08/02/2023
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๐๐ท ๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐พ๐ฎ
โข Statewide News
โข The Great New York State Fair Updates
โข Taste NY Updates
โข NYS Grown & Certified Updates
โข Funding Opportunities
โข Spotlight: New York Wines Now Sold in Puerto Rico
๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐น๐น ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ๐!
Visit Your Local County Fair for a Chance to Win Tickets to the Great New York State Fair
New York is home to more than 50 county and youth fairs, providing opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages to learn about local agriculture, where our food comes from, and how it’s grown, harvested, and marketed to the public.
This summer, to help promote county and youth fairs across the state as well as celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Taste NY program, the Department is hosting a new #FindMeAtTheFair contest. For a chance to win prizes, including Taste NY regional gift baskets and VIP seating for concerts at The Great New York State Fair, county fairs across the state will offer a “Find Me at the Fair” New York State-themed selfie station that fairgoers can interact with. To participate in the contest, fairgoers can post a selfie on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #FindMeAtTheFair. A QR code provided at the selfie station will provide directions for how to ensure participants are entered in the Taste NY #FindMeAtTheFair contest.
County and youth fairs are held from July through early October across the state. Visit the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs’ website for more information.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ด๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ
Mark your calendars โ Opening Day of the Great New York State Fair is just three weeks away! For over 175 years, the Great New York State Fair has showcased the very best of New York agriculture, offered top-quality entertainment, and, as the oldest state fair in the United States, is a key part of New York State history.
State fairs are founded in agriculture. The Great New York State fair offers plenty of agricultural activities and exhibits, samplings from some of the best farmers and producers in the state, and competitions for everyone to enjoy, as well as great entertainment, rides, music, and food. From livestock to horticulture, the very best of New York agriculture will be on display at the Fair. Admission tickets are now availableon the Fairโs website. Whether youโre a veteran fairgoer or are new to the adventure, we hope to see you this month at the Fair!
๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐โ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ
August 6-12 marks National Farmers’ Market Week! Every New Yorker should be able to enjoy delicious, farm-fresh food grown right here in our state, and one of the best places to access New York food is at your local farmersโ markets! They are essential community hubs that connect producers directly to consumers, enhance our local food supply chain, and bolster the New York State agricultural industry. The Department offers several programs to help more New Yorkers reap the benefits of eating healthy, local food, and provide New York farmers an economic boost, including the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and FreshConnect Checks Program. Learn more about the many programs the Department offers here.
Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new initiative to double the buying power for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients at farmers’ markets across New York State. The FreshConnect Fresh2You initiative now provides eligible New Yorkers with a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $50 per day at participating farmersโ markets, which allows families in need to purchase more healthy food, including produce, dairy, and meats.
Additionally, the Department announced applications are open to New York organizations for the new $250,000 FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program. This program will help SNAP participants working with awarded organizations better access the popular Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. The purchase of weekly CSA shares using SNAP funds will offset the cost to consumers, while still providing the farmer with the full price of the food. Up to 50% of the cost of a weekly share purchased by a SNAP recipient with their SNAP benefits may be paid by awarded organizations through this program.
Awards for this opportunity will be made on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. Applications must be submitted through the Grants Gateway by 3:00 p.m. on October 20, 2023. To provide an overview of the program for potential applicants, a FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program – Informational Webinar will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 11:00 am. Learn more here.
Over 700 farmersโ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets participate in the FMNP and FreshConnect Checks programs, supplying healthy homegrown foods to communities across the State. We invite you to join us in celebrating the many farmersโ markets across the state this National Farmers Market Week. Find a farmers’ market in your region here.
๐๐ผ๐
๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
Box Tree Moth, which was previously found in Niagara County, has now been reported in Monroe, Wayne, and Cayuga Counties. This invasive pest is a major threat to boxwood plants, which are a valuable portion of the nursery and horticultural industry.
The new finds, several of which were reported by area residents, have prompted the Department to increase its survey and trapping along Lake Ontario. The Department is now urging residents to report any additional sightings here. This will help inspectors to assess impacted areas and reduce the spread of Box Tree Moth in New York State.
In the coming weeks, inspectors from the Department plan to visit residential properties along Lake Ontario in Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson counties, with the landownerโs permission, to place traps for Box Tree Moth. The Department is also urging homeowners to look for signs of Box Tree Moth infestation on their property (photos of boxwood plants, damage, caterpillars and webbing, and adult Box Tree Moth from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can be found here. If Box Tree Moth is suspected, the Department is asking that residents report it.
The Department also has a quarantine in place to manage the spread of Box Tree Moth, which currently includes Niagara, Erie, and Orleans counties. The quarantine prohibits the sale and movement of boxwood to areas outside of the quarantine area and requires companies selling boxwood to maintain sales records for inspection by the Departmentโs Horticultural Inspectors. In addition, the Department has been working closely with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the management of Box Tree Moth, with USDA staff trapping for Box Tree Moth at the leading edge of the quarantine.
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ณ๐น๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
The Department continues to work closely with USDA along with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation on to combat the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) in New York.
The Departmentn is are aware of the established SLF population in New York City (the five boroughs), so there is no need for the public to report additional sightings there. If you see SLF in New York City, we ask you to kill it immediately by stepping on it or crushing it. For residential areas, it is recommended that residents look into treatment options with help from resources at The New York State IPM Program.
The Department urges members of the public living outside of New York City to help the Department by reporting SLF at all stages immediately after it is found. Follow these steps:
– Take a photo
– Collect a sample and place it in a freezer or in a jar with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer
– Contact the SLF responders
After you have reported SLF in your area and collected a sample, you should kill any additional SLF you see by stepping on it or crushing it.
The Department is working closely with its partners on the state and federal levels on measures to combat the population, control its spread to other areas of New York State, and protect New Yorkโs agricultural crops. Learn more about the invasive pest here.
๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ!
Empire Farm Days is a summer tradition for many New York farmers. As the largest outdoor agricultural trade show in the Northeast, there is no better place to make new connections, catch up with old friends, and see and experience all the incredible innovation taking place in agriculture.
Empire Farm Days, held August 3 through 5 at Palladino Farms, will have hundreds of exhibits, demonstrations, and activities to educate and inform farmers about equipment, growing practices, and so much more. It is a great way to connect to new suppliers and with new resources to help with production and operations.
The Department is also once again participating at Empire Farm Days. This year, several divisions will be at the event, providing information on programs in the Food Safety Division – Farm Products Unit and the Produce Safety Unit, the Plant Division, as well as the Departmentโs Agricultural Development Division.
We look forward to seeing you there!
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐
Commissioner Ball visited the Foodlink Curbside Market in Rochester to help the mobile market celebrate its 10th anniversary. Local markets like these play an essential role in New Yorkโs food supply chain, helping to connect the dots between New York’s growers and its communities. Each week, 60 Foodlink trucks are loaded with fresh food, helping to feed thousands of people in the greater Rochester area. In 2021, Foodlink also launched the mobile WIC market, becoming the nationโs first mobile WIC vendor. Programs like these have real, lasting impacts on community members and farmers alike, and recognizing the success of this longstanding curbside market that so many families have come to rely on is truly something to be celebrated! The Department congratulates Foodlink on this major milestone, and thank them for their tremendous work supporting New York farmers while bringing food to the people who needed it most.
๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐
The USDA has designated disaster areas in neighboring Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut because of the frost event that occurred in late May. The designation names several New York counties as contiguous counties.
Farmers in the following counties who were impacted by the severe weather event may be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans, provided eligibility requirements are met.
โข Columbia County (contiguous to counties in Massachusetts)
โข Dutchess County (contiguous to counties in Connecticut and Massachusetts)
โข Suffolk County (contiguous to counties in Connecticut)
โข Clinton (contiguous to counties in Vermont)
โข Essex (contiguous to counties in Vermont)
โข Rensselaer (contiguous to counties in Vermont and Massachusetts)
โข Washington (contiguous to counties in Vermont)
Farmers will have eight months to apply for emergency loans and can do so with their local FSA office.
New Yorkโs request for a disaster declaration is still pending with the USDA.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐
Program administrators have been chosen for the $4 million Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program and for the $1 million Beginning Farmers Grant Program. The Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust (NEFOC) and its fiscal sponsor, Resist Inc., will administer the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program, and the New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI) will administer the Beginning Farmers Grant Program.
These programs each support New York farmers who are new to the field or who face disproportionate social or economic barriers to success. NEFOC and NYFVI will offer grant opportunities directly to farmers. These will be developed in the coming months with the Department, and more information about grant availability will be included in future issues of the Monthly Harvest. Learn more.
๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ
In July, Governor Hochul announced the winners of the 37th Annual New York Wine Classic, a nationally recognized competition highlighting the best of New York’s wine industry. Organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, the New York Wine Classic celebrates a diverse selection of world-class wines made from producers in the State.
The competition’s 2023 Governor’s Cup was presented to Paumanok Vineyards 2019 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc from Long Island. In addition, Paumanok Vineyards was also honored with the Winery of the Year award. We congratulate Paumanok Vineyards, as well as all this yearโs winners and participants, creating these outstanding varietals! See the full list of winners.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ข๐๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
This month, Commissioner Ball spoke to Lancaster Farming about the state of agriculture here in New York, as well as what the Department is doing to help move the industry forward. From launching initiatives to strengthen the local food supply chain to combatting the effects of climate change, the Department is working hard to support the farmers and processors who grow and produce food for our families and make significant contributions to our communities. Learn more about the state of New York agriculture here.
๐๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
The Department often has great job opportunities available. Every member of the team is an important part of the agency’s core mission to promote New York State agriculture and its high-quality and diverse products; foster agricultural environmental stewardship; and safeguard New Yorkโs food supply, land, plants, and livestock. For a full list of openings, visit StateJobsNY.
โข Public Buildings Manager 4 โ Syracuse, NY
The Great New York State Fair is seeking a Public Buildings Manager 4 to administer the Fairโs facilities maintenance program. The position will schedule preventive maintenance, initiate work orders, recommend modifications to existing policies and procedures, supervise the acquisition and storage of supplies and materials, and more.
View more position information here.
โข Laboratory Technician โ Albany, NY
The Food Laboratory Division is seeking a Laboratory Technician to work in our state-of-the-art food laboratory conducting standard procedures, including applying sterile and isolation techniques to prevent contamination of samples, work areas, staff, and operating equipment. This position supports the Food Laboratory Division, whose mission is to provide expert state of the art analytical testing in support of food safety and security programs and consumer and agricultural interests in New York State.
View more position information here.
โข Dairy Products Specialist Trainee 1 โ Delaware County, NY or Ontario County, NY
The Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services is seeking two Dairy Products Specialist Trainees to work in Delaware and Ontario Counties. The position is assigned to specific geographic areas of the State to inspect, rate, audit and investigate dairy products and dairy product producers, processors, laboratories, laboratory analysts and handlers to assess their compliance with State and federal rules, regulations and policies. This position requires travel within the region of assignment.
View more position information here.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฌโ๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐๐ต ๐๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
Commissioner Ball continued the Departmentโs celebration of the Taste NY programโs 10-year anniversary with a visit to the Mohawk Valley Welcome Center on July 12. The event marked the sixth in a series of events that are planned across the state this year, and showcased the Welcome Centerโs successes in connecting over 150 New York producers to more consumers, including bringing $528,441 in product sales at the Welcome Center. Additionally, the event highlighted the work of Liberty ARC, the Montgomery County Chapter of The ARC New York a statewide, not-for-profit organization serving people with disabilities. Throughout the last seven years, this partnership has allowed 13 employees with disabilities to achieve work experiences at the Mohawk Valley Welcome Center, eight of whom were provided with their very first job.
Commissioner Ball was joined by Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kerri Neifeld, as well as regional agricultural, tourism, and supporting partners to highlight New York farmers and producers whose products are available at the Welcome Center. Vendors sampling at the event included Frasierโs Sugar Shack, Y-Not Cookies, Dygert Farms Creamery, Toonie Moonie, and Whalenโs Horseradish Products. Learn more about the event here, and follow the Departmentโs social channels to stay updated on #TasteTurns10.
๐ก๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป & ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ
On July 11, the NYS Grown & Certified program launched its new program website! The site has many improved features for both NYS Grown & Certified producers and for consumers, including fillable applications and much-improved accessibility. Most excitingly, there is a new mapping feature that helps buyers easily find NYS Grown & Certified businesses near them. Check everything out at https://certified.ny.gov/.
Interested in joining NYS Grown & Certified? Participating in the program tells consumers that you adhere to a higher standard for food safety and environmental stewardship, making consumers more likely to purchase your products. Email NYSGrownandCertified@agriculture.ny.gov to learn more.
๐๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
โข RFA 0307 – FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program
Applications are due November 1, 2023.
โข RFA 0294 – Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Round 19 – Agricultural Conservation Easement Projects
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFP 0291 – Climate Resilient Farming
Applications are due August 7, 2023.
โข RFA 0263 – Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFA 0262 – County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFA 0238 – Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Round 18 – Conservation Easement Projects
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFA 0181 – Source Water Buffer Program
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
For more information on these or other funding opportunities, please visit our Funding Opportunities page.
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐: ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฃ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ
In July, Commissioner Ball joined officials from the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in San Juan to help announce a new partnership enabling New York State wines to be sold in Puerto Rico. Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery will be partnering with Serrallรฉs Imports, one of Puerto Rico’s largest distributors, to make their product available to consumers and connoisseurs across Puerto Rico. This collaboration marks the first-ever introduction of New York wines into the growing Puerto Rico wine market.
New York State is one of the world’s premier winemaking regions, and ranks as the third largest producer of wines in the nation. Since taking office, Governor Kathy Hochul has supported efforts to grow New York’s craft beverage industry and pave the way for unprecedented growth through regulatory reform and groundbreaking initiatives. Today, there are 496 licensed wineries across the State, including 394 farm wineries, making the New York wine industry an important part of the statewide economy and one of its key exports.
