On Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a variety of measures to support farmers across that he says continue the effort to enable growth in the State’s agricultural sector.

Under the new measures, the Department of Agriculture and Markets – in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Conservation – is launching the Dairy Acceleration Program (DAP) and making available $1 million in funding to help dairy farmers develop individualized business and environmental plans.

To be eligible for DAP, a dairy cattle farm must have complete financial records. Preference will be given to farms with under 300 cows. DAP funding will cover 80 percent of a project’s cost.

Payments may include: up to $5,000 per farm to write a business plan or develop a combination of a business and facility growth plan; and up to $4,500 to update an existing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) or $6,000 to develop a new one.