Ritchie Meets With Agricultural Advisory Council

Discusses New “Grown in New York” Plan, Other Initiatives to Help Farmers

 Members of State Senator Patty Ritchie’s Agricultural Advisory Council met today in Ogdensburg to discuss the accomplishments of the past year and new initiatives to help farmers, including the Senator’s new “Grown in NY” plan.

“Our farmers are the backbone of New York State’s economy, and it’s so important that we give them the tools they need to create jobs and expand their industry ” Senator Ritchie said. 

“My advisory council has the firsthand knowledge  and insight as to how we can help support agriculture.  This group is—and will be crucial—to helping the Senate Agriculture Committee continue its commitment to helping our farmers.”

Formed in 2011, the Agricultural Advisory Council—comprised of leaders in the industry from Central and Northern New York—is tasked with identifying challenges and opportunities for growth in the agriculture industry which can be passed on to the Senate Agriculture Committee, which Senator Ritchie chairs. 

At the meeting, Senator Ritchie outlined accomplishments of the past year and also discussed her far-reaching and ambitious “Grown in NY” plan, which is aimed at strengthening the state’s $5.2 billion agriculture industry by expanding markets for New York-grown products, improving the bottom lines of family farms, and investing in the future of farming. 

Introduced earlier this week, Ritchie’s “Grown in New York” plan would:

-- Reduce taxes on farmers;

-- Eliminate the burdensome 18-a energy tax surcharge;

-- Curtail red tape and outdated regulations;

-- Improve farmers’ access to customers by expanding farmers markets and food hubs;

-- Put more New York-grown products in schools and government facilities;

-- Encourage the growth of New York’s maple and wine industries;

-- Put idled farmland back in production; and

-- Improve farm safety.

For more information on “Grown in New York” visit www.ritchie.nysenate.gov. 

(Pictured in the above photo from left to right are Jefferson County Agriculture Coordinator Jay Matteson, Agribusiness owner James Curtis, of Canton, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patty Ritchie, Phil  Randazzo, owner of Coyote Moon Vineyards, and Mary and Allen Kelly, Rensselaer Falls Dairy farmers. Not shown are Keith Pierce, town of Oswegatchie dairy farmer and Mark Akins, Lisbon dairy farmer and St. Lawrence county legislator)