STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7681
IN SENATE
February 7, 2018
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Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- (at request of the Legislative Commission
on Rural Resources) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when print-
ed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the
establishment of the "Farmland for a New Generation" program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
2 section 323-a to read as follows:
3 § 323-a. Farmland for a new generation. 1. The commissioner, together
4 with American Farmland Trust, shall oversee and administer a program
5 entitled "Farmland for a New Generation". Such program shall establish a
6 statewide resource center for farmland transition and conservation, and
7 a network of regional navigators to assist with farmland access and
8 transfer throughout New York.
9 2. The "Farmland for a New Generation" program may include, but shall
10 not be limited to: helping new farmers find affordable land to start an
11 agricultural business; enabling farmers to acquire additional land for
12 their agricultural business; assisting established farmers to find a
13 successor for their agricultural business; aiding farmland owners in
14 finding farmers willing to farm such farmland; supporting farm families
15 in transferring ownership of the farmland to successors; and assisting
16 farmers in protecting their land using conservation easements.
17 § 2. Subject to appropriation, funds shall be allocated to the depart-
18 ment of agriculture and markets for the purpose of carrying out the
19 provisions of section 323-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added
20 by section one of this act, by establishing a statewide resource center
21 in collaboration with American Farmland Trust for farmland transition
22 and conservation. Subject to appropriation, additional funds shall be
23 allocated to the department of agriculture and markets, for the purpose
24 of carrying out the provisions of section 323-a of the agriculture and
25 markets law, as added by section one of this act, by providing financial
26 assistance for regional navigators across the state within the Cornell
27 Cooperative Extension not-for-profit conservation organization and other
28 organizations.
29 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13344-05-8
