Finalists Named in Craft Beer Challenge

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office:

UPDATE: There was a tie in the competition held May 17. The two winners are Brewery Ommegang and Roscoe NY Beer.

 
The five finalists in the Taste NY Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge have been named. 

The finalists are invited to attend the final blind tasting event in New York City May 17, which will be hosted and judged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a panel of expert judges.

The five final breweries that received the most votes, in alphabetical order, are:

• Brewery Ommegang—Cooperstown, Otsego County
• Genesee Brewing Company—Rochester
• Prison City Pub and Brewery—Auburn, Cayuga County
• The Roscoe NY Beer Co.—Roscoe, Sullivan County
• Southern Tier Brewing Company—Lakewood, Chautauqua County

The Taste NY Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge was launched May 2 and invited New Yorkers to vote for their favorite New York craft brewery in celebration of the diversity, range and quality of New York’s craft beer industry. 

More than 170 breweries signed up to participate, and more than 42,000 votes were cast online.

Cornell Professor Wins Food, Plant Genetics Award

From Cornell University:

Edward Buckler and Dean Kathryn Boor

Plant geneticist Edward Buckler of Cornell University received the inaugural Food and Agriculture Sciences Prize from the National Academy of Sciences April 30 in Washington D.C. 

The award recognizes his transformative research on agricultural crops crucial to global food security.

Buckler, a research geneticist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and adjunct professor of plant breeding and genetics at the Institute for Genomic Diversity at Cornell University, is a pioneer in genomics and statistical genetics to improve the resiliency and nutritional value of agricultural crops. 

The $100,000 prize recognizes research by a midcareer scientist at a U.S. institution who has made an extraordinary contribution to agriculture or to the understanding of the biology of a species fundamentally important to agriculture or food production.

The prize was established to elevate food and agriculture research in the scientific arena and highlight the critical need for scientists working toward more productive, sustainable agriculture and better health through nutritious food.

“My scientific ambition has been to improve human lives and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture by creating better crops,” said Buckler. “This award reflects the vital work conducted by teams of scientists as we harness powerful tools to explore the natural diversity of crops, and work to ensure food security across the globe.”

Buckler’s lab uses statistical genetics to spearhead genome-wide association studies in crops such as maize, cassava, grapes and biofuel grasses. 

For the past two decades, his cutting-edge research has been key in identifying genes responsible for variation in some of the world’s most important crops. His findings have made it possible for plant breeders to more efficiently select for traits like yield and the nutritional value in crops vital to human health.

Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said, “Agricultural research has never been more vital as our rapidly expanding human population confronts the environmental disruption caused by climate change. The work of Ed Buckler is bolstering agricultural crops and advancing scientific discovery essential to the lives of billions of people.”

His landmark explorations of the maize genome have uncovered ways to use the natural genetic diversity to improve productivity, sustainability and nutrition. 

In one study, Buckler and his team identified natural variation key for making maize varieties with 15 times more vitamin-A. The findings are helping to address a key driver of global malnutrition in developing countries.

He and his group also focus on other critical issues related to global food security, such as hybrid vigor, local adaptation, drought tolerance and disease resistance.

Due to its affordability and effectiveness, Buckler’s approach to analyzing natural genomic diversity has reached far beyond his lab. His methods are used to research more than 1,000 different species and have influenced how the human genome is studied. 

To make their work even more accessible to the scientific community, he and his group also developed original open-source software now used by thousands of research groups around the world.

The NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences is endowed through gifts from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Craft Beer Trail Bill Passes State Senate

From State Sen. Patty Ritchie's office:

A bill that would help support local businesses and farmers by creating a “craft beer trail” has passed the New York state Senate. 

New York state-grown hops

Similar to the way in which wine trails have been established throughout the state, the bill sponsored y Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie, (S.1914) would create a unique tourist destination — known as the “North Country Craft Beer Trail” — by linking craft breweries in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

“More and more frequently, people are looking to eat—and drink—locally made products,” said Ritchie, who serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“By creating the North Country Craft Beer Trail, and potentially establishing other Craft Beer Trails throughout the state in the future, we can support local businesses, create jobs and boost the bottom lines of our hardworking farmers.”

In recent years, New York’s craft beer sector has grown dramatically, with the number of breweries growing from 95 in 2012 to 320 in 2016. In addition, New York state is fourth in the country when it comes to craft beer production and the industry has a total economic impact of $4 billion. 

This legislation is the latest effort by Ritchie to highlight locally produced goods. Last week, the Senate passed two measures supported by Ritchie that will help expand markets for New York’s hard working farmers, which will provide the opportunity to easily enjoy fresh, locally grown products across the state.

The measure was sent to the Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Assemblyman Bill Magee. 

Veterinarians Can Apply Now for Loan Repayment Program

From NEW YORK STATE
 
Qualified veterinarians who agree to provide veterinary services for livestock in Delaware, Sullivan and St. Lawrence counties can now apply for the 2017 Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.
 
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. It was created to provide incentives for veterinarians to fill the most serious veterinary shortage situations in the U.S. to protect the food supply and preserve animal and public health.
 
“This program addresses critical veterinary needs in our state and across the nation while providing valuable work experience for many highly skilled doctors,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. 

“It encourages veterinarians to practice in communities that play an important role in maintaining the food supply but that also have limited access to vital animal care," Ball said. "By improving veterinary medicine in these areas, we can ensure our animals are healthier and threats to public health are reduced.”
 
The program will pay up to $25,000 per year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in a National Institute of Food and Agriculture-designated veterinarian shortage area for three years. State Animal Health Officials identify about 185 priority shortage situations across the U.S. each year.
 
In New York State, Delaware, Sullivan and St. Lawrence counties are considered high-priority shortage areas. A map of all National Institute of Food and Agriculture-designated veterinary shortage situations can be found at https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-map .
 
About $4.2 million will be awarded nationwide to veterinarians serving in public, private or specialty practices in the areas of food animal medicine, public health, epidemiology and food safety.
 
To be eligible to apply to the program, an applicant must:
 
** Have a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or the equivalent, by July 1, 2017, from an eligible college;
** Have a minimum qualifying educational loan debt of $15,000;
** Secure an offer of employment or establish and/or maintain a practice in a National Institute of Food and Agriculture-designated veterinary shortage situation;
** Provide certifications and verifications as defined in the Request for Applications;
** Satisfy any previous obligation for veterinary service to the federal government, state government, or other entity prior to beginning service under the loan repayment program; and
** Not have a federal judgment lien against his/her property arising from federal debt.
 
Applications for the loan repayment program must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, May 26. Veterinarians awarded funding in 2014 and 2015 may submit a renewal application.
 
More information about the program is available at https://nifa.usda.gov/program/veterinary-medicine-loan-repayment-program .

Counselors to Learn about Ag Careers at Food and Farm Experience

Now is the time to sign up to attend the 2017 Food and Farm Experience, sponsored by New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education.

The annual event -- scheduled for Oct. 18-20 -- will provide middle and high school career counselors with a unique opportunity to learn about agriculture. The repeat focus is a response to the overwhelming success and feedback from last year’s program that highlighted career exploration and development for New York students.
 
The event, held this year at The Beeches Inn and Conference Center in Rome, Oneida County, is an annual summit focusing on learning about agriculture and making connections with a full array of people connected to farming and food production.
 
This year’s in-depth experience will connect participants to an industry that offers more than 300 ag-related career opportunities.  The participants will meet with industry experts, employers, and post-secondary educators. Participants will be selected via nominations and applications, with a goal to develop extensive agricultural understanding, networking and connections.
 
Food and Farm Experience will be packed with essential and useful information about agriculture for a focused group of up to 35 career educators. The materials provided will include the tools, resources and connections needed to assist their students who may be interested in agricultural careers.  

Participants will visit a variety of locations over the two day experience, from farm to fork and participate in interactive workshops and panel discussions to get a feel for the multitude of career opportunities available in agriculture.
 
The event begins with a dinner Oct. 18. It will include tours, panel discussions, a trade show and more before winding down at noon Friday, Oct. 20.
 
Food, lodging and workshop material costs will be covered by the New York Farm Bureau Foundation.
 
An application must be postmarked or received electronically by July 14.
 
For those interested in attending the 2017 Food & Farm Experience or if you know someone to nominate, contact New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education at (800) 342-4143. Applications are also available at www.nyfbfoundation.org

ROPS Can Save Farmers' Lives

A column by state Sen. Patty Ritchie, chair of the Senate ag committee:

Ritchie

When most people think of dangerous jobs, farming probably does not immediately come to mind. 

However, the fatality rate for farmers is 800 percent higher than all other American workers, with the leading cause of death on a farm being tractor rollover incidents.

In the past few years, I have been proud to have secured $1.2 million, including $250,000 in the new state budget, for a program that helps to protect farmers from tractor rollover incidents. In the last two years, nine farmers have died in tractor rollovers.

As Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, I have worked to ensure the continuation of the Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Rebate Program, which equips tractors with special safety equipment to avoid tractor overturns. ROPS has reduced the risk of injury by up to 99 percent in the event of a tractor overturn.

The 10-year-old program, operated by the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, has outfitted more than 1,500 tractors across the state. However, nearly half of the tractors on New York’s 35,000 farms, and a majority of those over 20 years old, have no safety equipment and pose a great risk of tractor instability.

Unfortunately, many farmers think they are exempt from this risk and the high cost of ROPS kits ($800 to $2,500) are two factors why farmers do not have them. The benefit of this program also rests in the savings to the state farming community and its insurers of $12 million. 

As the 2017 Legislative Session continues, I will be working to support this essential program, as well as other programs that will not only protect of our state’s hard working farmers, but will help them grow their operations for years to come.   

For more information the ROPS Rebate Program, visit my website at www.ritchie.nysenate.gov. 

Vote Now for Your Favorite Craft Brewery in New York

New York state has recently kicked off the Taste NY Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge, in which New Yorkers are invited to vote for their favorite New York craft brewery in celebration of the diversity, range, and quality of New York’s craft beer industry. 

Voting is now open at https://taste.ny.gov/craft-beer-challenge this link. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will host a final tasting event for the five New York breweries with the most online votes on May 17 in New York City, coinciding with American Craft Beer Week, which runs from May 15-21 and celebrates craft beer across the country.
 
"By reducing regulation and removing unnecessary barriers to growth, New York’s craft beverage industry is thriving, driving tourism and creating jobs across the state," Cuomo said. "The inaugural Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge will celebrate the best of New York's craft beers and connect our world-class beverage producers to new consumers and markets. When New Yorkers buy New York products, everybody wins.”
 
New York is now home to 321 microbreweries, farm breweries and restaurant breweries, up from only 50 total breweries in 2011 and representing a 542 percent growth in the industry. 

This growth was achieved through a series of legislation and economic incentives, including the creation of the Farm Brewery License in 2012, providing tax credits for brewers, modernizing the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and providing promotional funding. No state has done more to assist and promote craft manufacturing than New York.