Dates Set for Senate Agriculture Committee Roundtables

Photo from Agriculture tour in Western New York at Eden Valley Farms

Ag Chair Aubertine to host six roundtables and a public hearing to gather input from farmers

WATERTOWN (October 7, 2009)—State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced the schedule for a series of agriculture roundtables, to be held at locations within the 48^th Senate District and throughout the state over the next two months.

“Perhaps more than any other industry, the importance and impact of agriculture on our state’s economy are overlooked,” Sen. Aubertine said. “We need to ensure that the farmers’ voice is heard in Albany and we enact policies that reflect their needs. These roundtables give farmers a seat at the table to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas on a range of issues, not the least of which are the current dairy crisis and the farm labor bill.”

Senator Aubertine had planned to hold three to four roundtables in locations across the state, but response from farmers has prompted the Senator to expand his outreach to six roundtables and a public hearing plus additional tours throughout the state. He has already visited farms in Western New York and on Long Island and met with agricultural leaders. The tours and these roundtables are being coordinated with assistance from the New York Farm Bureau.

 “The interest our announcement garnered last month prompted us to expand the scope of these discussions to give more farmers the opportunity to participate,” Sen. Aubertine said. “Our state’s economy, not just our rural farming communities, depends on the success of our agricultural industries. We need to continue working to shine a very public spotlight on the importance of agriculture and bring more and more farmers into the discussion of how to get these industries and our economy back on track.”

The schedule for the roundtables and public hearing is as follows:

·         October 15th – SUNY Morrisville

·         October 20th – Tompkins County

·         October 21st – Wyoming County      

·         November 10th – St. Lawrence County

·         November 12th- Oswego County

·         November 17th – SUNY Cobleskill

·         November 19th – Jefferson County Community College, Agriculture Public Hearing

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