named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Dairy Farm Safety and Efficiency
Funds research on behavioral nudging for safety practices, employee onboarding, colostrum management, and automated pre-milking stimulation in dairy operations
Field Crop Innovation
Finances applied research on herbicide-resistant weed management, red clover as an alternative to alfalfa, and electrical discharge weed control systems
Fruit and Vineyard Management
Supports projects on fire blight and bitter rot control in apples, Samurai wasp release for stink bug control, and cuticle-enhancing products to reduce cluster rots in grapes
Hemp and Honey Research
Supports projects on industrial hemp production for CBD and novel Varroa mite control in honey bee colonies using laser technology
Vegetable Production and Pest Management
Funds research on UV treatment for downy mildew, heat treatment for garlic seed pathogens, and biocontrol nematodes for Colorado potato beetle and cabbage maggot
Wildlife Damage Prevention
Backs development and testing of a low-cost laser scarecrow to deter birds from fruit and vegetable crops
activities · 3 groups
What they do
-
Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 5 activities
- Administering NYS Grown & Certified Research, Development, and Technology GrantsAdministers multiple grant programs under the NYS Grown & Certified umbrella, including Infrastructure and Technology Grants to improve food safety and operational efficiency, and Research and Development Grants to support producer-led innovation, testing of new practices, and exploration of emerging markets.
- Administering the NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant ProgramAdministers the NYS Beginning Farmer Grant Program to support new farmers in investing in equipment, infrastructure, and farm business development; includes providing tools to calculate required match and funding projects that enhance long-term viability and productivity.
- Administering the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in New YorkCompetitively administers the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New York through research, marketing, and infrastructure improvements.
- Funding farmer-driven applied research and education projectsAwards approximately $1.5 million annually through competitive grant programs to fund applied research and outreach education projects that address real-world challenges on New York farms, improve farm profitability, and generate practical knowledge for broad implementation across all commodity areas.
- Supporting specific agricultural research trials and innovationsFunds targeted on-farm research and field trials addressing key agricultural challenges, including Varroa mite control in honey bees, industrial hemp production methods, weed management strategies, soil health mapping, disease control in apples and garlic, UV treatment for downy mildew, and pollinator pest biological controls.
-
-
Agricultural Producer Education & Support Networks 1 activity
- Hosting capacity-building webinars for beginning farmersHosts Beginning Farmer Webinars (e.g., planned for 2026) to provide educational support and resources to new farmers in New York State.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conducting research priority identification through stakeholder engagementConducts periodic discussions and surveys with extension educators and agricultural organizations to identify sector-specific research priorities and align grant funding with farmer-identified needs.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.52M
Contributions & grants$2.51M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$12K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.48M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$494K
Grants paid out$1.86M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.90M
Cash$3.49M
Investments$0
Liabilities$4.72M
Net assets$173K
Liquid reserves16.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -14.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID GRUSENMEYER | FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $139K |
| AARON RISTOW | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $7K |
board members · 11
- AARON ALLEN — CHAIR
- BRIAN REEVES — DIRECTOR
- CHELSEA VAN ACKER — DIRECTOR
- DAN SHIRLEY — DIRECTOR
- DAVE RYAN — DIRECTOR
- JOHN MARTINI — SECRETARY/TREASURER
- JOSH JURS — DIRECTOR
- KARYN AGLE SULLIVAN — DIRECTOR
- PAULINE DREXLER — VICE CHAIR
- TIM DRESSEL — DIRECTOR
- TONY LAPIERRE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Advanced Ag Systems Partner — Conducts on-farm trials comparing red clover and alfalfa for forage value in New York.
- Cornell AgriTech Partner — Partner institution conducting applied agricultural research in hemp, dairy, fruit, and pest management.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Implements extension programming and grower education for funded agricultural research projects.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County Partner — Organizational partner where NYFVI staff previously served as Agricultural Business Educator, indicating a connection in agricultural education and outreach.
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborates on multiple funded research projects related to hemp, dairy, apples, and vegetables.
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborative relationship through staff experience and likely programmatic engagement in agricultural research and extension.
- Cornell University - Program on Applied Demographics Partner — Collaborates by utilizing demographic and economic data from Cornell's Program on Applied Demographics to inform agricultural research priorities.
- Council of Agricultural Organizations Partner — Nominates board members to the New York Farm Viability Institute
- Food Marketing Institute Partner — References consumer food trends research from the Food Marketing Institute to inform understanding of market challenges and opportunities for farmers.
- Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Partner — References and encourages use of research tools developed by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to support project development and market analysis.
- NYS Grown & Certified Partner — Collaborates with the NYS Grown & Certified program to administer infrastructure, technology, and research grants for participating farms.
- NYS Horticultural Society Partner — Nominates board members to the New York Farm Viability Institute
- National Agricultural Statistics Service Government — Utilizes agricultural data from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service to support research and priority-setting efforts.
- New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) Partner — Collaborates on dairy farm safety and worker onboarding initiatives.
- New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association Partner — Co-funded a project to accelerate adoption of cover crops and advanced soil regenerative practices in New York.
- New York Farm Bureau Partner — Nominates board members to the New York Farm Viability Institute
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Government — NYFVI administers the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program on behalf of this agency.
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Partner — Partners with NYFVI to administer the NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant.
- New York State Vegetable Growers Association Partner — Nominates board members to the New York Farm Viability Institute
- New York State farmers Partner — Engages New York State farmers in project design, implementation, and evaluation of grant-funded research and education initiatives.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Partner — Partners on development of UV light technology for disease prevention in vegetable crops.
- SUNY Buffalo Partner — Conducts geospatial soil analysis research for vineyard management.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Government — Government partner with which NYFVI staff have worked directly, supporting policy development and federal program coordination.
- USDA Government — Administers the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in New York State.
- farmers Partner — Engages farmers in collaborative projects to address real-world challenges and implement practical solutions.
- industry partners Partner — Works with industry partners to generate practical knowledge and innovations for implementation across the agricultural sector.
- researchers Partner — Collaborates with researchers on applied research and education projects addressing challenges facing New York farms.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Applied Research with Staged Risk and Adoption Pathwaysmethodology: applied_research_and_technology_adoptionBy funding applied research projects across a risk continuum—from low-risk practice refinement to high-reward innovation—the institute generates practical, on-farm knowledge that supports short- to long-term adoption, because aligning project scope and risk level with realistic timelines increases the likelihood of farmer uptake and sector-wide transformation.
- Farmer-Led Grantmaking and Governancemethodology: farmer_led_governanceBy placing farmers in leadership roles across governance, proposal review, and priority-setting, the institute ensures that funded research and education initiatives directly respond to real-world farming challenges, because farmer-led decision-making increases relevance, adoption, and field-level impact.
- Farmer-Researcher Collaborative Knowledge Productionmethodology: collaborative_knowledge_sharingBy fostering collaboration between farmers, researchers, and agricultural organizations, the institute creates and disseminates actionable knowledge, because co-produced research improves technical validity while ensuring practical applicability and field adoption.