BILL NUMBER:  S5127

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in
relation to establishing a small farm disaster recovery grant program

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1: Amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new
section 325b, establishing the "Small Farm Disaster Recovery Grant
Program," and defines a small farm to include only those that sell
produce and have annual sales of one hundred thousand dollars or less.
The owner of any small farm may submit an application for a grant, the
amount of which is to be determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture
and Markets up to $10,000, awarded solely for the purpose of
purchasing and replanting crops that have been destroyed by a natural
disaster.

This Program shall be funded through annual appropriations of the
Legislature or any other funds received by the state. Grants from the
program shall only be awarded based upon the availability of funds.

Section 2: Effective Date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

After a 70-year drop in numbers, small farms are beginning to make a
              

comeback. For decades, the number of farmers has been shrinking as a
share of the population, but the last Agricultural Census in 2007
showed a 4 percent increase in the number of farms. It is the first
increase since 1920, and in many cases, young people and college
graduates are joining in the return to the land. Behind this trend, to
a large degree, is the appeal of locally grown and specialty produce,
filling a niche that larger farms geared to national and international
markets have left open for exploitation.

But while there has been an increase in promoting locally grown food,
New York's small farmers still struggle to get a foothold in this
promising new market. Regardless of size, all farmers are vulnerable
to the forces of nature, whether they are excessive heat and drought,
flooding, or infestation. For small, newly established farms, one such
natural disaster can mean the difference between failure and survival.

The small farm disaster recovery grant program will help cover the
costs of replanting crops following a natural disaster or pestilence.
The grant can be up to $10,000.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2013: S.4521- referred to Agriculture/ A.7038 - referred to
Agriculture
2014: S.4521- referred to Agriculture/ A.7038 - referred to
Agriculture
2015: S.5635-A passed Senate 60-1/ A.2457-A referred to Agriculture
2016: S.5635-A passed Senate 61-0/ A.2457-A referred to Agriculture

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the first of April succeeding the date
on which it shall have become law, provided, however, that effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date is authorized and directed to be made on or before such
effective date.