NY Senate Has Plan to Bolster Agriculture

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/senate-majority-releases-plan-to-bolster-agriculture-20180309 to check out the story.

New York Farm Bureau Names 'Circle of Friends'

New York Farm Bureau has released its annual “Circle of Friends,” naming 172 New York State Legislators to the distinguished list. The award is an indication of the individual lawmaker’s support of New York agriculture and Farm Bureau.

The “Circle of Friends” honor is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance as well as other evidence of legislative support, including sponsorship of bills that New York Farm Bureau has either supported or opposed during the most recent legislative session.

“New York Farm Bureau selected these Senators and Assembly members because of their commitment to the hard working farm families in New York," said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher. 

"We appreciated their support on a whole host of bills and budget items this year, and we look forward to collaborating with them as a new session is about to begin," he said. "It is imperative that we work together to support local food production and the agricultural economy that benefit all New Yorkers.”


The “Circle of Friends” is not an endorsement, and this distinction only recognizes the 2017 legislative session.

“Circle of Friends” recipients for 2017 are:
New York Senate
Addabbo, Jr., Joseph
Akshar, Fred
Alcantara, Marisol
Amedore, Jr., George A.
Avella, Tony
Benjamin, Brian
Bonacic, John J.
Boyle, Philip M.
Breslin, Neil D.
Brooks, John
Carlucci, David
Comrie, Jr., Leroy G.
Croci, Thomas D.
DeFrancisco, John A.
Felder, Simcha
Flanagan, John J.
Funke, Rich
Gallivan, Patrick M.
Gianaris, Michael N.
Golden, Martin J.
Griffo, Joseph A.
Hamilton, Jesse E.
Hannon, Kemp
Helming, Pamela
Jacobs, Chris
Kaminsky, Todd
Kennedy, Timothy M.
Klein, Jeffrey D.
Lanza, Andrew J.
Larkin, Jr., William J.
Latimer, George S.
LaValle, Kenneth P.
Little, Elizabeth O'C.
Marcellino, Carl L.
Marchione, Kathleen A.
Montgomery, Velmanette
Murphy, Terrence P.
O'Mara, Thomas F.
Ortt, Robert G.
Peralta, Jose R.
Persaud, Roxanne
Phillips, Elaine
Ranzenhofer, Michael H.
Ritchie, Patricia A.
Rivera, J. Gustavo
Robach, Joseph E.
Savino, Diane J.
Serino, Susan J.
Seward, James L.
Squadron, Daniel
Stavisky, Toby Ann
Stewart-Cousins, Andrea
Tedisco, James
Valesky, David J.
Young, Catharine M.
New York Assembly

Abbate, Jr., Peter J.

Abinanti, Thomas J.
Aubry, Jeffrion L.
Barclay, William A.
Barnwell, Brian
Barrett, Didi
Benedetto, Michael R.
Blake, Michael A.
Blankenbush, Kenneth
Brabenec, Karl
Braunstein, Edward C.
Brindisi, Anthony J.
Bronson, Harry B.
Buchwald, David
Butler, Mark W.
Byrne, Kevin
Carroll, Robert
Castorina, Ronald
Crespo, Marcos A.
Crouch, Clifford W.
Curran, Brian F.
Cusick, Michael J.
DenDekker, Michael G.
DiPietro, David J.
D'Urso, Anthony
Errigo, Joe
Fahy, Patricia A.
Farrell, Jr., Herman D.
Finch, Gary D.
Fitzpatrick, Michael J.
Friend, Christopher S.
Galef, Sandra R.
Garbarino, Andrew R.
Giglio, Joseph M.
Gjonaj, Mark
Goodell, Andrew
Gottfried, Richard N.
Graf, Alfred C.
Gunther, Aileen M.
Harris, Pamela
Hawley, Stephen M.
Hevesi, Andrew D.
Hooper, Earlene
Hunter, Pamela
Hyndman, Alicia
Jenne, Addie A.E.
Johns, Mark C.
Jones, D. Billy
Joyner, Latoya
Kavanagh, Brian P.
Kearns, Michael P.
Kim, Ronald T.
Kolb, Brian M.
Lalor, Kieran Michael
Lavine, Charles D.
Lawrence, Peter A.
Lentol, Joseph R.
Lifton, Barbara S.
Lopez, Peter D.
Lupardo, Donna A.
Lupinacci, Chad A.
Magee, Bill
Magnarelli, William B.
Malliotakis, Nicole
Mayer, Shelley B.
McDonald, III, John T.
McDonough, David G.
McKevitt, Thomas
McLaughlin, Steven F.
Miller, Brian
Miller, Melissa
Miller, Michael G.
Montesano, Michael A.
Morelle, Joseph D.
Morinello, Angelo
Murray, Dean
Niou, Yuh-Line
Norris, Michael
Oaks, Robert C.
Otis, Steven
Palmesano, Philip A.
Palumbo, Anthony H.
Paulin, Amy R.
Pellegrino, Christine
Peoples-Stokes, Crystal D.
Perry, N. Nick
Pichardo, Victor
Pretlow, Gary J.
Ra, Edward P,
Raia, Andrew P.
Ramos, Philip R.
Rivera, Jose
Rozic, Nily D.
Ryan, Sean M.
Santabarbara, Angelo L.
Schimminger, Robin
Seawright, Rebecca A.
Simanowitz, Michael A.
Simotas, Aravella
Skartados, Frank K.
Skoufis, James G.
Solages, Michaelle C.
Stec, Daniel G.
Stirpe, Jr., Albert A.
Thiele, Jr., Fred W.
Titone, Matthew J.
Titus, Michele R.
Vanel, Clyde
Walker, Latrice Monique
Wallace, Monica
Walsh, Mary Beth
Walter, Raymond W.
Weprin, David I.
Williams, Jaime
Woerner, Carrie
Wright, Tremaine
Zebrowski, Kenneth P.

FarmNet Director Discusses Passing Farms to Younger Generations

A good read from the Watertown Daily Times.

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/farmnet-director-discusses-passing-farm-ownership-to-younger-generations-in-senate-ag-meeting-20160511 to check out the story.

Ritchie Offers Survey on Legislative Issues

From the office of state Sen. Patty Ritchie:

Ritchie

State Sen. Patty Ritchie is encouraging Central and Northern New Yorkers to share their opinions on a variety of issues expected to come before the Senate in the coming months through her 2016 Legislative Survey. 

Ritchie’s survey, which is available at www.ritchie.nysenate.gov or by calling (315) 782-3418, focuses on a number of topics, including the following:

** Creating stronger ethics measures to increase transparency in government;

** A proposal by thegGovernor to require businesses to provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave;

** Efforts to strengthen various sectors of our economy, including agriculture, manufacturing and technology;

** Potential increases to the minimum wage; and

** The governor’s proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility.

Last year, nearly 5,000 people took part in Ritchie’s Legislative Survey. In addition, in the past she has also gathered feedback from constituents through surveys on topics like Common Core and sportsmen’s issues.

Ritchie Meets With Agriculture Advisory Council

Top row, from left to right:  Allen Kelly, Jay Matteson, Dave Fisher, Eric Behling, Dr. Jack Zeh, Senator Ritchie, Kevin Acres and Ron Robbins

Bottom row, from left to right: Jon Greenwood, Mary Kelly, Keith Pierce and Phil Randazzo

State Sen. Patty Ritchie met recently in St. Lawrence County with members of her Agriculture Advisory Council, which is comprised of farmers and agriculture professionals from throughout Central and Northern New York.

She heard their concerns and listened to their suggestions for what can be done to improve the state’s leading industry.

“Making real progress when it comes to strengthening our agriculture industry and boosting the bottom lines of farmers across the state depends heavily on the feedback we’re able to gather from the farmers and agribusiness owners on the ground level,” said Ritchie, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee. 

During the meeting, Ritchie shared the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Annual Report, which highlights work done by the committee in 2015, including securing record budget funding for agriculture, efforts to make locally-grown foods more readily available for consumers and an expansion of initiatives that encourage young people to pursue careers in farming.

In addition, attendees also discussed priorities for the 2016 Legislative Session, including advocating for additional funding for key agriculture programs, as well as continuing to cut red tape for farmers. 

Just last week, Ritchie unveiled “Planting Seeds,” an initiative to support the agriculture industry in a number of ways, including restoring budget cuts and increasing funding for key agriculture programs, providing new tax and regulatory relief for farmers, supporting initiatives that promote food safety and creating new opportunities for young people, as well as veterans, who are interested in pursuing careers in farming.

State Senate GOP Unveils Agriculture Plan for 2016

Ritchie

State Sen. Patricia Ritchie, chair of the state Senate agriculture committee, has unveiled her legislative plan for agriculture for the coming year in a program called "Planting Seeds."

Ritchie said the plan will continue to support New York’s family farmers and boost the agriculture economy.

Joined by members of the Senate Republican Conference, Ritchie unveiled the plan, which includes proposals to restore budget cuts and increase funding for key agriculture programs in the areas of research, education and marketing, provide new tax and regulatory relief for farmers, support initiatives that promote food safety and create new opportunities for veterans in the agriculture industry, among others. 

 “New York farms — and New York farmers — are the backbone of our rural communities and economies,” Ritchie said. “That’s why, once again, the Senate Majority Conference is making agriculture a top priority. We’re planting seeds to support the hard work of our farm families and grow the future of agriculture in New York state.”

Norton

“The success of agriculture is essential to the economic well-being of our rural communities. The Senate Majority’s plan focuses on critical areas including program funding, research, new farmer initiatives and agricultural education," said New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton.

"They are all pieces of the puzzle that will assist in growing an industry that supports thousands of jobs and a healthy, safe food supply said.

"We are poised for incredible growth in farming and food production if we can simply take advantage of the sometimes insurmountable opportunities that exist today," said Julie Suarez, assistant dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. 

"By providing support for the critical partnership between New York state and the Land Grant mission at Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Senate is showing incredible leadership for the research based knowledge that gives New York's farm families an economic advantage in today's marketplace," Suarez said.

In addition, Planting Seeds also proposes new programs to grow agriculture in the region Ritchie represents.  

Under the plan, a new “North Country Ag Academy” would be created.  Modeled after a similar program in Western New York, the Ag Academy would provide hands-on learning experiences for aspiring young farmers to learn and practice the agricultural arts, and prepare them for future careers.

Planting Seeds also proposes the creation of an agriculture management program at SUNY Canton, which for many students could serve as a lower-cost alternative to a traditional four-year agriculture degree program. 

Originally founded as the School of Agriculture at St. Lawrence, the college eliminated most agriculture-related degrees in the 1990s. The Senate’s plan would support the provision of staff to provide courses and real work experience allowing students to study marketing, technology, and other practical skills necessary to survive and thrive in the farming industry.

Planting Seeds builds upon key elements of the Senate Republicans’ successful Young Farmers and Grown in New York programs that have been enacted over the last five years. In addition to reductions in broad based tax rates and a statewide property tax cap that is reining in school and municipal taxes, a Senate Republican initiative to limit increases in agricultural land assessments has already saved farmers more than $11 million in its very first year. 

Other measures have reduced the estate tax to help preserve the tradition of family farming, connected young farmers with grants to help them start a new business, and reduced educational costs for those interested in beginning a farming career.

For full details of the Planting Seeds program, go to www.ritchie.nysenate.gov

New York Farm Bureau Announces "Circle of Friends"

New York Farm Bureau has announced its Circle of Friends for the 2015 legislative season.

A total of 158 state legislators have been named to the list, which is  award is an indication of the individual lawmaker’s support of New York agriculture and the Farm Bureau.

The “Circle of Friends” honor is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance as well as other evidence of legislative support, including sponsorship of bills that New York Farm Bureau has either supported or opposed during the most recent legislative session.

The “Circle of Friends” is not an endorsement, and this distinction only recognizes the 2015 legislative session.

“Circle of Friends” recipients from the state Senate for 2015 are:

Joseph Addabbo George Amedore John Bonacic Philip Boyle Neil Breslin David Carlucci Thomas Croci John DeFrancisco Hugh Farley Simcha Felder

John Flanagan Rich Funke Patrick Gallivan Michael Gianaris Martin Golden Joseph Griffo Jesse Hamilton Kemp Hannon Timothy Kennedy Jeffrey Klein

George Latimer Kenneth LaValle Andrew Lanza William Larkin Elizabeth Little Carl Marcellino Kathy Marchione Jack Martins Velmanette Montgomery Terrance Murphy

Michael Nozzolio Thomas O’Mara Robert Ortt Marc Panepinto Jose Peralta Michael Ranzenhofer Patty Ritchie Joseph Robach Diane Savino Susan Serino

James Seward Toby Ann Stavisky Andrea Stewart-Cousins David Valesky Michael Venditto Cathy Young

From the Assembly, the 2015 honorees are:

Peter Abbate, Jr. Thomas Abinanti Jeffrion Aubrey Will Barclay Didi Barrett Michael Benedetto Michael Blake Ken Blankenbush Joseph Borelli Karl Brabenec Edward Braunstein James Brennan Anthony Brindisi Harry Bronson Alec Brook-Krasny Mark Butler Kevin Cahill John Ceretto Vivian Cook Jane Corwin Marcos Crespo Cliff Crouch Brian Curran

Michael Cusick Steven Cymbrowitz Maritza Davila Michael DenDekker Eric Dilan David DiPietro Janet Duprey Steven Englebright Herman Farrell Christopher Friend Gary Finch Michael Fitzpatrick Sandra Galef Andrew Garbarino Joseph Giglio Mark Gjonaj Andrew Goodell Richard Gottfied Al Graf Aileen Gunther Stephen Hawley Earlene Hooper Kimberly Jean-Pierre

Mark Johns Michael Kearns Ron Kim Brian Kolb Peter Lawrence Joseph Lentol Barbara Lifton Peter Lopez Donna Lupardo Chad Lupinacci Bill Magee William Magnarelli Nicole Malliotakis Shelley Mayer John McDonald, III David McDonough Thomas McKevitt Steve McLaughlin Michael Miller Michael Montesano Joseph Morelle Walter Mosley Francisco Moya

Dean Murray Bill Nojay Daniel O’Donnell Robert Oaks Steven Otis Philip Palmesano Anthony Palumbo Amy Paulin Crystal Peoples-Stokes Nick Perry Roxanne Persaud Victor Pichardo Gary Pretlow Edward Ra Andrew Raia Philip Ramos Diana Richardson Jose Rivera Annette Robinson Robert Rodriguez Nily Rozic Addie Russell

Sean Ryan Joseph Saladino Angelo Santabarbara Michelle Schimel Robin Schimminger Frank Skartados James Skoufis Michaelle Solages Daniel Stec Philip Steck Albert Stirpe James Tedisco Claudia Tenney Fred Thiele Matthew Titone Raymond Walter David Weprin Carrie Woerner Angela Wozniak Keith Wright Kenneth Zebrowski