BILL NUMBER:S1793

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in
relation to the beginning farmer revolving loan fund program

PURPOSE:

To establish a beginning farmer revolving loan fund program within the
Agriculture and Markets Law.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 328 of the Agriculture and Markets Law to
define the term "beginning farmer." Section 2 adds a new Subdivision
330-a to the Agriculture and Markets law to create the beginning
farmer revolving loan fund program. Section 3 provides for the
effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

Article 25-AAAA of the Agriculture and Markets law was enacted to
promote the agriculture industry in New York, an industry which has a
substantial impact on the overall economic health and wellbeing of our
state. State farms preserve approximately 7.7 million acres of open
space as working landscapes, thus contributing to the overall quality
of the state's environment. Preserving farmland as a working
              

agricultural landscape provides open space benefits for all residents
of the state, and maintains the land as a natural habitat for animals.
Additionally, properly managed farmland has been demonstrated to be
the best environmental usage of land for watershed protection. For
these reasons, it is in the best interest of the state to promote
agricultural uses of the state's lands. While numerous other revolving
loan programs exist under New York law, a revolving loan program for
beginning farmers does not currently exist.

JUSTIFICATION:

New York state law provides revolving loan programs for many other
groups, to incentivize residents of the state to take up a certain
profession. Taking steps to recruit young, new, and beginning farmers
to the agricultural profession is certainly one area in need of
incentives such as a revolving loan fund program.

Agriculture is the leading industry in New York yet, New York's farm
community is aging and it has become increasingly difficult to attract
young people to farming and to encourage them to consider a farming
career. The average age of farm operators in New York is 59, and is
expected to continue to increase unless steps are taken to reverse
this trend. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has set a goal of
recruiting 100,000 new farmers across the country to replace those who
are retiring. By enacting a revolving loan fund program for beginning
farmers, New York can take one small step at helping that recruitment
effort.

Farming is a difficult business and there are many barriers to
beginning farmers who might otherwise consider entering the
profession. The agricultural industry has a substantial impact on the


overall economic health and wellbeing of the state, and it is in the
best interest of the state to ensure that enough producers are
recruited and retained in agricultural production. Additionally, the
recent increase in demand for quality fresh locally grown foods and
beverages highlight the importance of assisting new farmers to enter
the profession.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013-2014: S.6880-A/ A.9288-A

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

This bill is subject to funds being appropriated for the purposes of
the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law. Provided, however, that any
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this
act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such
date.