New York farms and rural organizations are receiving grants meant to give them a financial boost during challenging times.
Farm Aid end-of-year grants provide more than $1 million to farm and agricultural organizations nationwide. They will be used to improve equity in food systems and to ensure small farms and ag businesses have a voice in federal policies.
Sara Katz, executive director of the Chester Agriculture Center, said the grant they received will help grow their farming aggregator program.
“The role of the aggregator is to offer shared facilities for cold storage, deliveries, and coordinating sales and logistics on behalf of, right now, we’re working with 16 farms, and they’re some of the smallest BIPOC led farms right in our area,” Katz explained.
The aggregator has been positively received by farmers since beginning in May 2024. Katz noted the $10,000 Farm Aid grant will grow their regional distribution work which supports 16 farms, as farmers grapple with a Farm Bill still using 2018 funding levels and federal rollbacks to various agriculture programs.
While the Trump administration has implemented bridge payments for farmers, some feel it is not enough support.
In New York, the Black Farmers Fund has been supporting rural businesses by providing capital, technical assistance, and community connection.
Olivia Watkins, president and cofounder of the fund, said their $10,000 Farm Aid grant will help farmers who increasingly need rapid response funds.
“Our ability to provide folks with emergency funding as they are seeing shifts in markets, the supply chain, and the effects of inflation in general, the uncertainty of this economic and political climate,” Watkins outlined.
She continued to push for the federal subsidization of farming, emphasizing farmers are subject to climate uncertainty as much as economic turmoil.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.