08/04/2022
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗬𝗦 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!
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𝙄𝙣 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑰𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆:
• Statewide News
• The Great New York State Fair Updates
• Taste NY Updates
• NYS Grown & Certified Updates
• Funding Opportunities
• Spotlight: Best of New York State Wines

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟳-𝟭𝟯 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸!
We invite you to visit one of the many farmers’ markets across the state to celebrate with some local, delicious New York products. Find a farmers’ market in your region at: agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿
The Department’s Farm Bill Listening Tour has kicked off and we are scheduling stops across the state. Please mark your calendars; the schedule is as follows:
• Central New York, August 3
• North Country, August 19
• Finger Lakes, August 26
• New York City, August 30

Learn more about these stops and how to participate on our website at https://on.ny.gov/3OXXt66. Participants can RSVP for sessions by emailing FarmBill@agriculture.ny.gov. Please include name, affiliation, and which listening session is being attended (ie. Hudson Valley, Central New York, etc.).
The Listening Tour provides an opportunity to engage with and hear from constituents about the importance of the 2023 Farm Bill to New York State. Kicking off the listening session tour on July 18, Governor Kathy Hochul visited Bruno Farm in Suffolk County and held a roundtable session [https://on.ny.gov/3QitoyX] to hear from farmers and industry stakeholders about their successes and concerns. Since then, we have visited the Southern Tier, Hudson Valley, and Western New York regions to hear from constituents and gather ideas.

Many of the listening sessions will be livestreamed on Facebook. Please follow the Department’s Facebook page at NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for additional information and details.
In addition to receiving public comment in person at the listening sessions, the Department is encouraging written comment to be submitted at FarmBill@agriculture.ny.gov. The deadline to submit written comment is December 19, 2022.

The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multi-year law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. The most recent Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2018, expires at the beginning of 2023. With many important programs being funded by the Farm Bill, the listening sessions will help shape the agricultural policies and programs New York State will support in the 2023 Farm Bill.

$𝟯𝟴 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
During her kickoff of the Farm Bill Listening Tour in July, Governor Hochul announced that 39 projects have been awarded $38 million to protect nearly 12,000 acres of New York State farmland.

Through this latest round of New York State’s Farmland Protection program, we expanded the eligibility criteria to include the agroforestry, equine, and wine sectors. In addition, this year’s grant winners aligned for the first time ever with New York’s priority areas, such as food security, climate resiliency, and water quality protection.

“We must continue to protect New York’s precious farmland so our agricultural footprint can grow and so our producers can thrive for generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. Protected farmland includes acres devoted to cash-crop, vegetable, and dairy operations. Find the full list of awardees in our press release: https://on.ny.gov/3PdZprj.

𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟱
On July 8, Commissioner Ball announced that applications are open for the 30% New York State Initiative. This initiative is an opportunity for School Food Authorities (SFAs) that use at least 30% New York products in their lunches to receive increased reimbursement for their 2021-22 school year claims.

The 30% NYS Initiative is intended to provide healthy New York-sourced food products to children as part of their school lunches. When schools use food products from local sources, they support local farmers and provide healthy choices for children in school meal programs, while also supporting the local economy.

SFAs must apply annually to receive the additional reimbursement for the following school year. Any New York food product purchased and used in the reimbursable meals for the school lunch program may contribute toward the 30% NYS Initiative. Applications for reimbursement for the 2021-2022 school year are now open and are due August 15. Find out more about the program and how to apply: https://agriculture.ny.gov/30-percent-initiative.

𝗔𝗘𝗠-𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱
Congratulations to Echo Farm of Essex, Greenfield Farms of Skaneateles, Humbert Farms of Clyde, and Lawnhurst Farms of Stanley! These farms have been selected as finalists for the third annual New York State Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Leopold Conservation Award. This prestigious award honors a farm and its nominating Soil and Water Conservation District for extraordinary achievement in environmental stewardship, with a prize of $10,000.

The four finalists are utilizing AEM Best Management Practices, meeting environmental goals to ensure long-term viability for future generations, and inspiring other landowners. For example, Echo Farm implements carbon-sequestering methods to grow fertile soils and regenerative landscapes. Greenfield Farms adopted no-till and cover crop conservation practices to reduce erosion and build soil health in the Skaneateles and Owasco Lake watersheds. Humbert Farms avoids unnecessary applications of fertilizers by advancing nutrient management and soil health with buffer strips, cover crops, and reduced tillage. Lastly, Lawnhurst Farms’ anaerobic digester turns manure and other organic waste into electricity while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

The AEM-Leopold Conservation Award Program in New York is supported by American Farmland Trust, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Sand County Foundation, the Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation, Farm Credit East, New York State Agribusiness Association, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Audubon New York, and the Department. Learn more about the award and last year’s winner: https://on.ny.gov/3d8Dnc4.

We look forward to awarding the finalist later this month!

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿
Did you know New York is home to more than 50 county and youth fairs? Held from July through early October in counties across the state, these fairs provide opportunities to learn about local agriculture, where our food comes from, and how it’s grown, harvested, and marketed to the public. Many of the fairs also feature midway rides, live entertainment, parades, and talent shows.

You can find a list of county fair locations and dates on the New York Association of County Fairs website: https://www.nyfairs.org/fairs_by_date.htm. Additionally, information about each fair, including ticket costs and types of entertainment, can be found on the I Love NY website:https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/county-fairs-and-food-festivals-in-new-york-state/.

𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮-𝟰
Empire Farm Days is back at Palladino Farms, running today through August 4.
The Department will join more than two hundred exhibitors at this event. Exhibitions will highlight agricultural innovations including the fastest, most powerful tractors and trucks in the northeast and cutting-edge farming techniques.

In addition to the exhibits, Empire Farm Days features entertainment for the whole family. Events like Farmer Olympics, Kiddie Tractor Pulls, a farmers’ market, and Skid Steer Rodeo are all open to public participation. Find out more: https://leetradeshows.com/empire-farm-days/.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗗𝗔 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
We invite you to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), taking place September 26 through September 29 in beautiful Saratoga Springs, New York. This year’s theme is “Still Growing,” putting a spotlight on resiliency in agriculture.

NASDA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization of agricultural leaders all over the nation, including commissioners, secretaries, and directors of state departments. Commissioner Ball is serving as the president of NASDA this year and is looking forward to hosting everyone for the annual conference and showing off the best of New York State agriculture. The annual conference is an opportunity for the country’s agricultural leaders to discuss policy, education, and outreach, and to network.

Learn more and register at nasda.org/event/2022-nasda-annual-meeting.

𝗙𝗗𝗔 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗕𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀
On August 11 at 1 pm, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will present a webinar to discuss Food Facility Registration, Biennial Renewal, and obtaining an acceptable Unique Facility Identifier.

U.S. and foreign human and animal food facilities that are required to register with the FDA must renew their registration this year between October 1 and December 31, 2022.

During the webinar, participants will learn:
• Who needs to register or renew
• How to obtain a Unique Facility Identifier (UFI)
• How and where to register and renew your Food Facility Registration (FFR)
• About the benefits of registering your food facility

Nicole Shokatz and Robert Spear from the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Compliance will present. A Question & Answer session will follow the presentation.
Register for the webinar: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F8FTY8C.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
The countdown to the 2022 Great New York State Fair is on! As of today, Tuesday, August 8, the Fair is just 22 days away!

As New Yorkers look forward to the return of food, farming, family activities and fair fun, here are three things to know:

Tickets: Admission and parking is on sale now online for $3/ticket, and parking will cost $5 – the same as it did last year. At $3, admission to the Fair remains among the most affordable in the nation when it comes to state fairs. Keeping with tradition, admission remains free to people ages 65 years old and up, and children 12 years old and under. Visit http://nysfair.ny.gov/ to buy your tickets today!
Midway Rides: Wade Shows, North America’s premier carnival company, is bringing 50+ thrilling rides for kids of all ages! Ride-All-Day wristbands are now on sale for $25/per person per weekday on the Fair’s website: http://nysfair.ny.gov/. Weekend Ride-All-Day wristbands are $30/per person per day.
Food: Whatever you’re craving will likely be represented as part of the Fair’s delicious array of diverse food selections. Right now, more than 100 food vendors will dish out Fair favorites and new specialty items. The 2022 Fair will see 15 new vendors, and the return of three favorites who haven’t been at the Fairgrounds since 2019. Click here to see the full list and start to plan your meals: https://nysfair.ny.gov/food-drink/food-vendors/. New this year, some vendors will offer up a $2 sample of their specialty cuisines.

The Great New York State Fair begins Wednesday, August 24 and continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 5.

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗬 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿
The Taste NY Pop-up Market is BACK at the Great New York State Fair. Featuring over 100 unique products, the Pop-up Market will give fairgoers the opportunity to shop food, beverage, and gift items sourced from all 11 regions of New York State. The Pop-up Market will be located next to the Taste NY Vendor Marketplace in the Horticulture Building and will be open August 24 through September 5 from 10 am – 9 pm daily. We invite everyone to find us at the Fair! https://taste.ny.gov/

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