Official to hear Farm Bill concerns
‘Listening tour’ event set 3-4:30 p.m. Friday
GREENWICH, N.Y. » State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball will be in Greenwich on Friday to seek input on the 2018 Farm Bill, a multi-year federal law that governs many agriculture and food programs.
Ball will hold a “listening tour” event, to hear from local residents, from 3-4:30 p.m. Friday at Washington County Fairgrounds’ Administration Building.
The current Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2014, expires at the end of 2018.
Many programs are facing potential cuts when this happens. The listening session will help shape the agricultural policies and programs New York State will support in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Key topics will be discussed such as the dairy sector, land conservation, the industrial hemp industry, state and private forestry programs, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, invasive species, food safety, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously called Food Stamps.
New York is the second largest producer of apples and maple syrup, second in cabbage and snap beans, and third in grapes, grape juice and wine. It also ranks third in dairy production, which is the largest segment of the state’s agricultural sector.
New York’s dairy industry generates more than $2.5 billion in farm-gate sales, constituting nearly one-half of the state’s total agricultural receipts. The grape, grape juice and wine industry alone generates more than $5 billion in economic benefits annually to the state.
For those who cannot attend Friday’s meeting, written comments can be e-mailed to FarmBill@agriculture.ny.gov.