In a move to fortify Ulster Countyโs agricultural backbone and boost its climate resilience, County Executive Jen Metzger announced last week that $586,256 in grants will be distributed to nine local farms through the countyโs first-ever Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program.
The grantsโfunded through the countyโs Agricultural Crisis Relief Program and backed by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollarsโare intended to help local farms invest in infrastructure upgrades that promote both long-term economic health and environmental sustainability. The program is administered by the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) and reflects the priorities of Ulster Countyโs recently updated Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, adopted in June.
โFarming is central to Ulster Countyโs economy and long-term food security, and our farmers also play a critical role as stewards of the land,โ says Metzger in a statement. โThis funding couldnโt come at a better time, as the US Department of Agriculture eliminates billions of dollars in crucial funding for our small farms.โ
Grant recipients include a diverse mix of farms, from mushroom and vegetable operations to orchards and livestock farms. Among the awardees is Catskill Wagyu at Hilltop Farm in Accord, a sustainable beef and dairy operation profiled by Chronogram last year for its environmentally conscious approach to raising Japanese Wagyu cattle. The farm will use the funds to modernize its milking operations with energy-efficient equipment and improve accessibility with a new entryway.
Other projects range from solar installations and flood mitigation to refrigerated storage and electric delivery vehicles. In Highland, Sugarshack Mushrooms will install solar panels to power their semi-indoor mushroom farm, generating an estimated 22,000 kWh annually. In Kerhonkson, Honeybee Sun Farm plans to establish a contour chestnut orchard and build a runoff-control pond in response to flood-related erosion.
Todd Erling, executive director of HVADC, emphasized the strategic nature of the applicantsโ proposals. โThe projects proposed really exemplify the type of strategic thinking that the applicants have about how to ensure their businesses’ viability and sustainability with a focus on improving efficiencies and resiliency,โ he says.
Ulster County has a long agricultural heritage, from its colonial-era orchards to its present-day mix of multigenerational farms and new-wave growers. Agriculture remains a major contributor to the local economy and plays a growing role in regional agrotourism and food security efforts. With climate change, high tariffs, and rising input costs squeezing small and midsized farms, officials say investment is essential.
โThese projects are very inspiring and demonstrate the diversity of farms in Ulster Countyโlivestock, vegetable, fruit, smaller, newer, larger, and multigeneration,โ says Deborah DeWan, agriculture services administrator in the countyโs Department of Economic Development.
County officials hope this inaugural round of funding is just the beginning. โWhen we support our farms, we support their families, their communities and the county at large,โ says County Legislator Megan Sperry. โOur farmers face rising costs associated with tariffs, climate change, and cost-of-living increases. Anytime we can invest in our farms, we invest in our county.โ
The program received 37 applications in total. To learn more about the Farm Viability and Sustainability Grant Program, visit Ulstercountyny.gov/farm-grants.
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This article appears in July 2025.
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