New York's Dairy Crisis & The FarmHearts Fund

Every day, our region’s small farmers face an uphill battle to produce products sustainably. These farmers are unable to compete with industrial megafarms, have been abandoned by the agricultural co-ops that  are supposed to protect them, and are crippled by a broken federal milk pricing system--the tragic result is that many of our small farms are being driven out of business. 

FarmHearts provides much-needed emergency relief and economic assistance to help keep our small farms viable and operating. Small-scale farmers in need of urgent help can apply for grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 through the FarmHearts website (farmheartsny.org) or by mail. FarmHearts also offers information and referral for technical assistance, grants, and other resources that support small farms.

The fund is being recognized throughout the region as a key resource to sustaining Catskills farms. The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan awarded FarmHearts a 2018 Innovation Grant.