Ritchie Releases New York State Agriculture Report

From state Sen. Patricia Ritchie's office:

The 2017 Annual Report of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released by the committee’s chair state Senator Patty Ritchie, highlights record funding for agriculture, new programs to secure the future of family farming and new funding to promote New York’s booming, farm-based craft beverage industry.

“In every corner of New York state, agriculture is helping to boost local economies, create jobs and of course, feed hungry consumers,” Ritchie said. 

To ensure that agriculture remains as our state’s leading industry, we need to support the efforts of our hardworking farmers. In 2017, that’s just what the Senate Agriculture Committee did, and I’m pleased to share the results of our efforts through our Annual Report,” she said.

In 2017, the committee helped to secure — for the third year in a row — record budget funding for agriculture totaling $51 million, reversing $10 million in cuts that were proposed in the governor’s Executive Budget.

As chair of the ag committee, Ritchie in 2017 also continued her tradition of welcoming agriculture leaders to public committee meetings in an effort to highlight agricultural trends, challenges and opportunities confronting the industry, as well as to raise awareness of the importance of farming to New York’s future. 

Individuals and groups welcomed to the meetings included FFA members, Cornell University, the American Farmland Trust, NY FarmNet and others.

Other highlights of the report include the following:

**   A new law, backed by the committee, that created a “New York State Young Farmers Advisory Board” to identify challenges to meeting a goal of attracting 100,000 beginning farmers nationally — including tens of thousands in New York — over the next decade to secure the future of family farming;

**  Support for “F.A.R.M.” camp, a new, Cornell-sponsored, regional training program to provide assistance to new and existing farmers, with a special emphasis on veterans in the North Country;

**  Funding for a fourth round of “New Farmer Grant Fund” grants providing financial help to farmers who have been in business for less than 10 years and who are looking to purchase land, buildings or supplies;

**  New funding to help promote New York’s growing, farm-based craft beverage industry, including brewers, distillers and cideries;

** Funding for FFA programs that provide students with opportunities to learn about agriculture and develop leadership skills;

** New funding to establish a “Farm-to-Table Trail,” which will help consumers more easily locate local food and drink and help boost the bottom line of farmers;

**  Funding to prevent the spread of diseases such as wildlife rabies and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE); and

**  Renewed funding for student loan forgiveness for beginning farmers.

In addition, at the close of 2017, the Agriculture Committee hosted a public hearing at the capital to solicit ideas from farmers and industry representatives on additional ways to help New York agriculture succeed. 

More than 18 farmers and their representatives — covering a broad expanse of agriculture products, regions and interests — offered testimony on challenges and opportunities for the future of agriculture.  

Information from the hearing will be used to form future actions and potential legislation affecting New York’s agriculture community.

A copy of the full report can be viewed by visiting Ritchie’s website at https://www.ritchie.nysenate.gov this link. Those interested in having a copy mailed to them can call (315) 782-3418.

State: Vaccinate Horses Now Against West Nile, EEE

Information from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

State officials are urging horse owners to get their horses vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus.

State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine, State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah and State Gaming Commission Acting Director Robert Williams said no horses have been confirmed yet this year to have the diseases. But in 2012, two cases of EEE were reported in horses in New York state, as well as seven West Nile cases.

“Every year in New York, cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus pop up in horses across the state – diseases which are largely preventable,” said Aubertine. “Good prevention programs are a key component to any animal health plan and I encourage horse owners across New York to take the necessary precautions and vaccinate their horses against these diseases today.”

 

While it is preferable to vaccinate horses against these diseases in the spring before the mosquitoes that transmit them are active, early summer is not too late, since New York often has mosquito activity into the month of November.

Vaccines for EEE and West Nile can be effective for six to 12 months, and horses should be re-vaccinated at least annually. In an area where the diseases occur year round, many veterinarians recommend vaccinations every six months.

For the vaccine to be effective, it must be handled and administered properly, prior to an anticipated increase in mosquito activity in a local area.  For these reasons, state veterinarian David Smith recommends that the vaccines be administered by a veterinarian. 

Other prevention methods include eliminating standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, using insect repellents and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually from dusk to dawn.  In addition, water in water troughs should be changed at least twice a week to discourage mosquito breeding.

There is no human vaccine for EEE or West Nile. EEE is rare but serious and can affect both horses and people. Five cases have been diagnoses in humans in New York since 1971 and all, including an Oswego County girl in 2011, have been fatal. 

West Nile is more common than EEE and can cause serious illness and, in some cases, death.

Horsepersons working at New York racetracks, where large concentrations of horses are stabled, should especially heed the recommendation to have horses vaccinated and take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of EEE or West Nile.

The New York State Gaming Commission’s on-track staff is monitoring facility conditions and working with track management to reduce mosquito-infested areas. 

Humans cannot become infected by handling or being exposed to an infected horse. Horses cannot spread either virus to or from other horses, people or pets.  From a veterinary perspective, mosquitoes transmit both diseases from birds to horses.

Typical symptoms of EEE in equines include staggering, circling, depression, loss of appetite and sometimes fever and blindness. Clinical signs of West Nile in horses include lethargy, weakness in the hind quarters, stumbling, lack of awareness, head tilt and head twitching, convulsions, circling, partial paralysis and coma. 

Horses exhibiting neurologic signs like those listed above need to be promptly reported by veterinarians to the State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Animal Industry at (518) 457-3502 in addition to the local health department.  

For more information on EEE and West Nile Virus in horses, please visit: http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/equine/equine.html#3