A Brighter Future for Family Farms: Key Investments in Agriculture
Thomas F. O'Mara
May 20, 2015
An abundance of fresh, quality food and farm products is not only good for our families -- it’s also great for New York’s economy. In the 2015-16 State Budget, the Senate Republican Majority has once again led the way in supporting New York’s vital agriculture industry by providing record levels of funding for key research, marketing and education programs.
The 2015-2016 State Budget includes:
• $7.5 million - Agribusiness Children Development Centers;
• $750,000 - Apple Growers Association;
• $500,000 - Apple Research and Development Board;
• $1 million - Beginning Farmers Grant Program;
• $320,000 - Berry Growers Association;
• $125,000 - Christmas Tree Growers;
• $75,000 - Corn and Soybean Growers Association;
• $5.4 million - Cornell Diagnostic Lab;
• $50,000 - Cornell Honeybee Research and Extension;
• $125,000 - Cornell Maple Research;
• $50,000 - Cornell Onion Research;
• $1.2 million - Cornell Pro-Dairy;
• $220,000 - Dairy Profit Teams at Farm Viability;
• $250,000 - Dairy Quality Assurance and Control Program;
• $200,000 - Deer Fence Matching Grants;
• $175,000 - Eastern Equine Encephalitis/Mosquito Control;
• $250,000 - Farm-to-School Program;
• $1.9 million - Farm Viability Institute;
• $800,000 - Farm Family Services;
• $500,000 - Farmers Market Subsidies for Seniors;
• $392,000 - Future Farmers of America;
• $100,000 - Genesee Agriculture Academy;
• $100,000 - Grown on Long Island;
• $200,000 - Hops and Barley Research at Cornell;
• $20,000 - Island Harvest;
• $160,000 - Local Fairs;
• $25,000 - Low-Cost Vaccine Program;
• $213,000 - Maple Producers Association;
• $600,000 - Northern NY Agriculture Development Program;
• $100,000 - Precision Agriculture Studies;
• $610,000 - Rabies Programs at Cornell;
• $1 million - Regional Food Hub Development;
• $1.1 million - Taste NY;
• $250,000 - Tractor Rollover Prevention program;
• $150,000 - Turfgrass Association;
• $100,000 - Vegetable Growers Association;
• $1.1 million - Wine and Grape Foundation; and
• $100,000 - Wood Products Council