05/05/2022
๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐น๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ก๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ!
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๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐:
โข Statewide News
โข Taste NY Updates
โข NYS Grown & Certified Updates
โข Funding Opportunities
โข Spotlight: Career Day at Greenville Central School District
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ด๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐
Governor Hochul announced that Great Lakes Cheese broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing and packaging plant in Franklinville and Farmersville. With a capital investment of more than $518 million, the project is the largest infrastructure investment in the company’s history and the largest economic development project in the history of Cattaraugus County. Great Lakes Cheese will retain 228 jobs in the region, while adding an additional 215 employees. It will also double its milk consumption to 1.42 billion pounds annually, which will directly benefit New York dairy farmers.
Empire State Development (ESD), the State’s economic development agency, provided an award for a $3.7 million grant and up to $14.6 million in performance-based New York State Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits in exchange for creating 215 new jobs. ESD’s Excelsior Jobs Program encourages businesses to expand in, and relocate to, New York while maintaining strict accountability standards to guarantee that businesses deliver on job and investment commitments. Additionally, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will provide more than 5.3 megawatts of low-cost ReCharge NY power to support the facility.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ป๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐
In April, Commissioner Ball announced the release of guidance from the Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force that will help to further strengthen New Yorkโs produce supply system. Developed with input from Task Force members representing all sectors of the produce community, the document includes guidelines, and voluntary best management practices and protocols, to enhance produce traceability in New York State. The document is designed to bolster our produce supply system, help New York consumers to more easily identify where their produce is grown and processed, and allow the State to trace the origin of a food product more quickly during a foodborne illness investigation.
Members of the Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force met over several months to devise the voluntary best management practices document, which was designed to strengthen how the produce industry traces produce through the produce supply chain. The document can be used as a guide for a diverse array of food businesses, including those hoping to expand their current traceability efforts, those interested in beginning the implementation of an internal traceability system, and those that handle products listed on the proposed Food and Drug Administrationโs (FDAโs) Food Traceability List. The goal of this collaborative effort was to provide useful information for businesses regardless of their size, while acknowledging that the implementation of any of the traceability steps listed in the document will bolster current traceability efforts within the produce industry in New York State. The guidance document can be found at https://agriculture.ny.gov/food-safety/guidance-produce-traceability.
๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
The Department announced that it has issued an order to ban all fowl auctions and other events for the purchase, sale, swap, or trade of fowl in New York State to help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the stateโs poultry population. Commissioner Ball issued the order as a result of the continuing spread of strains of HPAI in the United States, including eight detections to date in New York State that have resulted in the loss of more than 10,000 birds. The order expands upon the Commissionerโs previously issued order to ban all live fowl shows and exhibitions in New York State. The current HPAI outbreak has impacted over 26 states so far and is rapidly expanding nationwide.
As with the previous ban, this ban will remain in effect until further notice. The Department is continuing close monitoring of HPAI in New York State and plans to reassess this Notice of Order in late May to determine whether it should remain in place through the summer.
To date, eight flocks in New York have tested positive for HPAI, most recently in a Fulton County flock on April 6. HPAI has also been detected in wild birds, including snow geese and wild ducks across New York State. The Department is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on a joint incident response and is also collaborating with partners at the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation. Additionally, Department officials are reaching out to poultry and egg farms across the state to ensure best practices are being implemented and to prepare for potential additional avian influenza cases in New York.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with these avian influenza detections remains low.
๐ง๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ฃ-๐๐ฑ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ ๐๐ผ $๐ฎ ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
The Department and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced two funding opportunities totaling up to $2 million through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (SNAP-Ed) program. The SNAP-Ed Food Box and Community Growers Grants programs each provide funding to eligible groups to further expand access to fresh, affordable foods in underserved communities across New York State and support New Yorkโs agricultural industry.
โข ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐๐ข
The SNAP-Ed Food Box Grant program expands access to nutritious and locally grown produce to communities at reduced rates, while working to connect farmers with new markets and drive growth in New Yorkโs agricultural industry. This statewide grant program encourages participants to make local produce available and accessible to SNAP-eligible/food insecure communities while simultaneously providing nutrition education.
Administered by the Department in partnership with OTDA, the program is federally funded and available to not-for-profits and government entities. Proposals for projects up to $10,000 are eligible. Qualifying project proposals will be reviewed and approved in the order of receipt of a complete application until funds are exhausted. Project proposals are due at 4:00 pm on May 17, 2022. Learn more about the program and apply at https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities.
โข ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐๐ข
The SNAP-Ed Community Growers Grant program supports urban farming and nutrition education. The program provides direct assistance to community-led gardens and not-for-profit farms that work to combat food insecurity in under-resourced areas and help food insecure communities develop an interest and skillset to grow and cook healthy, locally produced food. This initiative recently expanded to serve nutritionally underserved communities across all of New York State.
Administered by AGM in partnership with OTDA, the program is federally funded and available to not-for-profits and government entities. Proposals for projects up to $50,000 are eligible. Awards will be made to eligible, qualifying projects, in order of receipt of complete applications, until funding is exhausted. Project proposals are due at 4:00 pm on May 17, 2022. Learn more about the program and apply at https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities.
๐ก๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ, ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently seeking nominations to serve on its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). Established in 2008, the FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to EPAโs Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities.
Nominations are due May 16, 2022. For further details and instructions for submitting applications, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/faca/frrcc-2022-request-nominations.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐
Cornell University, with funding from the New York Berry Growers Association and the Dpartment, is testing the scope and scale of labor regulatory changes on your farm, and they are looking for berry growers to join the study.
The study will describe the present labor force and wages paid for farm labor and the potential changes to labor when minimum wage rates increase. In addition, the research will explore changes in labor, production practices and market channels driven by proposed changes in overtime regulations.
The survey will consist of an in-person, farm interview conducted by a Cornell project team member and a short 5-10 minute follow-up survey. The interview should take approximately one hour to complete. To participate, contact: Kristen Park, ksp3@cornell.edu or 607-255-7215.
๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ณ๐น๐
Calling all New Yorkers! Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive pest that causes damage to New Yorkโs agricultural crops and swarms our shade trees. Help us protect our parks, backyards, and other favorite outdoor spots by scraping and stomping egg masses. Together we can decrease the population before they start to hatch.
Learn more at https://agriculture.ny.gov/spottedlanternfly.
๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐
Booths are still available in the Taste NY/New York State Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, June 12-14. Hosted by the Specialty Food Association, the Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food and beverage show in the country. Averaging 10,000+ in-person attendees, itโs a great opportunity to get your product in front of new buyers. Visit specialtyfood.com/shows-events/summer-fancy-food-show for more information, or reach out to the Taste NY team at tasteny@agriculture.ny.gov.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ก๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป & ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ
In honor of Earth Week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced in April that the rooftop farm at the Javits Center has joined the NYS Grown & Certified program. NYS Grown & Certified makes it easy for consumers to identify local, safely-handled, and environmentally responsible agricultural products.
Located more than eight stories above street level, the Javits Center’s working farm was completed last year as part of a 1.2 million square-foot, state-of-the-art expansion of the Center on Manhattanโs West Side. Each year, the farm is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce, which is being incorporated into the millions of meals served to guests during events at the convention center.
In New York City, the Javits Center’s rooftop farm joins six other rooftop farms in achieving the Grown & Certified certification: three farms in Brooklyn and Queens, also managed by Brooklyn Grange, and three farms in Brooklyn and Queens, operated by Gotham Greens.
๐๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Check out our current funding opportunities:
RFA 0273 – SNAP-Ed Food Box Grant Program
Proposals are due May 17, 2022 by 4:00 pm.
RFA 0274 – SNAP-Ed Community Growers Grant Program
Proposals are due May 17, 2022 by 4:00 pm.
RFA 0263 – Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
RFA 0262 – County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
RFP 0254 – Land Trusts Grants Program Round 4: Appraisals for Proposed Conservation Easement Projects
Proposals are due June 24, 2022.
RFP 0243 โ Climate Resilient Farming Round 6
Proposals are due by May 16, 2022.
RFA 0238 – Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Round 18 – Conservation Easement Projects
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
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.
