The Farm Viability Institute (FVI) Grant Program is the core competitive research and education funding initiative of the New York Farm Viability Institute. It supports practical, farmer-driven projects that create and share knowledge to improve the economic viability of New York’s farms.
Our 2027 FVI Request for Proposals is scheduled to be released September 16th, and will close October 30, 2026.
The application and project will be managed entirely online. Applicants must first register in the online system. The link to get registered is available here.
The FVI process prohibits specific conversations between applicants and NYFVI staff about their proposals. Applicants are strongly encouraged to register and attend one of two webinars to familiarize applicants with the online grants interface platform and review key criteria.
- Grant Writing Webinar 1: Wednesday September 23, 2026 12pm-1:00 pm. Register
- Grant Writing Webinar 2: Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am-10:00 am. Register
Both webinars will be recorded and made available for later viewing at nyfvi.org.
Agriculture is continually evolving, and New York farmers need sound science, effective educational outreach, and actionable insights to adapt and thrive. The FVI Grant Program funds applied research and educational efforts that address real challenges facing farmers and deliver measurable farm-level impact.
Proposals are evaluated through a competitive process that prioritizes:
- clear relevance to New York’s agricultural community,
- meaningful engagement with producers,
- and the potential to improve farm profitability and operations.
The program focuses on advancing work that aligns with NYFVI’s strategic priority areas, including:
- improving farm operating practices,
- fostering industry innovation,
- incubating new ideas,
- improve routes to market and marketing practices,
- and develop human capital within the agricultural sector.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY THIS FUNDING CYCLE: This year over $3 million in competitive funding is available, with individual project awards typically ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. Projects may span from six months up to two years, depending on scope and objectives, and must engage New York State farmers and clearly demonstrate expected outcomes and impacts.
Farmer review panels evaluate all proposals and provide recommendations, with final funding decisions made by NYFVI’s farmer-led board. This ensures the program reflects real agricultural priorities and supports solutions that deliver practical value on farms across the state.
If after reading the full RFP you have questions about these outcomes, please email us at info@nyfvi.org.
To view past project profiles, please select from the options below: