support to implement energy efficiency measures. This first-come, first-served program is open through September 2025 or until program funds expire.

New York farms can choose from two audits based on their needs:

• Level Comprehensive: This energy audit is focused on a specific complex energy system or renewable energy production. This report is ideal for operations with a complex system to be analyzed beyond standard energy efficiency upgrades or if the farm is interested in pursuing renewable energy. The energy audit report with calculated evaluations of appropriate energy efficiency measures including simple payback; meets ANSI/ASABE S612 standards.
• Level Targeted: This energy audit focused on specific systems, energy efficiency measures, or renewable energy.

Once an audit report is complete, EnSave assists the farm with selecting the most appropriate measures to implement and accessing funding, including programs through electric and gas utilities and the federal government.

Here is a link to the program on the NYSERDA website: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/agriculture-energy-audit which provides an overview of the program.

Ensave is also promoting the Energy Best Practices Guides for Dairy and Greenhouses: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Business-and-Industry/Agriculture/Energy-Best-Practices-for-Agriculture. 

How to Apply

There are two options for how to apply for an energy audit or a greenhouse benchmarking report:

1. Complete the online Agriculture Energy Audit application - this is a web document and can be done within a web browser.
2. Download a document version of the Agricultural Energy Audit application [PDF] and submit it either:
   1. Via email to aeep@nyserda.ny.gov
   2. or print and mail the application document to:
      NYSERDA
      Attn: Agriculture Energy Audit Program Administrator
      17 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203-6399

NYS Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program

The NYS Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program is offered to encourage recent college graduates to pursue careers in farming in NYS. This Program provides loan forgiveness awards to individuals who obtain an undergraduate degree from an approved NYS college or university and agree to operate a farm in NYS, on a full-time basis, for five years.

More Information

Professional and Continuing Education: Workshops, Certificates, and Certifications from SUNY Cobleskill

Offerings include Meat Processing and Food Safety, Wine Making, Fiber Sorting, Classing, and Grading, Beekeeper Training, Artificial Insemination for Cattle, Sausage Making, and more.

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.   

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

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

Last updated November 12, 2024