Senate Republicans Put Out Plan to Strengthen Agriculture

Here is a release sent out today by state Sen. Patricia Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, who is chair of the state Senate Agriculture Committee:

Growing the state’s agriculture industry and helping New York’s family farms prosper is the goal of the “Grown in New York” plan, unveiled today by Sen. Patty Ritchie, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Ritchie was joined at a Capitol news conference by other members of the committee, as well as leaders of the New York Farm Bureau to announce a plan to strengthen 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.

“Over the past two years, we have worked to restore budget cuts to vital marketing, research, and educational programs farmers depend on to strengthen their bottom line," Ritchie said. "‘Grown in New York’ is the Senate Republican plan to build on that success and help farmers grow and build for the future.”

"NY Farm Bureau has long held to the proven belief that when you grow New York's farms, you grow New York's economy. The efforts put forth today by Senate Republican Leader Skelos, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Ritchie and their conference colleagues will do just that," said New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton.

The Senate’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-- Curtail red tape and outdated regulations;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.

Here also is a story to read about the plan: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/sen_patty_ritchie_proposes_tax.html#incart_river_default