Dairy Month Recognizes State’s Largest Ag Sector

by Contributor | June 23, 2008 10:04 pm

Submitted article

New York is the third largest producer of milk in the United States. Though the number of small, family farms has decreased in recent years, dairy is still the state’s largest agriculture sector, generating $2.4 billion annually and providing one of the highest economic multipliers in the state. June is Dairy Month in New York. It’s a time when organizations and farmers across the region recognize local producers and educate the general public about the impact dairy farmers have on the larger economic picture. The Assembly Republicans hosted its annual Dairy Day reception in Albany recently. Several dairy producers, farm bureau representatives and dairy co-op leaders gathered to recognize the industry and its contributions.

According to Cornell University and the State Agriculture Department, for every new job created on a dairy farm, an additional 1.24 jobs are created in the community and for every dollar of output, an additional $.83 is generated. Dairy processing provides an additional 4.72 jobs for every job created in a plant—the highest multiplier in the state—and generates an additional $1.26 to the community for every dollar of produce sold.

Dairy producers and co-ops have made good business decisions and created more value-added products such as high-grade cheeses, gourmet ice creams and yogurts in various plants throughout the state that has helped to raise the demand for milk. The demand for milk on a global level has also helped New York farmers obtain fair market prices, which is good news for our entire economy. New York has more than 100 dairy processing plants. Approximately 25 percent of the state’s milk production is for fluid milk consumption. The rest is used to produce cheese, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt and ice cream.

Though dairy farmers have seen milk prices buoy in very recent years, prices prior to 2005 across the nation were at break-even points at best. Things like the New York State Dairy Assistance Program have helped provide some relief in recent years. Last year the State Legislature provided $30 million in the 2007-08 budget for farmers whereby qualifying farmers received $.30 to $.35 per hundred weight of eligible milk, up to 4.8 million pounds. It helped qualifying farmers receive about $16,000 in state assistance for farming.

Farmers Markets open throughout area

This is also the season when most farmers markets have opened.

In Oswego County, people can frequent: the Fulton Farmers market on Saturdays through Oct. 25; the Hillside Markets on Route 3 on the Seaway Trail on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 28.; Mexico Farmers Market on Main Street on Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 13; Oswego Farmers Market on West Bridge St. on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. through Oct. 9; and the Pulaski Farmers Market on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 26.

In Onondaga County, people can visit Bayberry Plaza Farmers Market on Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. through Nov. 5; Camillus Farmers Market at the Municipal Building lawn on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 31; Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market on Salina Street on Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Oct. 14; Skaneateles Farmers Market at the Community Center on Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 30; Syracuse Eastside Neighborhood Farmers Market at Lexington Avenue Thursdays from 3 to 8 p.m. through Oct. 30; and the Central New York Regional Market is open year-round on Thursdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. On the weekends, the market is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Tuesdays it’s open from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 200 North Second Street, Fulton, New York 13069, by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (315) 598-5185.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/dairy-month-recognizes-state%e2%80%99s-largest-ag-sector/

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