Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced several proposals to boost to New York’s dairy and agricultural industry, workforce development programs and youth leadership and education opportunities as part of the 2024 State of the State address. Hochul “unveiled plans of cross-cutting initiatives that will strengthen the industry and promote a more resilient future for our agriculture, food, and forestry sectors,” according to a media release from her office.
“New York’s agriculture industry is a key part of our economy, our communities and our way of life,” Hochul said. “As the first governor from upstate New York in nearly a century, I know first-hand how critical this sector is. I’m committed to supporting the growth of agriculture and food production and am continuing to focus on policies and investments that support our farmers.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Supporting our farmers and our agricultural community is essential to building a stronger, more resilient future for New York State. As we move into the new year, we have truly doubled down on our work on filling in the gaps in our food system, protecting the natural resources we depend on, and developing a strong generation of future leaders. I want to thank Governor Hochul for moving this work forward, and proposing bold initiatives that will have a real impact, laying the groundwork to leave New York in better condition than we found it.”
As part of the plan, Hochul has proposed $34 million in capital funding over two years for on-farm fluid milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure to mitigate transportation issues during periods of intense winter weather and road closures, “which will improve dairy supply chain efficiency and avoid raw milk dumping related to emergency events,” the release said.
The plan would also assist farmers in mitigating the impacts of climate change and reduce their carbon footprint, “which is a critical component of both nutrient management and water quality goals,” the release said. Hochul will commit $21 million to a new Alternative Waste Management and Enhanced Precision Feed Program that “will further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, provide opportunities to sequester carbon, and scale assistance to meet unmet farmer demands,” according to the release.
Hochul proposes “a full suite of tools, including office hours to take questions, webinars for information exchange, a web page for accepting questions and presenting information, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), hotline information, and additional resources” to be created and managed by Cornell University’s Agricultural Workforce Development Program, the release said. The effort will be supported by the state Department of Labor, the state Public Employee Relations Board and state Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Hochul also said she will introduce a package of projects and programs for health-related issues, including a collaborative veterinary workforce program between Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and SUNY campuses; increased engagement with the state Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Advisory Board; the launch of a Veterinary Xylazine Diversion Education Program to prevent xylazine from being diverted from legitimate veterinary uses; an appropriated $1 million increase to support the operating budget of the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health; and other initiatives.
To build on the promotion of county fairs, Hochul announced the County Fair Passport Program. The Department of Agriculture and Markets will design, print, and distribute an agricultural fair passport booklet that will encourage attendance at county and youth fairs by allowing fairgoers to collect stamps at each fair they visit.