State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, says she is encouraging those who are interested in pursuing careers in agriculture, or just starting out in the industry, to apply for support through an initiative she created known as the ‘New Farmers Grant Fund.’

The $1 million ‘New Farmers Grant Fund’ provides grants of up to $50,000 for those who have started a farm business within the last ten years. The grants allow for the purchase of machinery, equipment, supplies and the construction or improvement of agricultural structures. Since the program’s launch in 2014, it has provided nearly $2.5 million to more than 65 farms across the state.

Full details and applications for the ‘New Farmers Grant Fund’ can be found by visiting Ritchie’s website at www.ritchie.nysenate.gov. The deadline for submitting an application is Jan. 26.

“The future of New York’s agriculture industry depends on attracting new people to the profession,” Ritchie said in a prepared statement. “With another round of the ‘New Farmers Grant Fund’, we are again providing those just starting with the support they need to achieve success in their new ventures. These programs are critical to growing—and protecting—the future of New York’s leading industry.”