Project Grant 20254880445426

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York, operating as State University AG/TECH College of Cobleskill, received a $750,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Advocacy and Outreach under the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (CFDA 10.443). The award, effective September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2028, funds comprehensive technical assistance, education, and training services targeting socially disadvantaged, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers in New York's Mohawk Valley Economic Development Region.

The project delivers outreach and capacity-building services designed to help underserved agricultural producers access USDA programs, develop viable farming enterprises, and build business acumen. Typical activities under this program include on-farm training, peer-to-peer mentorship, entrepreneurship education, agricultural skills training in areas such as dairy farming preparation, technical assistance on regenerative agriculture and conservation planning, and support for farm incubator initiatives emphasizing land access and market development. By leveraging the college's existing agricultural education infrastructure and community networks, the award enables the institution to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate assistance that addresses the unique barriers facing beginning and socially disadvantaged agricultural operators in the region.