ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) - The state agriculture department recently announced $4.25 million will be available to support beginning and disadvantaged farmers. This funding will start-up improvement, expansion of farm operations and so much more. Kelly Young, who is director of agricultural development, says that both opportunities will allow farmers to get started in agriculture or to give a nice boost to help get it off the ground and ensure they are able to have greater success. “With the stated purpose to reach new farmers and those farmers who have a disproportionate barrier to success here in New York State. So, they offer funding for capital investment so it can be land purchases, equipment, building structures on property that they have,” Young says. “It’s not just infrastructure, which is a huge barrier for farmers like this to make their businesses successful, but because they’re able to purchase land and even livestock, that’s really unique.” The money will be split between the two programs, but that does not stop farmers from potentially applying to both grant programs.  “$850,000 will be available for beginning farmers and 3.4 million will be available for socially and economically disadvantaged farmers. Obviously farmers might be eligible for both grants, so it is totally open for them to do so with different projects,” says Young. These programs are designed to help influence the development of farmers across the spectrum, so that the department is meeting the needs of farmers around the state.  “There is a critical need here in New York State to make sure that we are supporting the next generation of farmers and those farmers that really represent the diversity of experience in our state. So, we have so many different needs here in New York State. We have so many different land uses from farms in rural areas that we’re familiar with to farms in urban areas, and everything in between.”  The first round of applications opens October 25 for beginning farmers and will close January 24. For the socially and economically disadvantaged grant program will open December 30 and will close on February 14.