19 Nov 2009
Protecting the Foundation of New York's Number One Industry -- Agriculture Committee Public Hearing
Jefferson Community College
01:00 PM to 04:00 PM
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
Notice of Public Hearing
Standing Committee on Agriculture
Senator Darrel J. Aubertine
Chair
Senator Breslin Senator Young
Senator Stachowski Senator Seward
Senator Montgomery Senator Winner
Senator Valesky Senator Ranzenhofer
Subject:
Improving New York’s agricultural industry through better understanding of the issues facing the agriculture community.
Purpose:
The New York State Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture has a long and successful history of working for the betterment of the agriculture industry. The committee is dedicated to ensuring that although buffeted by the current economic crisis and threatened by many negative trends New York State’s number one industry will remain strong and vibrant well into the future. New York simply cannot afford to lose another industry. To that end the committee is seeking input from the public regarding the following:
· The Dairy Crisis
· Farm Worker Fair Labor Practices Act
· General Employment Issues
· DOT Rural Highway Regulations
· Mandate / Regulatory Reform
· Energy Concerns – Alternative Energy Technologies, Cost of Energy, Net Metering
Statement of Senator Aubertine, Chair:
Agriculture is New York’s number one industry and the foundation of our economy as a whole, but especially in the rural parts of our state. A sound economic future for our state depends on agriculture and this industry should be a focal point in our economic development efforts. In this hearing and the roundtables leading up to it, this committee is soliciting the input of farmers and other representatives of our agricultural industry to offer their ideas, concerns and solutions, to help lawmakers set policy for New York State’s role in protecting and preserving our farms and the hundreds of thousands of jobs they support both on the farm and in our communities.
Location:
Watertown - November 19, 2009, 1-4 PM
Jefferson Community College
The Jules Center, Room 6-218
1220 Coffeen Street
Watertown, New York 13601
Persons wishing to attend or testify at this hearing should fax or email the Public Hearing Reply Form to Sarah Blood, Committee Director, at 518-426-6946 or blood@senate.state.ny.us as soon as possible, but no later than November 17, 2009. It is important that the form be fully completed and returned so persons may be notified in the event of postponement or cancellation of the hearing.
The Standing Committee on Agriculture will accommodate as many witnesses as possible. The Standing Committee also encourages the submission of written testimony which will be considered by the Standing Committee and will be made part of its record. Written testimony may be e-mailed as an attachment in any common format to the Standing Committee care of Sarah Blood, Committee Director, at blood@senate.state.ny.us.
Witnesses are asked to keep oral testimony to no more than ten (10) minutes in length as a summary of submitted written testimony. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Standing Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. This request should be made on the attached reply form or to the Standing Committee staff as soon as possible. The Standing Committee may choose to group witnesses who wish to speak on the same topic into panels. If you are testifying, please submit ten (10) copies of any prepared statement at the hearing registration table.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Senate has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. Accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate facilities and activities.
Questions about this hearing may be directed to Sarah Blood, Committee Director, at 518-455-2761 or blood@senate.state.ny.us.
