ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After his re-election, President Donald Trump’s tariffs sparked widespread controversy. They started to take effect in February 2025, but a year later, in February 2026, the Supreme Court ruled the tariffs unconstitutional. Many businesses across New York have been feeling the impacts of the back and forth, but relief may be on its way to some farmers.
Farmers have until midnight Tuesday to apply for the state’s Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program. Thirty million dollars was approved in the state budget this year to help offset rising costs and any business farmers lost because of the federal tariff policy. Farmers can receive up to $25,000, as long as they’re still in business.
“Everybody’s been impacted some. So many farms were putting in new barns, new equipment, new construction projects on the farm with the refundable tax credit, and building materials, lumber, everything just went through the roof,” State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball explained. “Some of the feed that goes back and forth across the border saw huge increases. I was talking to a dairy farmer in the North Country who says his feed bill went up $10,000 a month.”
There are two tracks of farmers that the funds to be distributed to: cow dairy farms, and a larger umbrella that includes livestock, livestock products, specialty crops and aquaculture farms. For example, raw milk would be under the cow dairy farms track, and selling calves would be under the livestock category. Farmers can apply under both tracks, but the maximum payout remains $25,000.
“Greenhouse growers, peat moss went up automatically as soon as the announcement was made of tariffs. So, many machinery parts, tractors, semis are assembled here; work down up there. So many things go back and forth across the border that it’s impacting all farms,” Ball said.
Farmers can apply by submitting their businesses information, such as what type of farm they are, gross revenue and contact information, here.
The deadline was extended to adjust to the high demand of farmers who need assistance. However, the program is not first-come, first-serve, so as long as farmers apply on time, they could qualify for anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000.