Authorizes and directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets to study and develop a long-term strategy for sustaining farming and food production in New York state.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7367
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 25, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE -- read once and referred 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 farm-
ing and food production in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is hereby
2 authorized and directed to study and develop a long-term strategy for
3 sustaining farming and food production in New York state. At such
4 commissioner's discretion, the plan shall be based on an analysis of
5 land use, economic trends, market trends, natural resource conservation,
6 and other factors necessary to develop a forward-looking statewide blue-
7 print for conserving productive land and maintaining the vitality of
8 agricultural production in New York state.
9 § 2. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is directed to give
10 particular focus to article 25-AA, section 300 et seq., of the agricul-
11 ture and markets law. Such commissioner should evaluate the efficiency
12 and thoroughness of past applications of section 308 of article 25-AA of
13 the agriculture and markets law, and determine if that section of law
14 has protected farmland without allowing section 306 of the agriculture
15 and markets law's grant of authority to preserve unacceptable practices.
16 Suggestions for reducing the number of inconclusive "sound agricultural
17 practice opinions" should also be included in the report.
18 § 3. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is further directed
19 to propose programs that encourage: the independent growth of farms less
20 than 220 total acres in size, or that employ "non-traditional" diversi-
21 fied sustainable practices, or that have aspects of their business not
22 directly related to commodity market sales.
23 § 4. Such strategy may be developed in consultation with agricultural
24 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
A. 7367 2
1 and such other organizations or person as the commissioner of agricul-
2 ture and markets shall deem appropriate.
3 § 5. Within one year of the effective date of this act, the commis-
4 sioner of agriculture and markets shall submit a report of any findings
5 and recommendations to the governor and the legislature.
6 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
