County to Launch Agricultural Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund
Published on December 30, 2025
County to Launch Agricultural Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund for Small and Mid-Sized Farms in 2026
KINGSTON, NY - In a major step forward for Ulster County’s agricultural community, the Ulster County Legislature has approved County Executive Jen Metzger’s proposal to establish an Ulster County Agricultural Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund, a new low‑cost lending program designed to provide accessible, flexible, and affordable capital to small and mid‑sized farm enterprises.
The Fund, capitalized at $700,000, will prioritize projects that enhance farm viability by supporting diversification, operational efficiency in energy and water use, and climate resiliency. Eligible projects may include investments in equipment, infrastructure, technology upgrades, renewable energy systems, and climate adaptation measures. The program will be open to all small- and mid-sized farms, and will include outreach to historically underserved farm businesses that have faced higher barriers to accessing capital. The loan program is expected to open in Spring 2026.
“This program directly implements a key recommendation of our Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, and I’m proud that we are putting it into action,” said County Executive Jen Metzger, who proposed the initiative in her 2025 State of the County address earlier this year. “Our farms are the backbone of Ulster County’s economy and rural heritage, and the new loan fund will help our farms diversify, modernize, and build resilience for the long term.” Metzger previously chaired the Agriculture Committee when she served in the State Senate, and agriculture continues to be a priority in her economic agenda.
The new County loan fund will build on the success of this year’s Ulster County Farm Viability and Sustainability Grant Program, which awarded $586,000 in federal ARPA funding to nine Ulster County farms. The grant program showed a considerable need for farm investment resources, with nearly 40 farms applying.
The new revolving loan program will be administered for the County by the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) — a Community Development Financial Institution with deep expertise in the region's agriculture sector. HVADC also administered the Ulster County Farm Viability and Sustainability Grant Program on behalf of the County.
“We’re proud to work with Ulster County to develop this new agricultural loan fund, expanding access to affordable, flexible capital for farms and food businesses,” said Todd Erling, HVADC Executive Director. “By connecting local producers with the resources they need to invest in their operations, equipment, and resilience, we’re strengthening the economic viability and sustainability of the County’s agricultural sector.”
“When we support our farms, we support their families, their communities, and the County at large,” said Legislator Megan Sperry, Chair of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee, who sponsored the resolution on behalf of the County Executive. “We are a County that is rich in agriculture and benefits greatly from agri‑tourism. Our farmers face rising costs associated with tariffs, climate change, and cost of living increases. Anytime we can invest in our farms we invest in our residents. The Agricultural Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund is a huge investment that will have positive impacts all across Ulster County.”
“As a farmer myself, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to access affordable capital when you need to invest in equipment, improve infrastructure, or adapt to changing conditions in these economic times,” said Legislator Herb Litts, Deputy Chair of the Chair of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee. “This revolving loan fund is more than a financial tool — it’s a lifeline that will help our farms remain viable for the next generation. By giving farmers the flexibility to strengthen their operations and build resilience, Ulster County is making a real commitment to the people who put food on our tables and sustain our rural way of life.”
“Establishing a revolving loan fund for agriculture was a leading recommendation of the revised, newly adopted Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, and is an important step by the County to build ongoing support for our farmers to keep farming strong,” said Deborah DeWan, Agricultural Services Administrator in the Department of Economic Development. “This revolving loan program will provide much-needed affordable access to capital with flexible terms to help farmers fund the operations and functions they need to succeed in the long term.”
With this new program, Ulster County is reaffirming its commitment to keeping farming strong for the long term, ensuring that local farms have the resources they need to adapt, grow, and continue contributing to the County’s economy and quality of life.