The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has received $600,000 in the recently passed New York State budget to fund research to enhance the sustainability and profitability of farm businesses in several areas of New York, including St. Lawrence County.

The Northern New York agricultural industry contributes nearly $600 million in farm product market value to the local economy and has a local payroll of approximately $53 million.

The NNYADP lauded the efforts of several state lawmakers in pushing for the funds, including Sens. Patty Ritchie, Betty Little and Joe Griffo.

Nearly 100 farmers participate as advisory committee members or commodity-focused subcommittee members with the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program; dozens of other farmers participate directly in on-farm research projects.

"The North Country legislators in the Senate and Assembly truly understand the contributions that agriculture makes to the regional and New York State economies and how state funding to the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program leverages additional resources in support of the agricultural industry here," NNYADP Co-Chair Jon Greenwood said in a statement. He is a dairy farmer from Madrid.

"As Chair of the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee, I am thrilled to see such significant support for our hardworking farmers in the newly-enacted State Budget," Ritchie said. "Agriculture is the backbone of New York State’s economy, and funding secured for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program in this new spending plan will allow for expanded opportunities and stronger bottom lines for the people who feed our families and, increasingly, the world."