Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush today sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo, urging the governor to reconsider the drastic cuts to the agriculture budget. Included in the executive budget proposal is just $1.2 million that 18 agriculture organizations and programs will have to apply and compete for.

“Governor Cuomo has reiterated a commitment to improving the New York state economy and creating jobs, yet he has only proposed $1.2 million for valuable agriculture programs and research,” said Blankenbush. “Agriculture is the state’s #1 industry and one of the biggest economic drivers and job creators in upstate New York, yet the governor calls $1.2 million ‘fair’.”

When Governor Cuomo met with the Assembly Minority Conference last week, Assemblyman Blankenbush asked him to explain why he proposed just $1.2 million for agriculture. The governor repeated that the agriculture budget is “fair” even as the assemblyman tried to explain that agriculture contributes to economic development.

“Without the restoration of significantly more funding for agriculture, programs like the New York Farm Viability Institute and Pro-Dairy will be forced to shut down effective March 31, ending all important ongoing research and education,” Blankenbush added. “As the ranking Minority member on the Assembly Agriculture Committee, I will vigorously fight for more funding for agriculture to ensure that our farmers and agribusinesses have the resources they need to not only survive, but also prosper and continue to help grow our economy.”

Blankenbush also noted that not only has the executive budget effectively eliminated 2011 funding for the New York Farm Viability Institute, but all unspent monies from previous year projects also have been swept.