Needed: Your Input On The Future Of Farming

New York's farmers work hard to bring the best quality products to their neighbors, tables and kitchens around the state and world.  As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I know it’s important to get feedback from hardworking farmers to identify ways the state can assist in helping to provide them with new opportunities to expand their businesses.

In an effort to help support farmers and their operations, I recently launched a “Farm Family Survey” that seeks input on a number of issues, including milk prices, the impact of recent weather and farm expenses that the state could help in offsetting, among others.

I am pleased to announce that the deadline to take part in this survey has been extended to August 31st.  Those interested in completing a survey can visit my website, ritchie.nysenate.gov, or have one mailed to you by calling my office at (315) 782-3418.

My Farm Family Survey builds on my past efforts to support New York farmers.  Earlier this year, I successfully advocated for record funding in the new state budget for agriculture—for the third year in a row—totaling $51 million for dozens of programs that seek to bolster the bottom lines of farmers across the state and here in Central and Northern New York.

New York’s farmers are critically important when it comes to providing people with fresh, healthy foods, as well as to supporting our state’s economy. Your feedback on my survey is essential to providing me with the information I need to better advocate for our state’s farmers and help our state’s agriculture industry thrive for generations to come.