By American Agriculturalist (5/25/10)

The Northeast Farm Credit associations and CoBank recently awarded $30,000 to 12 organizations as part of the Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program. The grants help promote northeast agriculture, support youth programs and generate a greater public understanding of the Northeast's vital agricultural, commercial fishing and forest industries.

The associations include Farm Credit East (Enfield, Conn.); Yankee Farm Credit (Williston, Vt.); and Farm Credit of Maine (Auburn, Maine). In partnership with CoBank, the financial organizations have funded projects since 1996. Recent grant recipients include:

• American Farmland Trust: $3,500 will be used to analyze a regional supply chain of dairy consumption and dairy marketing opportunities and to identify success barriers in the dairy industry.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension, Saratoga County: This $5,000 grant will develop a leadership and communications skills training program for up to 50 ag producers and professionals in the Capital District and Hudson Valley.
• Dartmouth YMCA Program: $500 will support a summer day camp featuring a young farmers' program with local farmers as camp mentors.
• Eastern States FFA Planning Committee: $8,000 will fund the Eastern States FFA Star program at September's Big E. FFA representatives from 14 states compete in four categories: Star Farmer, Star Agribusiness, Star Agricultural Placement and Star Agriscience.
• Eden Regional Farm Museum: $1,500 will promote local food production in a five-county area and educate the public about the business of agriculture.
• New England Green Pasture: $4,000 will support Big E ag programs, including the Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year and Salute to Agriculture.
• New Hampshire 4-H Foundation: $3,000 will fund a trip for 25 teens from Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire, giving them a first-hand look at career opportunities on farms, ag research facilities and ag businesses. 
• NOFA-NJ: $1,000 will help the organic farming group develop a curriculum and training program to help farmers establish and operate farm markets.
• NY Pork Producers' Empire Swine Youth Program: $1,000 funds a multi-faceted New York State Fair event, challenging young people's knowledge of the swine industry, management and interviewing skills.
• New Hampshire Institute of Agriculture and Forestry: $1,000 to pilot a project on the production of four-season greenhouse vegetables and fruit.
• The Last Green Valley: $1,000 will help develop a Web site of resources to help Connecticut and Massachusetts farmers advance agriculture.
• Regional Dairy Extension: $500 to provide in-service training for Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Extension dairy agents.

Since its inception, the AgEnhancement Program has awarded more than $1.1 million through 418 grants. Proposals are considered three times a year, with submission dates of April 1, August 1 and December 1.

For more information, click on: www.FarmCreditEast.com/Resources-and-Reports.aspx.

Send funding proposals to: AgEnhancement@FarmCreditEast.com .