The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has received $600,000 in the 2016-17 New York State Budget to support on-farm research and technical assistance in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
The funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Senate and is administered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
“Across New York State, and especially in Northern New York, farmers work extremely hard to produce the fresh, healthy foods that feed the people of the world,” said New York State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Patty Ritchie. “And, it is initiatives like the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program that make our family farms more successful, by providing them with vitally important resources and research that improve efficiency and boos their bottom lines. I could not be more pleased that our state is once again providing record support for agriculture programs, including the NNYADP, in the new state budget, and I look forward to seeing how these investments help New York’s agriculture industry continue to grow.”
NYS Senator Betty Little said, “I am pleased to have partnered with our Senate Agriculture Chair Patty Ritchie and our other North Country colleagues to secure this line of funding for our farmers. There is no question this will be put to good use and continue to help Northern New York farmers become more efficient, more productive, and, hopefully, more successful, which is important for our local economies.”
“Generations of farmers have played a major role in sustaining the economy throughout all regions of New York State, and their hard work continues to define the success of state’s agricultural industry,” said NYS Senator Joseph Griffo. ”Through this funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, I am glad we will be able to support our farmers in their research to find more efficient and sustainable ways to grow and better confront the challenges New York’s farms face today.”
“It remains a priority of the state to provide support for North Country farmers who face unique challenges. I am gratified that the 2016-17 Budget will continue to fund needed research and outreach programs to help mitigate problems, and enhance new opportunities through the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program,” said NYS Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Assemblyman Bill Magee.
More than 100 farmers serve as committee members with the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program.
“State funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is the economic engine that drives critical on-farm research and the practical application of results that make farms more efficient, productive, profitable and sustainable,” said Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Co-Chair Jon Greenwood.
“We appreciate the investment New York State makes in keeping agriculture in Northern New York strong and the farmers who guide the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program proactively select on-farm research that returns on that investment both immediately and long-term,” said Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Co-Chair Joe Giroux, a dairy farmer in Clinton County.
“The funding secured by our North Country legislative and agricultural committee leaders provides the regional farmers who guide the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program the opportunity to identify and prioritize real-world field trials and on-farm research for attention. The results help us manage increasing challenges with best practices and keep agriculture economically strong for our communities, the region and the state,” said Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Co-Chair Jon Rulfs, a dairy farmer and fruit grower in Clinton County.
Recent NNYADP research has included evaluation of newly emerging causes of mastitis in dairy cows, the economic opportunities of non-traditional crops for high tunnel longer-season production and sales, and developing birch syrup production as a niche marketing opportunity for NNY sugarmakers.
Twenty-six NNYADP projects now underway in 2016 include research on disease resistance in cherry tomatoes, management practices for reducing heat stress in dairy cows and calves, and ways to increase bee health management.
The Northern New York agricultural industry represents total farm product sales valued at more than $750 million and a farm worker payroll that nearly doubled over 2007 data to $67.1 million, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) projects span all sectors from dairy, crops and livestock to fruit, vegetable and maple production and agricultural environmental stewardship.
The January 2016 economic impact report on the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, a list of 2016 NNYADP projects, research reports, and event notices are online at www.nnyagdev.org.