The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Advocating for ‘every farmer’
Farm Bureau leaders meet with lawmakers to discuss challenges, accomplishments of CNY farmers
ALBANY, N.Y.>> Local leaders in agriculture want to make sure Albany is aware of the challenges and needs the industry is facing in Central New York.
Members from Madison and Oneida County farm bureaus recently spent time in Albany meeting with lawmakers to discuss the upcoming state budget and public policy priorities to support more than 760 farm families. They spent two days advocating for funding and legislation important to growing, strengthening and preserving agriculture, joining farmers from across the state as part of New York Farm Bureau’s Lobby Day.
They kicked off the twoday trip with the annual Taste of New York reception, a popular event attended by elected officials and decision makers that highlights the diversity of New York agriculture. Each county served samples of local products including wine and Verona-Vernon-Sherrill FFA’s maple syrup.
“It is a wonderful event where we can connect with lawmakers in a relaxed environment,” said New York Farm Bureau District Director and Oneida County member Jake Schieferstine. “It is also such a positive experience for the FFA students who get a first-hand look at how our legislative process works and the tremendous voice that Farm Bureau provides on behalf of every farmer.”
Representatives from each county spent a full day meeting with senators and assemblymembers, not only with their elected officials, but also with urban legislators whose districts are not comprised of farmland. They discussed the need for critical funding for agricultural research, farm safety and educational programs; proper investment in clean water infrastructure and the Environmental Protection Fund; and enacting meaningful legislation that will help farmers better compete and help offset detrimental costs associated with the minimum wage increase.
“We brought to Albany a positive agenda that we believe will address the many challenges that impact our farms,” said Madison County Farm Bureau President Darrell Griff. “We look forward to working with lawmakers to keep agriculture on a positive path.”
And while the Madison and Oneida county officials had the opportunity to taste test some of the VVS FFA-produced maple syrup during the two day trip to Albany, local residents another opportunity to taste some of the VVS’s maple products during the second Maple Weekend scheduled for March 25 and 26 at the high school.
As part of the weekend’s festivities, the VVS FFA will sponsor a Pancake Breakfast Buffet all four weekend days and sponsor several maple demonstrations.
Beginning at 9 a.m., halfhour guided tours of the VVS Agriculture Department’s Maple Syrup Laboratory will be conducted. The school’s facility includes a sap filtration system, sap preheater, reverse osmosis machine, set-up for a 6,000-tap maple operation with wood-chip fed evaporator, which burns renewable willow as a heat source. The willow is grown by the VVS Agriculture Department.
As a special program of Maple Weekend, New York Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball will attend an official New York Maple Weekend Syrup Season Ceremony at the VVS High School. Ball will be joined by Oneida County Maple Royalty and tap the “2017 Maple Tree” on Sunday, March 26 at 11 a.m. on the VVS High School lawn.