Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, says a series of bills passed by the Senate will strengthen the future of family farming, offer coupons for seniors at farmers markets and help farmers sell to local markets.

Ritchie’s bill, S.1798, attacks a major obstacle to beginning farmers—namely, the high cost of acquiring farmland—by providing a special tax credit to retiring and aging farmers to encourage them to sell or lease their farms to young farmers.

The tax credit would equal 10 percent of the sale price or rent for existing farmland, which would serve as an incentive for a retiring farmer to lower the price he would need to receive from a young farmer.

“In the last 20 years, New York has lost nearly a half-million acres of farmland and almost 2,000 farmers, and the average age of farmers has risen to 57. This bill is an important part of my ‘Young Farmers’ initiative to keep farmland in production, encourage a new generation of farmers, and preserve the future of family farming, which is the backbone of New York’s agriculture economy,” said Sen. Ritchie.

Another bill. S. 2984, is part of Senator Ritchie’s “Grown in New York” plan, a multi-part initiative designed to help meet consumers’ demands for locally-grown food, support local farmers in their efforts to provide quality, fresh food, and strengthen rural communities.

“Controlling energy costs on the farm is one of the keys to being successful in the agriculture industry, especially for dairy farmers,” said Senator Ritchie, who chairs the Senate’s Agriculture Committee.

“With ample acreage and a virtually unlimited supply of farm-based fuel sources—from sunlight to biomass to manure—farmers are uniquely positioned to answer America’s energy challenge, reduce dependence on foreign sources and contribute to the shift toward cleaner, greener energy supply. This important measure provides an incentive for farmers to become more energy efficient, rewarding them with low-interest loans and grants that will help them to become more financially stable and create jobs.”

Ritchie says that under the measure, dairy farmers will be able to apply for grants or loans of up to $100,000 for cost effective investments that reduce energy use including the installation of solar technology and construction of new digesters.

Ritchie says funding included in this year’s state budget will also provide free farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from area Farmers Markets to 2,700 seniors from Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties, as a way to boost nutrition and healthy eating, while at the same time helping to strengthen the bottom lines of New York farmers.

As part of her “Grown in New York” initiative, Senator Ritchie, chair of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, sought the new funding to expand the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which gives $20 coupons to low-income seniors that can be redeemed at Farmers Markets across the state. The total value of the coupons in Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties is more than $53,000.

In St. Lawrence County, coupons will be available July 9 at the Star Lake senior picnic, and July 10 at the Morristown senior picnic. They are accepted at all markets. For information, call 386-4730.

Another bill, S. 1824, which was prompted by increasing farmland prices that make it difficult for farmers to dig into agricultural careers—is part of the Senate-led “Young Farmers” program, a far-reaching plan that seeks to preserve existing farms today and for the next generation. In addition, several other measures were passed by the Senate Wednesday, aimed at helping young and beginning farmers jumpstart their agribusinesses.

Under Senate bill 1824, the Commissioners of Agriculture and the Office of General Services will be directed to work together to develop an inventory of surplus state-owned property viable for farming that can be sold or leased for use in agriculture.

In addition to these bills, other bills sponsored Ritchie and aimed at protecting the future of family farming also passed the Senate Wednesday and were sent to the Assembly. They include:

• Senate bill 1835, which would help agribusiness owners maintain fiscal stability by making them eligible for tax exemptions essential to their operations;

• Senate bill 1793, which would establish a beginning farmer revolving loan fund program to assist eligible beginning farmers finance land and buy basic farm equipment;

• Senate bill 2673, which would establish a Federal Food Safety Compliance Program in New York State to assist farmers in complying with changes in federal food safety regulations; and

Ritchie represents the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur, plus parts of Jefferson and Oswego counties.