What's happening
This bill directs the commissioner of agriculture to develop a long-term strategy for sustaining farming and food production in New York.
Why it matters
Requires a comprehensive assessment of farming sustainability. , including analysis of land use, economic and market trends, and natural resource conservation, which could shape future agricultural policy and land preservation in New York.
Mandates a review of current farmland protection laws and practices,. specifically evaluating how effective existing statutes have been at both protecting farmland and preventing poor agricultural practices, potentially leading to legislative reforms.
Emphasizes support for small and non-traditional farms,. ensuring that the strategy addresses the unique needs of farms under 220 acres, those with diversified or sustainable practices, and those not focused solely on commodity crops—potentially increasing inclusivity and innovation in state agriculture.
Calls for broad stakeholder input and accountability,. as the commissioner may consult a range of advisory bodies and must report findings and recommendations to the state government within a year, fostering transparency and engagement in shaping agricultural policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Plan for Future Farming
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.86
- Referred to agriculture
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.177
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Plan to Sustain New York Farms
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2479
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to authorize and direct the commissioner of agriculture and markets to study and develop a long-term strategy for sustaining farming and food production in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is hereby authorized and directed to study and develop a long-term strategy for sustaining farming and food production in New York state. At such commissioner's discretion, the plan shall be based on an analysis of land use, economic trends, market trends, natural resource conservation, and other factors necessary to develop a forward-looking statewide blueprint for conserving productive land and maintaining the vitality of agricultural production in New York state.
§ 2. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is directed to give particular focus to article 25-AA, section 300 et seq., of the agriculture and markets law. Such commissioner should evaluate the efficiency and thoroughness of past applications of section 308 of article 25-AA of the agriculture and markets law, and determine if that section of law has protected farmland without allowing section 306 of the agriculture and markets law's grant of authority to preserve unacceptable practices. Suggestions for reducing the number of inconclusive "sound agricultural practice opinions" should also be included in the report.
§ 3. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is further directed to propose programs that encourage: the independent growth of farms less than 220 total acres in size, or that employ "non-traditional" diversified sustainable practices, or that have aspects of their business not directly related to commodity market sales.
§ 4. Such strategy may be developed in consultation with agricultural and economic development advisory bodies created or authorized by statue
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07793-01-7
S. 2479 2
and such other organizations or person as the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall deem appropriate.
§ 5. Within one year of the effective date of this act, the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall submit a report of any findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to authorize and direct the commissioner of agriculture and markets to study and develop a long-term strategy for sustaining farming and food production in New York state
Purpose
To authorize and direct the Commissioner to assess the effectiveness of certain provisions of law meant to protect against encroachment by development on to productive land, and to ensure agriculture's statewide vitality. The Commissioner is further directed to examine certain emerging agricultural practices and business models, particularly those that could be utilized by small to mid-sized farms, to determine how they might be encouraged in New York State.
Summary of provisions
The Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture and Markets is given one year to produce a report for the Governor and Legislature, which will describe a statewide blueprint for conserving productive land and maintaining the vitality of agricultural production in New York State. The Commissioner is directed to give particular focus to article 25-AA, section 300 et seq., of the Agriculture and Markets law. The Commissioner is further directed to propose programs that encourage the growth of certain emerging trends and practices that might benefit small to mid-sized farms.
Justification
The socio-economic vitality of agriculture in New York State is essential to the economic stability and growth of many local communities, and New York State as a whole. The study commissioned by this bill will help to conserve, protect, and encourage the development of productive agricultural businesses by examining two things: how we currently protect productive land, and how we can energize the businesses that depend on it. In particular, the blueprint commissioned by this bill will address criticisms concerning the functionality of critical statutory protections for farmland, and will suggest programs that can propel the majority of New York State's farmers in innovative new directions. The blueprint will help guide policymakers towards options that will make New York State's farmers more secure on their land, and in their businesses, for years to come.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.