06/07/2022
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๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐:
โข Statewide News
โข Taste NY Updates
โข NYS Grown & Certified Updates
โข Funding Opportunities
โข Spotlight: New York FFA Association’s 97th State Convention
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐ค๐๐ก๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐พ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐จ๐
On May 7, Commissioner Ball cut the ribbon on a new Taste NY Market at SUNY Cobleskill. The new Market continues the Taste NY programโs efforts to increase the exposure of products made by New York farmers and producers. Located inside of the Collegeโs historic Carriage House Cafรฉ and General Store, the Market will be operated by SUNY Cobleskill students and is integrated into the existing store, which brings members of the community together around locally made and grown farm-fresh goods. The majority of the SUNY Carriage House inventory, 90%, is either campus-made or locally produced in Schoharie County, while the other 10% is made up of items that are produced in other parts of New York State. Learn more.
For a complete list of Taste NY locations, hours of operation and contact information, visit the Taste NY website. Connect with Taste NY through Facebook, Twitter,ย Instagram, and Pinterest.
๐๐ง๐ค๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฟ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฟ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง
On May 25, Commissioner Ball announced the appointment of Troy Waffner as statewide fair liaison. Mr. Waffner will move into the newly created position of Agricultural Fair Development Director, where he will evaluate ways to increase marketing and promotion of county fairs and opportunities to improve programming initiatives across all fairs statewide. This announcement comes as part of Governor Hochulโs September 2021 plan to facilitate greater coordination among county fairs in 2022.
The Commissioner additionally named Sean Hennessey as the Assistant Director of the Great New York State Fair, who will serve as this yearโs Interim Director, ensuring a continuation of the traditions and family fun that have become a hallmark of New Yorkโs favorite annual event.
Mark your calendars! The 2022 Great New York State Fair will take place from August 25 to September 5. Experience an affordable, 13-day celebration of delicious food, eye-opening exhibits, and captivating entertainment.
๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐, ๐๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จ๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐๐๐๐ก๐ค ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
In the wake of the May 14 supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York State has directed emergency funds to combat food insecurity in the community. The current closure of the Tops Market following the tragedy has exacerbated food insecurity in an area already considered to be a food desert. Through the Department’s FreshConnect Program, $10,000 in emergency funding has gone to the Massachusetts Avenue Projectโs local food collection and distribution efforts. In addition, the Department gave nearly $20,000 in FreshConnect funding to Rochesterโs Headwater Food Hub to secure the purchase of New York-grown produce for Buffalo residents.
Commissioner Ball joined FeedMore WNY on May 25 to help distribute boxes, assembled by Headwater Food Hub, filled with New York-made, shelf stable items like pasta, pinto beans, pitas, and more. Learn more about the State’s continued efforts to fight food insecurity in Buffalo.
๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐๐
The Interim Report from New York State’s Farmland Protection Working Group was released on May 25. The report focuses on strategies to integrate renewable energy sources into working landscapes with minimal impact on agriculture. Preliminary strategies include the expansion of research and development; the potential for financial incentives; and proposed tools for State and local governments.
The Interim Report can be found on the Department’s website. Adoption of all final detailed strategies and recommendations by consensus of the Working Group is expected to occur in the fall of 2022.
๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐
On May 20, Commissioner Ball and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture partnered for a live conversation on farm stress and mental health. Find a full recording of the conversation on Twitter Spaces.
๐๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐๐ญ ๐พ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ผ๐ซ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
Did you know? Three significant tax credits apply to many farmers in New York:
โข The Farm Worker Overtime Tax Credit will reimburse farms for overtime expenses if the threshold is reduced below 60 hours per week.
โข The Investment Tax Credit will provide a tax credit when farm assets are purchased and placed into service.
โข The Employee Retention Credit provides a tax credit based on the number of farm employees working over 500 hours (per year).
These tax credits are all new or expanded, and can bring significant benefits to farms across the state. Please attend a free webinar from Farm Credit East on Tuesday, June 21 at 11:00 a.m. to find out what these tax credits will cover and how to apply for them. Time will be provided for a question and answer session with tax experts. If youโre unable to attend, a recording of the webinar will be posted on Farm Credit East after the session concludes.
Additionally, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation announced the launch of the revitalized Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit program last winter. The new program allows state taxpayers who rehabilitate their historic barns to earn a credit against state income tax owed. Learn more on the Division for Historic Preservationโs website.
๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐จ
New York State has enacted new provisions of the Agriculture and Markets Law that prohibit the commercial slaughter of horses known to be racehorses or breeding stock. The legislation also amends the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law to require that racehorses in the state be microchipped, to modify both the term โNew York-bredโ and the eligibility requirements to be admitted to New York bred harness horse events to require that each mare, stallion, and foal be microchipped, and to authorize the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund Corporation and the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund Corporation to utilize certain designated revenues to pay for racehorse aftercare. View this document to learn more.
๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง: ๐๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐
New York State believes all farmers should be protected against nonpayment for their products. That is why we’re reminding farm producers to only sell through dealers licensed with our Department. The Agricultural Producers Security Law provides financial protection for farmers by requiring all eligible dealers to apply for the Farm Products Dealer License.
If you are a dealer that purchases at least $20,000 worth of farm products to sell at wholesale, you must apply for an annual license.
For additional information, please visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/licenses/farm-products-dealer-licensing
๐พ๐๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐
In June, Taste NY Markets and Welcome Centers throughout the state are celebrating Dairy Month by spotlighting different dairy producers in their regions and featuring a variety of delicious specials designed to encourage consumers to shop for local dairy products. Some of the featured products include Ronnybrook milk, Roc Star ice cream, Trinity Farm cheese curds, Ithaca Milk yogurt, Norwhey Nordic Seltzer, Stolzfus Dairy latte milk, Eden Valley Creamery cheese curds, Janeโs Ice Cream, a variety of McGrath semi-hard and soft cheeses, and Hudson Valley Fresh half and half and sour cream.
Additionally, in a collaboration with New York Ag in the Classroom, each Taste NY Market will also feature a Flat Bessie cow cutout that has traveled through local classrooms to gather dairy facts, photos, and dairy adventures in each region. At the end of her travels, each Flat Bessie will be displayed in the regional Taste NY Market, where visitors can vote for their favorite Flat Bessie on social media. Teachers can also use the hashtag #NYFlatBessie to track her progress and share with their communities. Find your local Welcome Center at taste.ny.gov for more information on these and other dairy month promotions.
New Yorkers can additionally shop online at https://shoptasteny.com/ to have sundae toppings and other items to pair with their New York State dairy products delivered right to their doorstep. Shoppers can use the promo code Moolicious for 15% off and free shipping on products during the month of June.
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ & ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ก
Taste NY is a sponsor of this year’s Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, which is taking place June 25-26 in Lake George, New York. The Festival Showcases some of the best wineries, breweries, distilleries, artisan food vendors, crafts, and food trucks New York has to offer! Learn more about the event: https://adkwinefest.com/.
๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ง ๐ฝ๐๐ก๐ก ๐พ๐๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ & ๐พ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ผ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ค๐ฌ
On May 21 to May 24, Commissioner Ball attended the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago where foodservice industries worldwide celebrate innovations, products, and movements in the restaurant business. Representatives from the New York Apple Association, New England Dairy Foods Association, New York Wine and Grape Foundation, and New York Cider Association were on site to help sample, educate, and promote their industries. Additionally, Commissioner Ball supported and celebrated NYS Grown & Certified products including New York-made cheese and locally grown apples.
The New York State Grown & Certified program is a cooperative effort led by the Department to make it easy for consumers to identify local, safely handled, and environmentally responsible agricultural products. Learn more about the NYS Grown & Certified program: https://certified.ny.gov/.
๐๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Check out these current funding opportunities:
โข RFA 0273 – SNAP-Ed Food Box Grant Program [https://on.ny.gov/3x9Tw7n]
Proposals are due June 17, 2022 by 4:00 pm.
โข RFA 0263 – Municipal Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants [https://on.ny.gov/3Mzq2Wk]
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFA 0262 – County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Planning Grants [https://on.ny.gov/3zjprFb]
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFP 0254 – Land Trusts Grants Program Round 4: Appraisals for Proposed Conservation Easement Projects [https://on.ny.gov/3xconQP]
Proposals are due June 24, 2022.
โข RFA 0238 – Farmland Protection Implementation Grants Round 18 – Conservation Easement Projects [https://on.ny.gov/3O2naT0]
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
โข RFA 0181 – Source Water Buffer Program [https://on.ny.gov/3NmAW2J]
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
For more information on these or other funding opportunities, please visit our Funding Opportunities page.: https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐: ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป’๐ ๐ต๐ณ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
On May 12, Commissioner Ball visited Syracuse to help to kick off the New York Future Farmers of America Association’s 97th State Convention and Expo! The annual State Convention offers Future Farmers of America (FFA) students the opportunity to explore different fields in the agriculture industry, and to network with agricultural professionals during the Career Engagement Expo. Commissioner Ball was honored to offer some words of encouragement and wisdom during the session, “Each Journey Begins with One Step.”
