‘Growing Strong’: Ritchie Releases 2018 Agriculture Plan

by Contributor | March 7, 2018 3:32 pm

Senator Patty Ritchie, chair of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, released the 2018 Senate Republican Majority Plan for Agriculture and Jobs.

The plan, called ‘Growing Strong,’ is a comprehensive package of initiatives to support New York’s family farmers, and will once again lead the budget conversation about the importance of agriculture to our economy, good health and future growth.

The ‘Growing Strong’ plan will help strengthen family farms, increase opportunities, and create new jobs in the agriculture industry by expanding markets, reducing production costs and investing in the state’s leading industry.

“With our ‘Growing Strong’ plan, the Senate is once again stepping up to lead the way in supporting our state’s leading industry,” Senator Ritchie said. “With its focus on reducing production costs, finding ways to create new markets, continuing our efforts to encourage new farmers and securing record funding for what would be the fourth straight year, this plan ensures success for the entire agriculture industry today and for generations to come.”

The plan includes full restoration of the nearly $13 million in cuts to agricultural programs proposes in Executive Budget, doubles the farm worker wage credit to strengthen farmers’ bottom lines and includes a special focus on dairy farms, a leading part of New York’s agricultural sector.

Among its key recommendations:

Strengthening dairy

The plan would provide a tax credit to encourage dairy farmers to invest in facilities and equipment that will allow them to take advantage of growing demand for “value-added” dairy products, like flavored drinks, yogurts and other products that can satisfy existing, wide demand, such as in growing ethnic minority communities within the state (S.7851, sponsored by Senator Ritchie);

It also directs up to $10 million in state funding for energy efficiency on dairy farms, to help lower costs and improve efficiency.

Support craft beverage industry

The plan would allow craft brewers, distillers and cideries to cross-promote one another’s products (S.5853, sponsored by Senator Ritchie) and invests in research into hops and other grains to help support growers and ensure the industry succeeds.

Creating new markets

Another bill (S.7217, sponsored by Senator Ritchie) would provide tax credit to manufacturers who use New York-grown products, like dairy and crops, in their end-products, creating valuable in-state markers for more farmers.

Support for beginning farmers

The Senate continues its leadership role in supporting new farmers by proposing a new plan to allow the state to lease unused property, such as land at unused hospitals, to beginning farmers (S.7841, by Senator Ritchie) and, recognizing a surge in interest among women, encourage more women to pursue farm careers (S.7843, by Senator Ritchie).

Protect farmland – and Fort Drum

Another measure would expand the state’s open-space and farmland protection programs to reward farmers who defer development of mission-threatening wind turbines in close proximity to Fort Drum and other military installations, helping to protect jobs in and around installations, and preserving the future of farming in rural communities (S.7817, by Senator Ritchie).

For more information on these bills and others included in the “Growing Strong” plan, visit www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/growing-strong-ritchie-releases-2018-agriculture-plan/

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