Ulster County farms will be able to tap into a $700,000 loan fund in 2026 thanks to a new program aimed at helping small and mid-sized farms stay competitive and resilient.
The Agricultural Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund, recently approved by the county legislature, will offer low-interest, flexible loans to support projects that improve efficiency, encourage diversification, and help farms adapt to a changing climate.
Proposed by county executive Jen Metzger, the program supports the goals of Ulster County’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, aiming to reach farms that have historically had limited access to financing.
The program builds on the county’s 2025 Farm Viability and Sustainability Grant Program, which awarded more than $500,000 in federal funds to nine farms and received applications from nearly 40 others.
The Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC), a nonprofit lender focused on agriculture, will manage the new loan fund. HVADC also oversaw the county’s previous grant program and will handle distribution and oversight of the new loans.
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