First-Ever TAste NY Craft Beverage Week Set for Nov. 5-11

The first-ever Taste NY Craft Beverage Week will be held Nov. 5-11 in New York City. 

First announced in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2017 State of the State address, the annual event will boost the exposure of the state's world-class wine, beer, spirits, and ciders, helping to increase sales and drive economic growth. 

In anticipation of the inaugural event, a grand tasting was held Sept. 12 at the iconic Pier A Harbor House to connect producers from across the state to New York City restaurant, bar, and retail owners and purchasing agents, encouraging them to participate. 

Cuomo also launched a new webpage at https://taste.ny.gov/2017-taste-ny-craft-beverage-week#_blank this link where interested businesses can sign up to join Craft Beverage Week.

 

"The craft beverage industry in New York has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years and as a result, has become a critical driver of regional economies in every corner of this state," Cuomo said.

"Craft Beverage Week gives local producers a chance to partner with restaurants across New York to showcase their top-notch products, and I encourage craft beverage enthusiasts from near and far to come out and experience the very best our wineries, cideries, breweries and distilleries have to offer," he said.

 

During Craft Beverage Week, participating restaurants, bars, taverns and retail stores are encouraged to offer special events and promotions to highlight New York wine, beer, spirits and ciders and increase sales of these top-notch products. 

Events and promotions may include meet the brewer dinners, sommelier-led tastings, dinner pairings, tap takeovers, happy hour specials, New York craft cocktail specials, and informational seminars.

 

Businesses interested in participating had an opportunity to sample products from nearly 50 New York breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries at a tasting and networking event this afternoon. The event allowed producers to meet face-to-face with bar, restaurant and retail owners and showcase their products. 

The goal was to promote participation in Craft Beverage Week, and provide these businesses an opportunity to build relationships that will last beyond the week-long promotion.

Genesee Valley Research, Promotion Projects Receive State Money

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office:

More than $1 million for seven research, promotion and development projects to strengthen New York state's diverse agricultural industry and spur economic growth across the state was announced June 1 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The money, approved by the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, supports the continuation of malting barley research, enhances the processing capacity at a regional food hub, and assists with renovations to the New York Wine and Culinary Center, among other initiatives.

 

“Agriculture remains a core pillar of New York’s economy, and the greater Genesee Valley region is one of our most vibrant agricultural areas, supporting thousands of farms and agribusinesses,” Cuomo said. 

“These strategic investments in research, facilities, and training are a key part of the Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring blueprints and are essential to the success of the agricultural industry and its future growth,” Cuomo said.
 
The Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, in cooperation with the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, solicits applications each year to assist in the development of agriculture and agriculture-related businesses in nine counties in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates. 

Agriculture supports thousands of jobs in the Genesee Valley, and is one of the key areas of investment in both the Southern Tier Soaring and Finger Lakes Forward regional economic development plans.  
 
The authority has awarded more than $7.5 million to 67 projects in the Genesee Valley through the Agriculture Development Grant Program since 2011.
The Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority Board of Directors has voted to fund the following projects in 2017:

• Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station - $260,000:  to support the continuation of a multi-year research plan focused on malting barley in New York State, which is critical to advancing the state’s craft beverage industry.

• New York Wine & Culinary Center - $250,000:  for the promotion of local food and beverages and facility renovations.

• New York Wine & Grape Foundation - $200,000: to support the NY Drinks NY program, a promotional effort showcasing New York’s wine and grape industries.

• Foodlink - $200,000: to purchase machinery and equipment and make renovations that will enhance value-added processing operations at the regional food hub.

• Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park Corporation (The Technology Farm) - $84,527:  to expand and renovate space at the facility to increase capacity and efficiency of the Technology Farm’s operations.

• Northeastern Juice Cooperative - $50,000:  to develop a business plan, including marketing analysis and food safety certifications, for an apple juice processing facility.

• Western NY Maple Producers - $37,323:  for training and to purchase equipment to test processes for new products.  

 

Gillibrand Hosts New York Farm Day

From Jim Trezise at the New York Wine and Grape Foundation:  

New York wines and other farm-based craft beverages, farm-fresh food products, sensational seafood, and fine restaurants will soon travel to the nation's Capitol to tastefully remind Congress, the Administration and others that New York is a major agricultural state, and agriculture is a major part of the state's economy.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will host "New York Farm Day" in the Senate Kennedy Caucus Room at the crest of Capitol Hill.  

Attendees will include other senators, the New York Congressional delegation from the House of Representatives, members of the Committees on Agriculture and the Congressional Wine Caucus, legislative chiefs of staff, agricultural specialists in Congress and the administration, members of the Washington media, top area restaurants and fine wine shops.

"Senator Gillibrand has been a great advocate for New York agriculture, including the grape and wine industry as well as other farm-based craft beverages," said Jim Trezise, president of the statewide New York Wine & Grape Foundation, which organizes the event.  

"New York produces some of the world's best wines, beers, spirits and ciders, as well as other farm products and seafood, and is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. We are honored to partner with Senator Gillibrand in tastefully proving that to official Washington."

Since its inaugural launch in 2002 (then hosted by former Senator Hillary Clinton), New York Farm Day has become the most popular event on Capitol Hill, with attendance normally exceeding 500 guests.  

A major part of the attraction is that the people presenting the beverages and foods are the same people who produce them--it's not just another catered event.

Foods to be enjoyed at New York Farm Day:

Wines of Long Island--A selection of award-winning wines from Bedell Cellars, Coffee Pot Cellars, Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard, Kontokosta Winery, Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Martha Clara Vineyards, McCall Wines, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards, One Woman Wines & Vineyards, Palmer Vineyards, Paumanok Vineyards, Raphael Vineyards, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard, Suhru Wines, and Wolffer Estate Vineyard

K & B Seafood--Fresh Oysters and Clams 

Jewel--Seared Crescent Farm Duck Breast; Toasted Barley Salad with Raspberry-Coffee Vinaigrette and Petit Licorice Greens--by Chef Thomas Schaudel

Distilled Spirits of New York--Black Squirrel Distillery, Dark Island Spirits, Lockhouse Distillery, Tuthilltown Spirits, and Van Brunt Stillhouse

Orwashers Bakery--Morning Spelt, Levain Locale, Ultimate Whole Wheat, and Chardonnay Rustica & Sesamo Breads made with flour from Farmer Ground and North Country Farms, and starters made with grapes from Channing Daughters Winery                                        

New York State Maple Producers--Maple Cheesecake Delight made with maple granulated sugar and cream cheese sourced from New York dairies

Seaway Trail Honey--Seaway Trail Honey Raw Honeycomb Tidbits, Honey Cookies, Roasted Nuts and Honey, Bee Berry Melomel, Honey & Hops Mead

Cornell University--Cornell Big Red Cheddar

Wines of the Hudson Valley--A selection of award-winning wines from Benmarl Winery, Brotherhood Winery, Clinton Vineyards, Millbrook Winery, Robibero Family Vineyards, Stoutridge Vineyard, and Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery

Red Jacket Orchards--Black & Blue Stomp (black currant and blueberry juice); Apricot Stomp; Tart Cherry Stomp.

State University of New York at Cobleskill--Smoked Campus-raised Brown Trout on Micro Greens with Yogurt Cheese and Spicy Pumpkin Vinaigrette; Centennial Celebration Pumpkin Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream

                                                  

Wines of the Finger Lakes--A selection of award-winning wines from Fulkerson Winery, Goose Watch Winery, Hosmer Winery, Knapp Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Red Newt Cellars, and Wagner Vineyards

New York Wine & Culinary Center--Chilled Buckwheat Noodle Salad tossed with Small World Organics Kimchee, Naked Dove Beer Braised Bostrom Farms Pork, and Marinated Chef Select Vegetables

Craft Ciders of New York--A selection of ciders from Brooklyn Cider House, Descendant Cider Company, Embark Craft Ciderworks, Good Life Cider, Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, and Nine Pin Ciderworks

Upstate Niagara Cooperative--Intense Chocolate and Salted Caramel Milk, and Greek Yogurt

Li-Lac Chocolates--Hazelnut Truffles, Marzipan Squares, Non-pareils, French Mint and Butter Crunch Chocolate

                                            

National Grape Cooperative/Welch's--Red and White Sparkling Grape Juice

Cabot Creamery Cooperative--McCadam Adirondack, Cabot New York Extra Sharp, and McCadam Empire Jack Cheeses 

Wines of Lake Erie and Other New York Regions--A selection of award-winning wines from 21 Brix Winery, Johnson Estate Winery, and Liberty Vineyards & Winery (Lake Erie region); Coyote Moon Vneyards and Tug Hill Vineyards (North Country); Leonard Oakes Estate Winery (Niagara region); and Brooklyn Oenology (New York City) 

  

North Country Specialties--Moser's Maple Mini's, Adirondack Beef Company Beef Sticks, Lowville Producer's Squeaky Fresh Cheese Curd, Kraft-Heinz Philadelphia Cream Cheese (from Philadelphia, New York!), and Domaine Champlain Applesauce

Mercer's Dairy--Lemon Sparkling, and Cherry Merlot, Wine Ice Creams 

Dessert & Ice Wines of New York--A selection of award-winning wines from Casa Larga Vineyards, Fox Run Vineyards, Johnson Estate Winey, Lakewood Vineyards, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards,  Penguin Bay Winery, Sheldrake Point Winery, and Thirsty Owl Wine Company.

New York Apple Association--Fresh New York Apples and Red Jacket Orchards Cider    

                                    

Empire Brewing Company--Slo' Mo IPA, Skinny Atlas Light, Two Dragons, White Aphro

Wines of the Finger Lakes--A selection of award-winning wines from Anthony Road Winery, Billsboro Winery, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run Vineyards, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Treleaven by King Ferry, and Ventosa Vineyards

Chobani--Chili Lime, Roasted Red Pepper, Three Pepper Salsa, and Smoked Onion Parmesan flavored dips; and Apple Veg, Strawberry Banana, Mixed Berry, and Mango flavored drinkable yogurts

 

Great New York State Food and Wine Festival Begins Today in Clayton

The Great New York State Food and Wine Festival is this weekend.

It is in Clayton at the Cerow Recreation Park Arena. Times are 3 to 8 p.m. today; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $10 for adults; $9 for military; $5 for children and ree for those under age 12.

Go to http://www.1000islands-clayton.com/foodwinefestival/ to check out more details.

National Wine Day is Today!!

Grapes at Thousand Islands Winery

Today is National Wine Day.

This is not to be confused with National Drink Wine Day, which is celebrated in February.

Today, May 25, we will celebrate wine and those who make it, especially all those vintners in New York state. New York is the second largest producer of wine in the country after California and New York producers make top notch wine that constantly win national and international wine contests. 

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits -- in fact there are wines made from fruits such as apples, pears and cherries made right in New York state.

So on National Wine Day, enjoy a glass of their favorite wine with dinner, for dessert, with friends, at a restaurant, at home or at a wine-tasting event.

Cuomo Wants Tax Credits for Wineries, Distilleries and Hard Cider Makers

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to extend a tax credit to small wineries, distilleries and alcoholic cider makers to encourage an industry that he says helps promote the entire state.

In his State of the State address last week the Democratic governor also announced a plan to overhaul the regulations governing online sales of craft alcohol to make it easier for producers to sell their products on the Internet.
 
The tax credit is now given to small craft breweries, and Cuomo says it makes sense to offer the same incentive to craft wineries, distilleries and cider makers.
 
He estimates that the credit would save these businesses $2 million a year, money that he says they can reinvest.
 
Cuomo also wants to eliminate existing alcoholic beverage taxes that are imposed on free tastings.

Grand Opening for St. Lawrence County Wine Trail Set for Oct. 8

The St. Lawrence County Wine Trail is ready to officially open.

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/new-directional-signs-mark-st-lawrence-countys-new-wine-trail-grand-opening-celebration-set-for-oct-8-20150930 this story to check it out.

Partnerships Will Boost NY Beverage Industry

From the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

Two new partnerships to further support and grow the beverage industry in the Finger Lakes region have been announced.

A new partnership between Taste NY and the New York Wine & Culinary Center was unveiled following a successful listening session with beverage industry stakeholders during Gov. Cuomo’s Capital for a Day in Rochester.  

In addition, $200,000 will be provided to Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and its New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva for research on hops and malting barley, the two major ingredients in the production of beer.  

Capital for a Day was created by Cuomo to bring state government directly to the people it serves. The day-long event partnered state officials with residents, local leaders and stakeholders to examine first-hand the needs of a community and how New York state government can build upon its strengths and make a positive impact on its residents.

The New York Wine & Culinary Center, a premier attraction in the Finger Lakes that showcases New York’s dynamic agriculture, food and beverage industries through its classes, events, and farm-to-table restaurant, is partnering with Taste NY to further expand its dedication to New York-sourced products and ingredients, as well as promote and educate visitors about the diversity of New York agricultural products.
 
As part of the partnership, the New York Wine & Culinary Center will incorporate the Taste NY experience into its culinary and beverage educational classes.Recipes used in classes will include New York state products and will list the local farmers and suppliers of ingredients to familiarize students with the wide variety of New York agricultural products. 
 
The New York Wine & Culinary Center also will modify the majority of its promotional material with the addition of the Taste NY logo, such as its newly launched wine and culinary center farm-to-table food truck which features the branding.  

The food truck offers a menu that represents an extension of the cuisine of the Upstairs Bistro, the culinary center's popular restaurant, and uses nearly 100 percent New York state products on the road. 

The food truck will be on the move this summer at various events, wineries, breweries and more. 

Taste NY branding will also be added to the menu at Upstairs Bistro to reflect its dedication to local sourcing. It continues to offer a 100 percent New York wine and beer list, as well as a large number of spirit and cider products from the state.

The state will provide $200,000 to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station for research into hops and malting barley, the two primary ingredients in beer.

The money, included in the 2015-16 state budget, builds on $133,242 previously provided by the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority.

The experiment station is in the second year of a multi-year research plan aimed at testing the growing stock for malting barley, evaluating disease resistance of various varieties and evaluating which varieties are best suited to New York's climate.

The research being conducted by Cornell University will help meet the growing demand of hops and barley for use in farm-based breweries. Cuomo’s Farm Brewery Legislation, which has spurred the rapid growth of craft brewing in New York state, requires farm brewers to increase the percentage of New York-grown hops and all other ingredients in farm-brewed beer from 20 percent today to 90 percent by 2024. 

The 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, the most recent official statistics available, shows that 7,679 acres of land in New York was used to produce barley, while 19 acres of land was in use for growing hops. 

A Cornell Cooperative Extension hops expert estimates that more than 300 acres of land is in use statewide now to grow hops, with the number growing by 75 to 100 acres a year and with larger farming organizations considering large-scale hops growing operations.

 

Empire Winefest This Weekend at State Fairgrounds

The Empire Winefest is scheduled for 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the New York State Fairgrounds. 

Sample wines, go to the "paint while you drink wine party" (free!), stomp grapes with your bare feet (free!), play Giant Jinga, Yard Scrabble and Cornhole (free!) with your friends or spread out a blanket and listen to music. 

The food lineup is fantastic and you can see this and more on the event website: www.empirewinefest.com . There also is A Safe Ride Home Program being offered for $25. Go to the website for the program.

Tickets for the event can be purchased on the website or at any Wegmans. The group discount is available on the website only.

Naples High School Senior Wins Potato Growers Scholarship

Jacob Rathbun on his family farm

Jacob Rathbun of Naples, has been named the 2015 Empire State Potato Growers Association Scholarship winner.

The Empire State Potato Growers Association annually selects an undergraduate student residing in and attending college in New York to receive a $500 scholarship per academic year for up to four consecutive years of agricultural education.

Rathbun will graduate from Naples High School in June and then study for a degree in viticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. He plans to transfer to Cornell University to complete his bachelor's degree in viticulture and enology. 

His career goal is to start his own grape farm and winery and grain production enterprise.

Rathbun was raised on the family farm in Naples, where he has helped fit ground, plant, hill and harvest 350 acres of potatoes. This spring Jacob and his father Charles Rathbun planted 50 acres of their first crop of barley to sell to the craft brewing industry. 

He has a hobby planting of grapes on the farm. This summer he will visit vineyards and wineries in Italy. 

New York Post Slams Money for Agriculture in State Budget

http://nypost.com/2015/04/03/new-ny-budget-allocates-cash-for-beer-onions-and-pit-bulls/ 
 
This story just shows the disconnect between Downstate (or more appropriately, New York City) and Upstate.

Where do the knuckleheads at the NY Post think onions, wine, beer, Christmas trees and honey come from? Are they like the little boys who were fighting in the cafeteria in their elementary school where my mom worked years ago -- one yelling at the other because Boy #1 said milk came from cows? Boy #2 said that can't be because his mom buys it at the store.

Perhaps we should propose that everyone in New York City go without onions, beer, wine, maple syrup, honey, etc. for an entire week. What would life be like? 

Sure, you might be able to get these items elsewhere, but do you really want old onions or vegetables or Christmas trees grown in another state, harvested God knows when and then shipped here???

That's what is great about New York -- we can get onions, beer, wine, honey, maple syrup, vegetables, Christmas trees, etc. grown and produced right here. In good ol' New York soil. Right down the road. By your neighbor, perhaps.

They are fresh. They were harvested a couple of hours ago. 

The money you spend on them stays here in New York -- most often it stays right here in your hometown. Some counties depend on the production of various crops as a major part of their economies, such as apples in Wayne County, onions in Oswego County or milk in Wyoming County.

And it's proper for a little money here and there from New York taxpayers to help producers make better syrup, or bigger more tasty onions, or pest-free vegetables, or perfectly shaped Christmas trees. 

C'mon New York Post. Think a little. And remember -- no onions on your burgers for a week

"Wine" About the Winter at March 21 Event

Anyone fed up with this winter will have a chance to 'wine' about it at the upcoming "Wine About Winter" Festival in Syracuse.

The festival will be Saturday, March 21 at the OnCenter. Wines can be sampled from Pazdar Winery, Half Moon Cellars, Ashley Lynn Winery, Lakeland Winery, Merrit Estates, Thousand Islands Winery, Vetter Vineyards, Montezuma Winery, Miles Wine Cellars, Villa Verona Vineyard, Crooked Lake Winery and more. 

Tickets are on sale at all Wegmans grocery stores or at this website: www.syracusewinefest.com

Workshop on Hops, Wines Set for March 24 in Mexico

A workshop titled "Producing Farm Beverages" is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday March 24 at the Oswego County Federal Credit Union on Scenic Avenuie (Route 3) in Mexico.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is hosting the workshop called  at which  featured presenters Steve Miller, Cornell Cooperative Extension Hops Specialist, and Chris Gerling, manager of the Vinification and Brewing Laboratory at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, willlearn how to grow hops, as well as the rules, regulations and techniques for making beer, wine and hard cider.

Recent New York State laws have made it easier to produce and sell these items for New York farmers.

The price of the workshop is $15. Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required by March 20. To register, call 963-7286, e-mail LKW39@cornell.edu or send payment to CCE of Oswego County, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114.

Taste NY Event March 4 in Albany

On Wednesday, March 4, state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball will join local leaders at the Times Union Center in Albany to announce a new “farm to fan” initiative designed to support local agriculture and enhance the “Taste NY” experience for visitors.  

In a given year, annual attendance at the Times Union Center ranges between 550,000 and 650,000. This new partnership will be a tremendous opportunity to expand the reach of New York agricultural producers, Ball said.

“While this is the first such partnership of its kind between ‘Taste NY’ and a large-scale arena, I’m optimistic it won’t be the last,” Ball said.

The press conference announcing the partnership will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Times Union Center, 51 S. Pearl St., Albany. In addition to Ball, those attending will be Bob Belber, SMG Regional General Manager, Times Union Center; Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

Samples of local foods soon to be available at the Times Union Center will be at the press event.

Ag Budget Shows Gains, Reductions

Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his budget presentation Wednesday.

ITEMS PERTAINING TO AGRICULTURE IN GOV. ANDREW CUOMO’S PROPOSED BUDGET:

Alcoholic beverage tax exemption. Extend the wine tasting sales and use tax exemption to other alcoholic beverages. Currently, wine tastings are exempt from the sales tax. The budget extends this exemption to include beer, cider and liquor. The beer, wine and spirits industry has created nearly 1,600 jobs since mid-2011.

Diesel fuel business tax refund. Allow petroleum business tax refunds for farm use of highway diesel motor fuel. Farmers who purchase taxable highway diesel fuel will be able to request a refund for the portion used for farm use. This will relieve farmers of the need to maintain separate tanks for taxable and non-taxable diesel fuel.

Fees will be repealed in the Department of Agriculture and Markets, saving New Yorkers $40,000 annually beginning in 2015. They are:
** Commercial Feed License Fee. This $100 license fee is collected from manufacturers of commercial feed on an annual basis.
** Farm Product Dealer’s License Fee. This $20 license fee is collected annually from farm product dealers.
** Food Salvage Fee. This $100 license fee is collected from Food Salvage Dealers every two years.
** Liming Brands License Fee. This $20 license fee is collected from suppliers of liming materials every two years.
** Refrigerated Warehouse Fee. This $200 license fee is collected from refrigerated warehouses every two years.
** Rendering Plants Fee. This license fee is collected from operators of disposal plants on an annual basis. The annual license fee for disposal plants is $100, plus an inspection fee of $10 for each vehicle. The annual license fee for transportation services is $25, plus an inspection fee of $10 for each vehicle.
** Rendering Transportation Fee. This license fee is collected from rendering (i.e. animal remains) transportation facilities on an annual basis. The fee amount is $25
per service and $10 per vehicle.
** Seed Potato Inspection Fee. This regulatory fee of $34 is collected annually for the inspection of both seed potato plants and seed potato tubers for the NY Seed Improvement Project.
** Soil and Plant Inoculants Fee. This $40 license fee is collected every two years for the purpose of selling product brands which contain microorganisms for inoculation purposes.
** Farm Grower Permit Fee. This is a $40 fee charged to agriculture growers who apply for a one-year permit which allows the grower to employ more than five non-H2A migrant farm workers.
** Farm Labor Contractor Permit Fee. This is a $200 fee charged to farm labor contractors that apply for a one year permit to transport and provide non-H2A
migrant farm workers to a grower.

Broadband Internet. A $500 million New NY Broadband Fund is established to significantly expand the availability and capacity of broadband across the state. This program will build on the Connect NY Broadband Program and expand the creation of ultra-high-speed network and promote broadband adoption through a multi-pronged approach. This is important to farmers because many rural areas do not have broadband Internet capabilities.

Southern Tier and Hudson Valley Agricultural Enhancement Program. A total of $50 million from the Special Infrastructure Account will assist farmers and other related businesses in the Southern Tier ($30 million) and Hudson Valley ($20 million) with maintaining and growing their businesses. Money would be used for strategic farming initiatives, including preservation of farmland, to ensure farms in the Southern Tier and Hudson Valley remain intact and vibrant for generations to come.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The college would receive an additional $19 million multi-year investment to expand and upgrade infrastructure and teaching facilities at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to accommodate larger class sizes.

Department of Agriculture and Markets: Total funding for Ag and Markets is decreased by $12 million, primarily due to the discontinuation of one-time local assistance program funds ($6.9 million) and the completion of capital spending.

State Fair Revitalization. In addition to capital funding and other sources, the state fairgrounds in Geddes west of Syracuse will receive $50 million from the Special
Infrastructure Account to improve the experience for visitors by making enhancements at the fairgrounds and in the surrounding area.

Expand Access to New York Grown Agricultural Products. The budget include $1.1 million for the “Taste NY” program. This program is branding and expanding New York’s food and beverage industry by making the wide variety of foods and beverages grown and produced in the state readily available and recognizable to New Yorkers and the public nationwide. Taste NY products are available in more than 25 retail locations statewide, and more than 5.9 million people in 2014 attended the 55 events at which Taste NY participated.

FreshConnect farmers’ market program. The budget includes $350,000 for the FreshConnect farmers’ market program, which benefits farmers and consumers alike by awarding competitive grants to create and expand farmers’ markets in underserved communities throughout New York.

Hops. To increase the availability of locally grown hops for the state’s growing craft brew industry, the budget continues $40,000 for a program to evaluate and
test hop varieties in New York.

Commission to Study Protecting Dairy Farmer Profits. The state will create a commission to evaluate dairy prices and programs that would help maintain dairy farm profitability, including options to encourage dairy farmer participation in a Federal Margin Protection Program. The federal government recently unveiled a program to address the pricing hazards dairy farms face, and offers protection against losses due to declining milk prices. The commission, chaired by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture & Markets (now Richard Ball), will develop recommendations intended to encourage farmers to purchase this coverage protection offered through the USDA. The commission will submit its recommendations to the governor by May 1.

Maintain Core Agriculture and Markets Local Assistance Funding. Funding for core agricultural programs that protect health and safety, provide education, and support the promotion of New York state products will continue, Cuomo said. But as in past years, he has cut funding to some programs and eliminated funding for other programs.
 
Here is a list of some of the state ag programs and how much Cuomo has put into the budget for them:
 
Northern New York Agricultural Development -- $0, down from $600,000 in the 2014-15 enacted budget
Wine and Grape Foundation -- $713,000, down from $1 million in 2014-15 enacted budget
Local fairs -- $340,000, down from $500,000
New York Apple Growers -- $206,000, down from $750,000
Maple Producers Association -- $0, down from $150,000
North Country Low Cost Vaccines -- $0, down from $25,000
Farm Viability Institute -- $400,000, down from $1.5 million
New York Christmas Tree Farmers -- $0, down from $120,000
Agricultural Child Care (migrant) -- $6.521 million, down from $7.521 million
Dairy Profit Teams -- $150,000, same as last year
Dairy Profit Teams through the Farm Viability Institute -- $0, down from $220,000
Cornell’s Pro-Dairy -- $822,000, the same as last year
Berry Growers Association -- $0, down from $320,000
Ag in the Classroom -- $80,000, same as last year.
FFA -- $192,000, down from $350,000
Tractor rollover protection -- $0, down from $150,000

New York Wineries Make Top Wineries List

MSN has listed 101 top wineries in the country and nine of them are in New York state.

Go to http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/wines/101-best-wineries-in-america/ss-BBgVbYL#image=30 to check out the list.

St. Lawrence Wine Trail OKed by Governor

State Sen. Patty Ritchie just announced that her St. Lawrence Wine Trail has become a reality.

Here is what she had to say on Facebook: "The governor has just signed my bill created the St. Lawrence Wine Trail. The 80-mile path connects the big county's three wineries and craft brewer, helping us show off our good taste to tourists and area residents alike, while supporting new jobs, farmers and small businesses along the way."

Here is a map of the wine trail:

St. Lawrence County Wine Trail Included in State Senate Budget Proposal

Go to http://northcountrynow.com/business/st-lawrence-county-wine-trail-included-state-senates-budget-proposal-0110575 to check it out.

Bill Introduced for St. Lawrence County Wine Trail

State Sen. Patricia Ritchie just posted this on Facebook:

"I've just introduced my bill (S.6321) to create the St. Lawrence County Wine Trail. Stretching from Lisbon to Brasher, the Trail will help promote quality North Country wines, boost tourism and help farmers and this new industry grow, just as trails in Jefferson County and across the state have already done."

Here's a map to go with the post: 

Wine and Beer Summit Oct. 31 in Hyde Park

Anyone interested in going to this?

Wine and beer http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20131025/wine-beer-and-spirits-summit-to-be-held-oct-31-at-cia-in-hyde-park summit downstate later this week.