The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has recently received a $500,000 boost in the New York State budget.

NNYADP currently has 23 on-farm projects underway in St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

Projects, chosen by a panel of farmers, are designed to provide the region’s agricultural industry with practical real-world results.

The farmers of the six-county region provide land, equipment and skills for on-farm research trials.

Current NNYADP project work includes attention to boosting the dairy industry feed supply and systems for feeding dairy calves housed outside in the northern New York climate, and enhancing agricultural environmental stewardship with the use of tile drainage systems.

Other current project objectives are developing grass biomass energy crops, increasing maple sap yields, and helping northern New York sheep and goat farmers control livestock parasites.

Researchers are also developing strategies for coping with field crop and vegetable diseases and pests, and evaluating production of amelanchier, also called juneberry, under northern New York growing conditions.

The northern New York agricultural industry contributes nearly $600 million in farm product value to the local economy and supports a regional payroll of $52.9 million.

“While agriculture is our state’s leading industry, there is tremendous room for growth when comes to expanding opportunities for our farmers and creating jobs,” said State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton). “The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has been and

continues to be a driving force in helping farmers boost their bottom lines. I am pleased I could help this program receive the necessary resources to further help grow this industry in our region.”

“Agriculture is a critical economic engine for northern New York and the New York State economy,” said NNYADP Co-Chair Jon Greenwood, a Potsdam dairy farmer. “The cutting-edge research designated by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program responds to farmer-identified needs and opportunities to support the sustainability and growth of farms across our six counties.”

A complete list of the current projects is online at www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/about-us/projects/.