Agriculture and Markets, Department of

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/08.

Mission

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is charged with fostering a competitive and safe New York food and agricultural industry for the benefit of producers and consumers. Over the next year, the Department will continue to carry out its major responsibilities for encouraging the growth and economic health of the State's agricultural and food industry and conducting various inspections and testing programs to enforce laws on food safety, animal and plant health, and accuracy of labeling. Major Department initiatives will include the construction of a Pride of New York Wholesale Market in New York City, expanded funding for rehabilitation of the New York State Fair, and a new agricultural economic development program. The Department will also continue to act to preserve agricultural resources, improve soil and water quality and operate the annual State Fair in concert with the Industrial Exhibit Authority.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $179.9 million All Funds ($56.1 million General Fun; $44.4 million Special Revenue Fund, $79.4 Other Funds) for the Department of Agriculture and Markets. This is a decrease of $3.3 million All Funds ($4.8 million General Fund) from the 2007-08 budget. This change primarily reflects continued personal service and non-personal service growth, offset by a reduction of 15 employees and a reduction in funding for local initiatives.

The Executive Budget recommends $1.75 million for capital projects to maintain, repair and rehabilitate the State Fair's 20 major buildings and other structures and $2 million for a capital special revenue fund to continue support for development of private partnerships at the State Fair. Funding from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) is also provided for Soil and Water Conservation Districts, non-point source pollution control, and farmland protection programs, and a new EPF farmland protection account is created as well.

As part of the Executive Budget's $1 billion upstate revitalization effort, $3.5 million will be provided for additional State Fair infrastructure projects, as well as funding for a new agricultural economic development program and a Pride of New York Wholesale Market in New York City designed to connect upstate farmers with downstate consumers.

The Executive Budget recommends $21.6 million from the General Fund for local assistance to continue programs which provide valuable services to the State's agricultural community, including expanded funding for the Agribusiness Child Development program and the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition, new funding of $450,000 is included to provide assistance and incentives for farmers to transition to organic farming methods. Continued Federal appropriation authority will allow the Department to apply for Federal grants to fund Federal nutrition programs for senior citizens, animal health initiatives and food safety programs, including essential funding for the State Food Laboratory.

2008-09 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Agriculture and Markets, Department of (PDF)