Provides that the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall have the responsibility to monitor potential weather threats to agricultural production; authorizes the commissioner of agriculture and markets to declare an agricultural weather emergency; directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets to maintain a webpage on agricultural weather emergencies; directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets, in collaboration with the division of homeland security and emergency services, to establish an emergency weather alert system to support New York farmers in protecting their crops, livestock and the safety of their workers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10335
IN SENATE
May 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. C. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to agricul-
tural weather emergencies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The article heading of article 26-B of the agriculture and
2 markets law, as amended by chapter 204 of the laws of 2021, is amended
3 to read as follows:
4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES [FOR ANIMALS]
5 § 2. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
6 section 412 to read as follows:
7 § 412. Agricultural weather emergency. 1. The commissioner shall have
8 the responsibility to monitor potential weather threats to agricultural
9 production, particularly elements of weather events that could have a
10 negative impact on crops and livestock in New York state but are not
11 closely reported on by publicly available weather services.
12 2. The commissioner shall have the authority to declare an agricul-
13 tural weather emergency ahead of significant weather events. During
14 such emergencies, the commissioner shall take steps to proactively alert
15 farmers of incoming weather conditions and provide assistance in
16 response to weather-induced damage to crops and livestock.
17 3. The commissioner shall maintain a public webpage on agricultural
18 weather emergencies, which shall include notice of active and incoming
19 agricultural weather emergencies, in addition to online resources to
20 prepare for and recover from such emergencies.
21 4. The commissioner, in collaboration with the division of homeland
22 security and emergency services, shall establish an agricultural emer-
23 gency weather alert system to support New York farmers in protecting
24 their crops, livestock and the safety of their workers.
25 a. Such alert system shall allow individuals to opt in to text or
26 email alerts tailored to their selected region of the state and to
27 specific crops or livestock or groups of crops or livestock.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15593-02-6
S. 10335 2
1 b. Each alert shall include brief descriptions of the following, in
2 addition to online resources to seek further information:
3 (i) incoming emergency weather conditions;
4 (ii) the potential impact such weather may have on the selected crops
5 or livestock; and
6 (iii) actions farmers can take to protect their crops, livestock and
7 workers' safety when applicable.
8 § 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
9 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
10 rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
11 effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
12 effective date.
