📋 Agencies & Professional Services

A licensed agricultural attorney serving farm families and agricultural businesses in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut. Specializes in agricultural law, animal law, farm succession, estate planning, farm business formation, contract review, and dispute resolution. One of New York's few dedicated farm attorneys. Offers consultations for farm families navigating land transactions, leases, succession planning, and agricultural business legal needs.

A nonprofit land trust based in Chatham working to conserve farmland, forests, wildlife habitat, and the rural character of Columbia County. The CLC assists farmers and landowners with conservation easements, farmland transition planning, agricultural leases, property mapping, soil health support, and connections to funding opportunities. The organization has protected over 10,000 acres of working farmland and maintains several public conservation areas open year-round.

A land surveying firm in Hudson serving Columbia County and surrounding counties, operating through the Alvin B. Huehnel and Plass, Rockefeller & Nucci surveying divisions with a combined history dating back to the 1920s. The firm maintains the largest library of known property information in Columbia County and uses Topcon GPS and Trimble Robotic equipment for efficient, accurate results. Services include boundary surveys, title surveys, topographic mapping, and subdivisions.

A national nonprofit legal organization providing free and low-cost legal help to family farmers and their advocates. FLAG assists farmers with USDA loan servicing disputes, farm foreclosure, discrimination claims, bankruptcy, farm program appeals, and legal problems involving farm operations. Also publishes free legal guides on farm issues including farm leases, succession planning, and USDA program rights. A critical resource for any small or mid-sized farm family facing legal challenges they cannot afford to fight alone.

A New York law firm with deep experience serving farm families and agricultural businesses. Specializes in farm succession planning, estate planning, elder law, and business law for rural land-based operations. Well-versed in agricultural-specific laws and tax programs including the NYS Agricultural Assessment, conservation easements, and farmland transfers. Offers a Farm Succession Planning video series for families beginning to think about the future. A trusted resource for any farm family navigating estate, succession, or business transition.

An agricultural and real estate law firm based in Hudson with deep expertise in rural and farm property transactions across Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, and Ulster counties. Attorney Kevin Thiemann served as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Agriculture before entering private practice in 1987 and has over 40 years of experience in real estate, agricultural law, zoning, planning board counsel, and estate matters. He previously served as Town Attorney for Hillsdale and counsel to multiple planning boards.

Free technical assistance for any farmer or landowner in New York State from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan addressing on-farm resource issues — soil health, water quality, erosion, habitat, and energy efficiency. Technical assistance is always free: resource assessments, practice design, and resource monitoring at no cost. Also the gateway to EQIP financial assistance — cost-share payments covering cover crops, high tunnels, fencing, water management, pasture improvements, and organic transition. Beginning farmers, veterans, and socially disadvantaged producers receive higher payment rates (up to 90% cost-share) and advance payments. Every county in the HV and Capital Region has an NRCS service center. Contact your local office to get started.

The New York Farm Bureau provides agricultural advocacy, policy support, and a range of member services for New York farmers including access to legal assistance programs, farm labor compliance resources, and guidance on farm taxation, property rights, and agricultural district enrollment. The Farm Bureau serves as a collective voice for farm families on land use, agricultural assessment, right-to-farm protections, and state and federal farm policy. Membership provides access to legal consultation resources and farm business tools.

NY FarmNet provides free, confidential farm succession and estate planning assistance to any farm family in New York State. Farm succession is one of the most complex and emotionally charged challenges farm families face — NY FarmNet consultants work one-on-one with families to plan for the future of the farm across generations. Services include succession planning, business transfers, retirement planning, estate planning guidance, and facilitating family conversations about the farm's future. Financial consultants have backgrounds in agricultural business; family consultants hold master's degrees in counseling. All services are completely free and confidential. Call 1-800-547-3276 any time.

A New York State property tax program that significantly reduces property taxes on land actively used for agricultural production. Eligible farmland is assessed at its agricultural value rather than its full market value — often resulting in substantial tax savings for farmers and homesteaders. To qualify, land generally must be at least 7 acres and generate at least $10,000 in gross sales of agricultural products in each of the two preceding years (sales, not profit). Smaller parcels may also qualify if the land is part of a larger farm operation. Administered through local town assessors with oversight by NYS Agriculture & Markets. Apply annually through your local assessor's office — deadlines vary by municipality. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau both offer guidance on the application process.

The New York State Maple Producers Association sponsors the annual Maple Weekend, held two consecutive weekends in late March across New York State. About 110 maple producers across the state open their sugar houses to the public — free admission, free samples, sugar bush tours, pancake breakfasts, and hands-on demonstrations of sap tapping and syrup making. The definitive annual event for experiencing NYS maple production directly from the source.

Every county in New York State has a Soil and Water Conservation District providing free technical assistance to farmers and landowners. Services include on-farm erosion control planning, stormwater management, stream bank stabilization, well and septic guidance, and the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program — a voluntary program helping farmers identify environmental concerns and access state and federal funding to address them. AEM is the primary on-ramp to NRCS and state conservation funding for many farms. Contact your county SWCD office directly — they are local, free, and often the most practical first call for any land or water management question on your property.

A civil and environmental engineering firm offering land surveying services across Ulster, Greene, Columbia, and Dutchess counties. Services for rural and farm property owners include boundary surveys, site plans, subdivision design, wetland delineations, and environmental assessments. The firm serves homeowners, farmers, developers, and municipalities across the Hudson Valley.

Scenic Hudson works directly with Hudson Valley farmers to conserve farmland through agricultural conservation easements — permanently protecting fields and orchards from development while enabling farmers to continue working the land and often providing a significant cash payment to the landowner. Has conserved over 18,000 acres across the Hudson Valley through conservation easements and land protection. Also partners with farmers to purchase and resell agricultural land at affordable prices to keep it in farming. Free technical assistance throughout the easement process. A key resource for any HV farm family thinking about the long-term future of their land.

The Schoharie County Office of Agricultural Development supports the farming economy of a county once called "the Breadbasket of the American Revolution." Connects farmers, farm-based food businesses, and agribusinesses to grant and funding opportunities, technical assistance, and partner agencies including CCE, SUNY Cobleskill, Farm Bureau, FSA, NRCS, and Soil and Water District. Provides a directory of Schoharie County farm businesses and resources for both established and beginning farmers.

Full-service disability advocacy and case management firm offering NYS Medicaid eligibility and enrollment (Chronic Care Medicaid), Social Security Administration representation as an Eligible Direct Pay Non-Attorney (EDPNA) for SSI/SSD/SSDI applications, denials, overpayments, reconsiderations, waiver requests, and appeals. Also provides Medicare/Medicaid eligibility consulting and Third-Party Liability cost recovery services for hospitals and organizations. Over 20 years' experience. Online consultations available.

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network with 40+ locations across the Hudson Valley providing comprehensive primary, preventive, dental, OB-GYN, and behavioral health care to anyone regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Sliding scale fees based on income. Accepts Medicaid and Medicare. Founded in 1975 by four African American women in Peekskill to deliver accessible care to underserved communities — still delivering on that mission today. Operates the Hudson Valley Migrant Health Program in partnership with the Orange County Department of Health, PathStone, and the NYS Department of Labor, providing outreach and health services directly to migrant farm workers in the region. During COVID, Sun River brought pop-up vaccine clinics directly to farm workers at Orange County farms. Locations in Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Columbia, and Westchester counties. The practical answer to affordable primary care for rural families, farm workers, and homesteaders without good insurance coverage.

A full-service general practice law firm headquartered in Albany with offices in Schoharie County and Dutchess County, representing buyers, sellers, lenders, and municipalities in real estate transactions across Albany, Greene, Columbia, Schoharie, Ulster, Rensselaer, and more than a dozen additional New York counties. Practice areas relevant to rural landowners include residential and commercial real estate, title examination, zoning and planning, environmental law, and equine law. The firm has been handling real estate matters for over 40 years.

The Catskill chapter of Trout Unlimited, dedicated to protecting and restoring the cold water fisheries of the Catskill Mountain region — the birthplace of American dry fly fishing. Advocates for watershed protection, stream restoration, and access for future generations of fly fishers in the Catskills and Hudson Valley.

A regional trade organization representing 60+ maple producers across Columbia, Fulton, Hamilton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties. Every spring members host the popular Maple Open House Weekends — free public tours of participating sugarhouses with samples, pancake breakfasts, and demonstrations. Also staffs a sugarhouse at the Washington County Fair each summer. The best resource for finding local maple farms and events across the Upper Hudson region.

The USDA Farm Service Agency provides farm loans, disaster assistance, and program support for farmers across New York State, including the Hudson Valley and Capital Region. Direct farm operating and ownership loans for farmers who cannot obtain commercial credit. Beginning Farmer and Rancher Programs with targeted funding, reduced interest rates, and down payment loan programs. Emergency loans after natural disasters. Microloans for small and beginning operations. Also administers crop insurance programs and the Organic Certification Cost Share (75% reimbursement of organic cert costs — program status subject to federal funding). Every HVA county has a local FSA service center. Free to apply; no cost for consultations.

A federal program that reimburses certified organic producers up to 75% of their organic certification costs per year, per certification scope (crops, livestock, wild crops, handler), up to $750 per scope. Covers application fees, inspection costs, inspector travel, user fees, sales assessments, and postage. Apply through your local USDA Farm Service Agency office or through the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Note: As of early 2025, federal funding for this program has been frozen — NY senators are actively pressuring USDA to release FY25 and FY26 funds. Program historically available annually; check with FSA or NOFA-NY Helpline for current status.