Tagged: Agriculture

Several New York state Senators gathered this morning at the capitol in Albany to introduce a package of legislation they say would strengthen the state’s agricultural industry.

WAMC’s Patrick Donges spoke with Senator Patty Ritchie, Republican of the 48th district and chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee about the "Grown in New York" plan.

A congressman from New York’s Hudson Valley will hold an Agriculture Town Hall gathering Wednesday in Orange County.  The forum comes as Congress begins to consider a long-term farm bill.

Democratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney will hold the forum in Warwick. He says he wants to hear the concerns and priorities of local farmers and producers.

Farmers and agricultural advocates are rallying behind a piece of legislation that promises to expand the potential for local meat and poultry processing in Massachusetts.

The New York Farm Bureau has released its state priorities for this year. During a conference call,  officials outlined their agricultural policy goals.

Officials with New York’s farm advocacy organization said their focus this year is strengthening the economy and future of farms and growers. Farm Bureau President Dean Norton noted that the average age of a New York farmer is 56. According to a 2007 Ag census, about 19-hundred farm operators are under the age of 35, while over 33-hundred are over age 75.