Blue Ribbon Task Force
Blue Ribbon Task Force Meets with Statewide Officials in Albany
On Tuesday May 3rd, 15 members of the Blue Ribbon Task force on the Future of Farming met with state officials and lawmakers in Albany to discuss important issues facing farmers and the agriculture industry in New York. Task Force members were welcomed by Agriculture Committee Chairs Assemblyman Bill Magee and Senator Pattie Ritchie to discuss restorations to agriculture programs in the State Budget and items in the Task Force’s 2010 report. Newly confirmed Commissioner Darrel Aubertine and his Deputy Commissioners also met with Task Force members to discuss departmental priorities and how the Task Force can be a resource and partner in protecting agriculture in New York.
To access copies of materials given to Task Force members from the Department of Agriculture and Markets, click here.
2011 State Budget
The 2011/12 enacted State Budget rejects the authorization of a new competitive grants program for agriculture research, marketing and education initiatives. The final budget agreement redirects funds proposed for a competitive grant program, and instead provides discrete funding for a variety of traditional agriculture and agriculture local assistance programs.
Agriculture Local Assistance Programs:
The following chart describes the funding allocated in the 2011/12 budget, compared to previous years funding for these programs.
Program |
2010-11 Enacted Budget |
2011/12 Enacted Budget |
Change from FY 2010/11 to 2011/12 |
Core Diagnostic Lab |
$3,750,000* |
$3,750,000 |
$0 |
NYS Cattle Health Assurance |
$360,000 |
$360,000 |
$0 |
Quality Milk (Mastitis) |
$1,174,000 |
$1,174,000 |
$0 |
Johnes Disease |
$480,000 |
$480,000 |
$0 |
Rabies Prevention |
$50,000* |
$150,000 |
+$100,000 |
Avian Disease |
$252,000 |
$252,000 |
$0 |
Ag in Classroom |
$80,000 * |
$80,000 |
$0 |
Future Farmers of America |
$192,000 |
$192,000 |
$0 |
Ass'n of Ag Educators |
$66,000 * |
$66,000 |
$0 |
Farm Family Assistance |
$384,000 * |
$384,000 |
$0 |
Integrated Pest Mgmt |
$500,000 * |
$500,000 |
$0 |
Geneva Experimental Seed Program |
$128,000 * |
$128,000 |
$0 |
Golden Nematode |
$62,000 * |
$62,000 |
$0 |
Ag. Child Care (Migrant) |
$6,521,000 |
$6,521,000 |
$0 |
Local Fairs |
$340,000 * |
$340,000 |
$0 |
Wine / Grape Foundation |
$713,000 * |
$713,000 |
$0 |
Farm Viability Institute |
$400,000 * |
$1,221,000 |
+$821,000 |
Center for Dairy Excellence/ Farm Viability Institute |
$150,000 * |
$150,000 |
$0 |
NYS Apple Growers Ass'n |
$206,000 * |
$206,000 |
$0 |
Maple Producers Ass'n |
$0 |
$100,000 |
+$100,000 |
Northern NY Ag. Development |
$0 |
$300,000 |
+$300,000 |
*Indicates a program which sustained a significant funding cut between 2009/10 – 2010/11. Agriculture local assistance funding for these areas sustained a total cut of roughly $2.2 million in 2010/11.
New Share NY Food Initiative
The final budget implements the Share NY Food Initiative that:
- Makes not-for-profit corporations, agricultural cooperative corporations, public benefit corporations, municipal corporations and regional market facilities, in addition to farmers’ markets, eligible applicants for certain grants
- Creates a revolving loan fund to assist in the development, implementation and operation of agricultural programs
- Adds the definition “food desert” to the agriculture and markets law
- Provides promotional support for farmer’s markets through grants, up to $7,500 per applicant.
Environmental Programs
The budget funds the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) at $134 million, keeping the fund flat from the 2010/11 fiscal year. Despite maintaining level funding this year, the EPF sustained a nearly 40% cut in SFY 2011/12 (down to $134 million from $222 million). The EPF funding includes the following allocations for local environmental programs:
FY 2010/11 Enacted Budget |
FY 2011/12 Enacted Budget |
Change |
|
Farmland Protection |
$10,750,000 |
$12,000,000 |
+$1,250,000 |
Municipal non-point source pollution control |
$3,703,000 |
$4,000,000 |
+$297,000 |
Soil and Water Conservation Districts |
$3,000,000 |
$3,000,000 |
0 |
Waterfront Revitalization |
$12,000,000 |
$11,500,000 |
-$500,000 |
Municipal Parks |
$13,432,000 |
$13,000,000 |
-$432,000 |
Municipal Recycling |
$6,639,000 |
$6,435,000 |
-$204,000 |