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'Challenging time' for ag in St. Lawrence County might require financial help, assemblywoman says

Posted 10/13/16

The state may need to enact financial supports to assist the agriculture industry continue to flourish in New York, says Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell, D-Theresa. Her comments come in the wake of …

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'Challenging time' for ag in St. Lawrence County might require financial help, assemblywoman says

Posted

The state may need to enact financial supports to assist the agriculture industry continue to flourish in New York, says Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell, D-Theresa.

Her comments come in the wake of summer weather conditions that have resulted in many farmers in southern St. Lawrence counties losing a significant portion of their crops.

"These are very challenging times with this year's drought combined with low milk prices. Our climate is undergoing tremendous change. With climate change, it is important for us to look at long-term protections for our farmers," Russell said.

She suggested potential steps could include providing farmers with tax assessment breaks for the agriculture industry in line with STAR benefits that are currently offered to homeowners.

"We may need long-term financial supports so we don't lose people, talent and land to development during these challenging times," she said at a recent state Assembly Agriculture Committee public hearing held to examine the effectiveness and implementation of the agricultural programs funded in the 2016-2017 state fiscal year budget.

Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair William Magee took testimony on the impact of programs included in the state budget to support and promote the state’s agriculture community and the products they produce.

Magee and other members of the committee, as part of the Legislature's oversight responsibilities, reviewed the agricultural industry’s economic significance to the state and the challenges that farmers and other food producers face in order to bring their products to market, Russell said.

In the Department of Agriculture and Markets 2016-2017 fiscal year budget, the Legislature included an estimated $51 million for local assistance, $108 million for state operations and $10.5 million for capital projects at the New York State Fair and also for local fairs.

Russell and State Senator David J. Valesky, D-Oneida, are sponsoring the legislation that would bring more locally produced food into school cafeterias.

The bill (A9379/S7525) would “significantly increase reimbursements for school lunches when local food is used in their preparation,” Russell said.