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

 

Gillibrand, Slaughter Write to USDA About Poultry Salmonella Testing Problems

From Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office:

U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California and Reps. Rosa Luisa DeLauro of Connecticut and Louise Slaughter of New York on June 27 wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging them to revise current pathogen testing protocols to improve test accuracy and protect the public health. 

The members wrote to Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack in response an article published this month by the Agricultural Research Service which suggested the USDA's use of three antimicrobial sanitizers commonly used to reduce pathogens on poultry carcasses may cause false-negative results for Salmonella.

Testing for Salmonella plays a critical role in the department’s inspection program to protect the safety of the food supply and the public’s health. Given the diversity of processing plants in the country and recent results of the Broiler Carcass Rinsates study, the members are calling on the department to ensure that the use of chemical sprays and dips do not create false negative test results.

“We have to be vigilant when it comes to monitoring the safety of our food. This report is a reminder of the importance of good and efficient oversight when it comes to maintaining a safe food supply,” said Gillibrand, the first New York senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in about 40 years.

“We should never be placed in the position to question testing results in our poultry," she said. "The USDA should provide a thorough risk assessment and respond to the recent scientific findings of false-negative results to ensure we can remain confident in the safety of the food we buy for our families.”

“Recent studies calling into question the safety of the nation’s poultry processing are deeply troubling and highlight a major deficiency in our food safety system. The USDA must take these studies seriously and take immediate action to ensure that we are not masking the threat of Salmonella,” said DeLauro. 

“Ensuring the health and well-being of American people is of the utmost importance and the USDA must do more to keep food-borne illnesses out of the nation’s food supply. American lives depend on it,” she said.

“This study is extremely troubling. We should never have to worry that the food we put on our plates could expose our families to dangerous Salmonella infection because of possibly faulty testing methods by the USDA," said Slaughter, of the Rochester area. 

"I look forward to hearing more from Secretary Vilsack so we can be sure that the USDA is doing everything it can to eliminate false-negative results and protect public health,” she said.

New Federal Standards Finalized to Reduce Poultry Foodborne Illnesses

From the office of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service finalized new federal standards that will reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses from poultry. 

The new standards are targetd at Salmonella and Campylobacter in chicken parts and ground chicken and turkey products. The Food Safety and Inspection Service will use these new pathogen standards to assess the food safety performance of establishments that process these types of poultry products. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that Salmonella and Campylobacter cause nearly two million foodbome illnesses, 27,500 hospitalizations, and over 450 deaths each year. Further, the CDC reports current food safety regulations have not reduced the number of illnesses caused by Salmonella since 2000.

U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin, in announcing the new standards, said they have pushed for updated and improved pathogen standards to better match the variety of poultry products consumers purchase today. 

The new pathogen standards, sampling methods, and public notification regarding food company performance will provide a more thorough assessment of a company’s food safety system and whether additional measures to ensure food safety are needed.

The new standards will require Salmonella contamination rates of no more than 25 percent for ground chicken and no more than 13.5 percent for ground turkey. In contrast, the old standards allow 44.6 percent contamination for ground chicken and 49.9 percent for ground turkey.

For chicken parts, the standards will require Salmonella contamination rates of no more than 15.4 percent and Campylobacter contamination rates of no more than 7.7 percent. The standards also will require Campylobacter contamination rates of no more than 1.9 percent for ground chicken and no more than 1.9 percent for ground turkey. Previously, there were no federal standards for pathogens in chicken parts or for Campylobacter in ground chicken and turkey.

As part of their ongoing efforts to improve food safety, the senators have also asked the USDA to update pathogen standards for beef and pork products.

Gillibrand Hosts Farm Day

Gillibrand

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is hosting Farm Day at 5:30 p.m. today in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Farm Day brings together producers of New York’s award-winning wines, farm-fresh products and seafood, as well as leading restaurateurs from across New York state to showcase some of New York’s very best.

“Farm Day is an opportunity for farmers, vintners, restaurateurs and producers across the state to remind Americans of all that the State of New York has to offer,” Gillibrand said. 

“From our dairy farms to specialty crops, vineyards to fine dining, Farm Day allows New York to show some of its best qualities and all we have to offer, all in one location in Washington, D.C. These displays encourage agricultural growth and promote good nutrition as essential parts of New York’s health, tourism, and our statewide economy,”‎ she said.

Here are companies and farms that have contributed to Farm Day:

Micosta Enterprises – Hudson Valley syrups and juices; black & red currants; blackberries; salad and vegetables featuring Micosta Green Supreme Dressing

Schenectady County Community College – Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho; Hudson Valley Duck Rillette on a Crostini with Pickled Red Onions; Carrot Cake.  Ingredients sourced from Old World Farm and The Carrot Barn at Schoharie Valley Farms

State University of New York (SUNY) at Cobleskill – Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with herbed Chevre and Ricotta Cheese drizzled with a Black Peppercorn Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette; Schoharie County Apple Cranberry Crumb Bars

Empire Brewing Company – Slo' Mo IPA, a new proprietary IPA brewed with a blend of New York State farm grown hops, with a full hoppy flavor and a crisp, dry finish

LI-LAC Chocolates – Butter Crunch and French Mint Chocolate, Non-Pareils, Almond Bark, and Caramel Squares 

Orwasher's Bakery – Morning Spelt, Levain Locale, Ultimate Whole Wheat, Cabernet Rustica breads made with flour from Farmer Ground and North Country Farms, and starters made with grapes from Channing Daughters Winery                                        

Wines & Spirits of New York City – A selection of award-winning products from Brooklyn Oenology, Brooklyn Winery, and Kings County Distillery

Jewel – Crescent Farm Duck Breast; Farro Salad; Blackberry-Coffee Coulis; Licorice Greens by Chef Thomas Schaudel

K & B Seafood – Fresh Oysters and Clams 

Wines of Long Island – A selection of award-winning wines from Bedell Cellars, Bouquet, Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard, Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Martha Clara Vineyards, McCall Wines, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards, One Woman Wines & Vineyards, Paumanok Vineyards, Pellegrini Vineyards, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard, and Wolffer Estate Vineyard

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

   

Cabot Creamery Cooperative – Cabot New York Vintage, Cabot New York Extra Sharp, and McCadam Empire Pepperjack Cheeses                                     

Mercer's Dairy – Strawberry Sparkling, Spice, Chocolate Cabernet, and Red Raspberry Chardonnay Wine Ice Creams 

North Country Specialties – Maple Mini's, Maple Straws, Tri-berry Jam over Philadelphia Cream Cheese with Crackers, and Sweet Tango Apples  

Seaway Trail Honey – Fresh Light Honeycomb, Three Village Cheese Company Cascadita Goat Cheese Drizzled with Light Honey, Honey Chocolate Cookies, Wixon's Honey Creamed Cinnamon and Creamed Apricot Honey on Baguettes, Catskill Provisions Honey Whiskey

Wines & Cider of the Thousand Islands – from Coyote Moon Vineyards, Kaneb Orchards, Thousand Islands Winery, and Tug Hill Vineyards 

Dessert & Ice Wines of New York – A selection of award-winning wines from Dr. Konstantin Frank, Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard, Heron Hill Winery, Hunt Country Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards, Penguin Bay Winery, Sheldrake Point Winery, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, and Tug Hill Vineyards

New York Wine & Culinary Center – Charcuterie Board of Local Meats, Cheeses, and Accompaniments; Chocolate Bark with Seneca Salt. Ingredients sourced from Bostrom Farms, Ithaca Water Buffalo, First Light Farm & Creamery, Muranda Cheese Co., Old Chatham Sheep Herding Co, Artesian Foods, Jake's Gouda, The Piggery, Lively Run Goat Dairy Farm & Creamery, Oak & Osage Farm, Italy Hill Produce, Shimmering Light Farm, Doan Family Farms, Seneca Salt Co., and Luke's Mill Creek Farm

Wines of the Finger Lakes – from Atwater Estate Vineyards, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards, Lucas Vineyards, Red Newt Cellars, and Swedish Hill Winery

Wines, Spirits & Ciders of the Finger Lakes – A selection of award-winning products from Anthony Road Winery, Billsboro Winery, Buttonwood Grove Winery, Honeoye Falls Distillery, Hosmer Winery, Knapp Winery, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Owera Vineyards, Penguin Bay Winery, Silver Thread Vineyard, and Wagner Vineyards

Chobani – All natural Greek yogurt

Cornell University – Consider Bardwell Rupert Reserve, Nettle Meadow Kunik, and Cornell University's Charter Day Cheddar Cheese

National Grape Cooperative/Welch's – Concord Grape Juice, and Red and White Sparkling Grape Juice 

Upstate Niagara Cooperative – Non-fat Greek Yogurt; Intense Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Flavor of the Month milks

  

Wines of Lake Erie and Niagara – A selection of award-winning wines from 21 Brix Winery, Black Willow Winery, Johnson Estate Winery, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Liberty Vineyards & Winery, and Schulze Vineyards & Winery 

Food Network – Chilled Tomato Soup with Corn Relish and Kale, and Goat Cheese Bread.  Ingredients sourced from Kelder's Farm & U-Pick, Flying Pigs Farm, Sycamore Farms, Painted Goat Farm, Hudson Valley Fresh

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

New York State Maple Producers – Soft Maple Sugar Shapes 

  

 

    

Tug Hill Vineyards in Lewis County Receives Funding

From Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand:

A total of $62,924 is being awarded to Tug Hill Vineyards in Lewis County to increase wine production at the facility. 

The federal funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program and will be used to purchase essential equipment needed to efficiently increase wine production at Tug Hill Vineyards.

Schumer

“This is federal funding is great news for Lewis County and Tug Hill Vineyards,” said Sen. Charles Schumer. “This funding will provide Tug Hill the funds needed to help them to expand and provide more consumers with their quality products. Making sure we support our agricultural businesses in Upstate New York will always be a priority of mine.”

 “New York’s world-class vineyards produce some of the finest grapes, grown by hard-working farm families,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee who wrote to USDA in support of Tug Hill’s project. 

Gillibrand

“This investment in the Tug Hill Vineyard will help ensure they get the resources they need to expand their business with the purchase of critical equipment. This will help bring their products to market and continue to drive economic growth in their region.”

“Increasing the diversity of agricultural production and adding value to the crops grown in Lewis County are key components of economic development. The economic impacts associated with Tug Hill Vineyards’ growth and success impacts all of Lewis County,” said Larry Dolhof, president of the  Lewis County Development Corp. “The Vineyard is directly responsible for an increase in local employment, retail sales of wine and berries, and tourism related to the wine industry and the vineyards special events capacity.”

“We are so pleased to receive this funding to support the expansion of Tug Hill Vineyards,” said Sue Maring, owner of Tug Hill Vineyards. “We look forward to procuring state of the art equipment necessary for increased wine production.”

Tug Hill Vineyards was established in 2007 and consists of 20 acres of grapevines on a 40-acre  estate. Tug Hill Vineyards produces red and golden raspberries as well as blueberries in addition to grapes. They also produce a variety of wines both dry and sweet.

USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants are available to towns, State agencies, tribes and non-profits. They are used to support development of rural small businesses, distance learning networks and adult job training education programs. The RBEG program’s grants finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses to grow the economy.

Pollinator Health Task Force Praised

News from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) praised the Obama Administration for creating a Pollinator Health Task Force to develop a federal strategy to promote the health of honeybees and other pollinators. 

The new interagency task force will help address troubling pollinator declines in California, New York and elsewhere by improving federal coordination to protect the long-term viability of native and managed pollinators.

“New York’s agricultural industry is a key part of America’s economy and pollinators play such an important role in that success,” said Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “With the alarming drop in pollinators, farmers across America have been suffering from a decrease in agricultural productivity. This new federal strategy to promote the health of honey bees and other pollinators is a step in the right direction. It will allow research to be advanced to better understand and rectify this drastic loss that is impacting America’s agricultural system.”

During negotiations for the 2014 Farm Bill, Boxer and Senator Gillibrand introduced a honeybee and pollinator amendment that among other provisions would have created an interagency task force dedicated to developing a federal strategy to address pollinator declines and sustain a healthy pollinator population. The amendment was included in the Farm Bill passed in the House, but was not included in the final bill.

Since 2006, winter hive losses for managed honeybee hives have averaged nearly 30 percent, compared to historical losses of 10 to 15 percent. The losses in part have been attributed to a phenomenon commonly referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder, which results in sudden and catastrophic hive depopulation. 

Honeybees and other pollinators are under threat by a multitude of stressors including habitat loss, disease, exposure to certain pesticides and management practices. The new task force has been directed with creating an action plan to focus federal efforts on understanding, preventing and recovering pollinator populations.

More Schools to Serve Chobani Yogurt

The pilot program to put Chobani Greek yogurt in New York schools is being expanded.

Read about the expansion http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/gillibrand-hanna-announce-expansion-of-greek-yogurt-pilot-program-in-school-lunches-to-four-more-states- at this link.

Senators Want No Cuts to SNAP

From U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:

Ahead of the first public meeting of the Senate and House 2013 Farm Bill conference committee members on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today led a coalition of 38 of her Senate colleagues urging the conferees to fight against harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

 

The senators also urged the negotiators to reject all eligibility changes that would prevent millions of children, seniors, and families facing a constant struggle against hunger from accessing nutritious food and hundreds of thousands of low-income children from accessing free school meals.

 

The 2013 Farm Bill conference committee members are working on a compromise between the two different pieces of legislation passed by the Senate and House earlier this year.

 

In June, the Senate passed a Farm Bill which included $4.5 billion in cuts to the SNAP program while the House passed legislation last month with even steeper cuts, slashing $40 billion during a 10-year period.

 

The 39 senators wrote in a letter to Farm Bill Conference Committee Members:

 

“While we support efforts to improve the integrity of the SNAP program, we encourage conferees to reject all SNAP eligibility changes designed to erect new barriers to participation, preventing millions of seniors, children and families from accessing food assistance. 

 

"The eligibility changes also will mean an additional 280,000 children would lose free school meals because children in SNAP households are automatically eligible for school meals.

 

"Changes would also increase administrative costs by requiring states to re-determine eligibility for SNAP, even if a household was deemed eligible for other state and/or federal assistance programs… SNAP is a safety net program in the truest sense of the world; there is no other more fundamental human need than food. Please consider the needs of these struggling families, children, and senior citizens as you negotiate the final Farm Bill and the future of the SNAP program.”

 

The letter was signed by Sens. Charles Schumer, (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark Begich (D-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Jon Tester (D-MT), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Tim Johnson (D-SD).

 

“Families who are living in poverty – hungry children, seniors, troops and veterans who are just trying to figure out how to keep the lights on and put food on the table – did not spend this nation into debt, and we should not be trying to balance the budget on their backs,” Gillibrand said.

 

"They deserve better. Millions more won’t be able to put food on the table if draconian cuts to food stamps become law. I stand with my Senate colleagues urging committee members to reject harmful cuts for the most vulnerable,” she said.

Gillibrand Hosts New York Farm Day

This news is from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., will host the 12th annual “New York Farm Day” on at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Russell Senate Office Building's Kennedy Caucus Room.

Farm Day brings together producers of New York’s award-winning wines, farm-fresh products and seafood, as well as leading restaurateurs from across New York State to showcase some of New York’s very best in Washington, D.C.

“I’m proud to continue the Farm Day tradition in Washington, DC,” Gillibrand said. “As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am focused on improving the health of our economy and the health of our families.

"From rising childhood obesity and outdated nutritional standards to the economic crisis facing our dairy farmers and specialty crop farmers, agriculture issues in Washington affect families in every corner of New York. Strengthening our agricultural sector and promoting good nutrition for New Yorkers are essential to our long-term health and economic growth,” she said.

“New York Farm Day is a tasteful and effective way to educate policy makers that New York is a major farm state, and that agricultural is a major part of the state economy,” said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation.

“The grape, grape juice and wine industry now has production facilities in 53 of New York State’s 62 counties, and generates over $3.7 billion in economic benefits annually," Trezise said. "Our ability to grow and contribute even more depends on the business climate, which is shaped by public policy, so we thank Senator Gillibrand for hosting this immensely popular and effective event.”

Gillibrand is the first New York senator in nearly 40 years to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. In  her four years on the committee, Gillibrand traveled across New York state, visiting farms and holding listening sessions to hear concerns and ideas straight from farm communities with the most at stake in the Farm Bill.

The Senate Farm Bill included a number of provisions Gillibrand fought hard to strengthen, including specialty crops, expanding rural broadband, reform of dairy pricing, expanding markets, increasing access to capital and extending disaster relief to commercial fishermen, and other important measures. 

To see a list of which New York farms or businesses are presenting at Farm Day, go to https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=14127c71b03f64b8&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Dce9dcad029%26view%3Datt%26th%3D14127c71b03f64b8%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbScmrp4_9eOWxwN2ACXinFm5aseCA 

House Passes Farm Bill Without Food Stamps

Go to http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/11/19416749-house-passes-farm-bill-without-food-stamp-measure?lite to see the story.

Then check out the other story here about a group of senators, including New York's Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, asking senate leaders to ensure food stamps are in the farm bill.

Gillibrand, Schumer, Other Senators Fight to Keep Farm Bill Whole

This release is from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office:

As the U.S. House of Representatives voted today on a split farm bill that only addresses agricultural interests and leaves out nutrition programs including food stamps, U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, both D-N.Y., joined with 15 other senators urging that Senate Leadership keep the Farm Bill whole.

The senators said House Republicans unprecedented legislative maneuver disrupts a decades long balance between urban and rural interests which has ensured American farmers have the protections they need to grow enough food to feed people across the world, while also ensuring that American families have the resources they need to meet their basic food needs.

Gillibrand called on Sen. Harry Reid and other Senate leaders to oppose any effort to split that legislation that would undermine Americans farmers and hungry families.

“Just as important as the health of our agriculture industry, is the health and nutrition of our children, seniors and military families who are struggling for their next meal,” Gillibrand said.

“This unacceptable and unprecedented plan by House Republicans to split this bill into two parts jeopardizes the rural-urban connection in the farm bill and puts critical food assistance for our children, seniors and military families at risk of even more draconian cuts in the House," Gillibrand said. "Hungry children deserve better than this complete dysfunction from the House turning a long standing and bipartisan coalition upside down."

The other senators who joined the two New York Democrats in writing a letter to Harry Reid are Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc.; Mark Begich, D-Alaska; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Angus King, I-Maine; Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Bernie Sanders, Democratic Socialist-Vt.; Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; Tom Udall, D-N.M.;  Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

Gillibrand Pushes for Tax Exemption to Boost NY Wine and Craft-Beverage Sales in Canada

Go to http://www.cnybj.com/News/Articles/TabId/102/ArticleId/36919/language/en-US/gillibrand-pushes-for-tax-exemption-to-boost-ny-wine-and-craft-beverage-sales-to-canada.aspx#.Uazi6ZzCaP8 to see the story.

Gillibrand Opposes Cut to SNAP in Farm Bill

Another story on U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's take on the to-be-written Farm Bill.

Go to http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/today_in_washington_gillibrand_1.html#incart_river_default to see the full story.

Gillibrand to Discuss Farm Priorities Today at Noon

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will talk today at noon about the upcoming vote on the Farm Bill.

As the Farm Bill moves through the Senate Agriculture Committee as early as this week, reaching the full Senate the following week, Gillibrand will outline her priorities for the legislation to strengthen New York State’s agriculture industry and rural communities.

Gillibrand, New York’s first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly four decades, is fighting to include measures that can strengthen specialty crop insurance, improve access to credit for struggling farmers, invest in rural broadband, and connect locally grown, farm-fresh produce with communities that need it, as well as reform dairy pricing and strengthen income for dairy farmers.

As of 2010, New York State is home to more than 36,000 farms that stretch across nearly 7 million acres of land, according to USDA data. 

Gillibrand, Maine Sen. Collins Push for Milk Pricing Reform

Go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/usda-milk-pricing-dairy_n_3128360.html to read the story.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Discusses Antibiotic Use In Food on Momsrising.org Blog

Go to http://www.momsrising.org/blog/antimicrobial-drug-resistance-is-something-we-can-not-afford-to-ignore/ to see what New York's junior senator is saying about antibiotics in food.

Gillibrand Releases Dairy Plan for New York

Here is information from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on her dairy plan:


As the Senate gets set to again take up the Farm Bill in the coming weeks, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a comprehensive plan to help provide long-term support and certainty for New York’s dairy farmers by providing a fair safety net for small producers, and improving inventory reporting and transparency.

The cornerstone of Senator Gillibrand’s plan is the new, bipartisan Gillibrand-Collins Dairy Pricing Reform Act to reform the way the USDA sets dairy prices. 

The Farm Bill that passed the Senate last fall included many programs to help New York farmers, but the House of Representatives failed to complete their work on the bill, and none of the new programs became law.

While dairy remains New York’s leading agricultural product – producing nearly 13 billion pounds for a value of $2.75 billion – dairy farmers are suffering from a range of setbacks. High fuel costs, and severe grain and hay shortages continue to push up the cost of production, yet the price paid to farmers remains stagnant– putting a squeeze on farmers, preventing New York from maintaining its competitiveness among other dairy states, and holding our farms back from a growing business.

As a result of the loss in business from flawed policy, dairy farms across New York state are forced to cut resources, and sell off cows. Nearly 65,000 cows were lost from New York dairy farms from 2002 to 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

·         In Western New York, there were 121,000 cows in 2002 and 110,800 cows in 2012, a loss of 10,300 cows.

·         In the Rochester Finger Lakes Region, there were 95,900 cows in 2002 and 108,800 cows in 2012, a gain of 12,900 cows.

·         In Central New York, there were 144,800 cows in 2002 and 127,900 cows in 2012, a loss of 16,900 cows.

·         In the Southern Tier, there were 75,700 cows in 2002 and 66,700 cows in 2012, a loss of 9,000 cows.

·         In the Capital Region, there were 82,500 cows in 2002 and 65,300 cows in 2012, a loss of 17,200 cows.

·         In the North Country, there were 138,600 cows in 2002 and 120,400 cows in 2012, a loss of 18,200 cows.

·         In the Hudson Valley, there were 15,900 cows in 2002 and 10,100 cows in 2012, a loss of 5,800 cows.

Senator Gillibrand’s Dairy Agenda

Accurate Dairy Pricing
Gillibrand and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) will be introducing the Dairy Pricing Reform Act next week when the Senate returns to session.  This bill forces the USDA to begin the hearing process to restructure the pricing system and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to release the Department’s recommendations to Congress. This bill builds on language Gillibrand secured in the Senate Farm Bill (S. 10) that requires the USDA to study different methods of determining prices, including competitive pay pricing or shifting from a 4 class system to a 2 class system. 

Dairy Income Fairness
Gillibrand introduced and is leading the effort to pass the Dairy Income Fairness Act, legislation that would give farms with 200 cows or less a guaranteed $6.50 margin – the cost of milk minus the cost of feed – and exempts the first 200 cows from supply management.  The bill would also extend the current Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program for nine months, pegged to inflation, while the USDA establishes a new and more sustainable program for dairy farmers.

Cold Storage Inventory Reporting
Inventories of certain types of classified cheeses have the ability to significantly influence trading activity on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. However, cold storage facilities are currently not required to report their inventories of dairy products to the USDA Natural Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and only do so on a voluntary basis, creating an environment of volatility and uncertainty for dairy trading. In fact, by February of 2009, the low point of the dairy crisis, NASS reported that Cold Storage Inventories had been inflated by about 9 percent. 

Gillibrand led the effort on a provision in the Senate Farm Bill that would make reporting to the NASS Cold Storage Report mandatory, and give the USDA the authority to audit warehouse inventories to help bring more stability to dairy trading prices. Gillibrand will continue to press this measure as the Senate considers the Farm Bill again this spring.

Transparency and Information for Dairy Farmers
To provide more transparency into dairy cooperatives and equip dairy farmers with more of the information they need, Gillibrand secured language based on her bill, the Democracy for Dairy Producers Act, in the Senate Farm Bill (S.10). The legislation would require dairy cooperatives that engage in bloc voting to provide their member farmers with written notices when votes occur and requires each milk marketing order to establish an information clearinghouse to provide information regarding any proposed milk marketing order reforms.  This information is required to be published on a website and distributed to producers.

 

Gillibrand Will Discuss Dairy Plan Today

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., plans a news conference today to discuss the status of New York farms and a plan she has to support the state's dairy industry.


She said Monday her plan will include a more accurate dairy pricing system and ways to improve inventory reporting and transparency. 

The Senate plans to take up discussions of the Farm Bill in the coming weeks. Gillibrand said the Senate last fall included many programs to help New York farmers in its bill, but the House of Representatives failed to complete their work on the bill, and none of the new programs became law.

The news briefing will be at 12:30 p.m. today. Check back here for information after the news conference.