Governor Kathy Hochul today announced several major proposals to provide a boost to New York’s dairy and agricultural industry, workforce development programs and youth leadership and education opportunities as part of the 2024 State of the State. The Governor unveiled plans of cross-cutting initiatives that will strengthen the industry and promote a more resilient future for our agriculture, food, and forestry sectors.
“New York's agriculture industry is a key part of our economy, our communities and our way of life," Governor Hochul said. "As the first governor from upstate New York in nearly a century, I know first-hand how critical this sector is. I’m committed to supporting the growth of agriculture and food production and am continuing to focus on policies and investments that support our farmers.”
Last year, Governor Hochul implemented several initiatives to not only safeguard our agricultural industry but to also help it grow and thrive while protecting our local food system. The 2024 State of the State lays out a plan for the industry to become stronger, more resilient, and proactive against future threats spanning health, environment, labor, and education industries.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Supporting our farmers and our agricultural community is essential to building a stronger, more resilient future for New York State. As we move into the new year, we have truly doubled down on our work on filling in the gaps in our food system, protecting the natural resources we depend on, and developing a strong generation of future leaders. I want to thank Governor Hochul for moving this work forward, and proposing bold initiatives that will have a real impact, laying the groundwork to leave New York in better condition than we found it.”
Bolstering New York’s Dairy Industry
As part of the 2024 State of the State Governor Hochul has proposed $34 million in capital funding over two years for on-farm fluid milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure to mitigate transportation issues during periods of intense winter weather and road closures, which will improve dairy supply chain efficiency and avoid raw milk dumping related to emergency events.
The State is also committed to assisting its farmers to mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce their carbon footprint, which is a critical component of both nutrient management and water quality goals. Governor Hochul will commit $21 million to a new Alternative Waste Management and Enhanced Precision Feed Program that will further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, provide opportunities to sequester carbon, and scale assistance to meet unmet farmer demands.
Governor Hochul will also direct key investments into the Eastern Finger Lakes Coalition of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to build professional capacity and accelerate agricultural and resiliency-related projects on farms of all types. This will also include support for farmers to invest in more cover crops, improve culverts to reduce runoff, and other investments to improve soil health and reduce water quality impairments in the region.
One-Stop Shop for our Agricultural Workforce
As agricultural employers and employees navigate a changing work landscape, Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State proposes a full suite of tools, including office hours to take questions, webinars for information exchange, a web page for accepting questions and presenting information, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), hotline information, and additional resources to be created and managed by Cornell University’s Agricultural Workforce Development Program. This effort will be supported by New York State Department of Labor, the New York State Public Employee Relations Board, and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
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Categories: New York, Government & Policy