Politics

New York’s farmers work hard to bring the best quality products to their neighbors, tables and kitchens around the state and world. As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I know it’s important to get feedback from hardworking farmers to identify ways the state can assist in helping to provide them with new opportunities to expand their businesses. In an effort to help support farmers and their operations, I recently launched a “Farm Family Survey” that seeks input on a number of issues,

Bees, both wild and managed, play a key role in our state’s agriculture industry, helping crops of all kinds thrive. However, these powerful pollinators are under attack by parasitic mites. The varroa mite, a tiny parasite that attacks honey bees, has infected 90 percent of the bee colonies surveyed this year.

For this month’s “Community Spotlight” I am showcasing an event that countless people across our region and beyond look forward to each and every year – the city of Oswego’s Harborfest, which runs from July 27 to 30. Every year, more than 100,000 attend this free festival, which has featured hundreds of national, regional and local performing artists since it began in 1988. In addition to live music, Harborfest also boasts activities for children, including a children’s parade, a midway, vendors, local food and so much more.

For the past several months, I have heard from hundreds of property owners, small businesses and communities throughout our region who have been struggling to recover from this year’s crippling flooding. I am pleased to report that help is finally here. Legislation, which I was proud to cosponsor, that establishes the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Relief and Recovery Program was just signed into law and provides $45 million in funding for recovery efforts.

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am always working to find new ways to support our state’s and especially our region’s hardworking farmers. One of the easiest ways you can join me in the effort to boost our local agriculture industry is by visiting the many farmers’ markets across Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties.