RFP Seeks Proposals from Ag Researchers and Educators
The FVI RFP is now open with proposals due by Friday, October 24th. Selected proposals will be announced in mid-February, and project contracts will be finalized by April 2026. This RFP is being issued through the new grant management platform introduced in the previous round of FVI, so applicants are encouraged to register for upcoming webinars and seek login credentials.
The research and education grant program is the foundation of our organization; the work it solicits and funds is how the organization’s mission–to create and share knowledge to improve the economic viability of NY’s farms–is operationalized.
Agriculture is constantly changing and NYFVI believes it is critical for farmers to have sound science and effective educational outreach to help them evolve their practices. Competitive proposals require clear relevance to NY’s agricultural community, demonstrated producer support, and the ability to deliver farm-level economic impact over time.
This RFP is aligned with NYFVI’s five strategic priorities which are structured as outcomes:
- Improve Individual Farm’s Operating Practices
- Foster Industry Innovation
- Incubate New Ideas
- Improve Routes to Market and Marketing Practices
- Develop Human Capital
The RFP integrates these outcomes into the application and requires applicants to identify indicators and establish specific performance targets for their work. More information about the FVI outcomes may be found here. Specific indicators for each outcome are provided in the RFP.
While all of the outcomes are important, the NYFVI board is particularly interested in proposals that accelerate practice adoption. Ideas include, but are not limited to:
- Projects that show farmers the economic value of practices for their business.
- Demonstrating the value of new technology and tools. How will your work show farmers which new tools or practices are most valuable, and in which situations?
- Increasing the use of data-based decision-making on farms.
Projects must work with NYS farmers and measure outcomes and impacts to benefit agriculture in New York State. Potential applicants are encouraged to gather information from farmers about their production challenges and areas of opportunity, to ensure their proposal will resonate with reviewers.
Grant Size and Duration: In each FVI grant round approximately $1.5M is awarded through a competitive process. Farmer review panels evaluate the proposals, and the NYFVI farmer board makes all the final funding decisions; projects can range from $15K-$125K with work carried out over 6 months to 2 years.
Funding decisions will be made in mid-February, 2026, and contracts will be awarded soon thereafter. Funded projects must start between April 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027, and complete within 24 months of their start date.
Eligibility: For-Profit or Non-Profit Farmer groups, researchers, educators, organizations, agencies and businesses may apply. Individuals are encouraged to partner with existing organizations.
Schedule: RFP opens September 3rd 2025, and closes October 24th.
The process will be conducted on our newer grant management platform; two webinars, using the same presentation, were held. A recording of the second session is available below. A recording of the 2026 webinar will be available to watch after the sessions are held.
Online Application: The online platform can be found HERE. Applicants will need to register for credentials if they haven’t already, and are encouraged to preview the application and required budget detail template.
This grant program is made possible through the steadfast support of Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assemblymember Donna Lupardo and the Senate and Assembly Agriculture Committees. NYFVI is deeply appreciative of the trust and confidence they have placed in their organization and support of Farm Viability’s mission. This RFP will utilize the organization’s New York State appropriation from FY 24/25.
RFP and Associated Files: For your convenience, a pdf of the online application is available below, as well as all associated files.