Senate and Assembly Agriculture Chairs Hinchey and Lupardo Honor Industry with Resolutions Commemorating Ag Week in New York

ALBANY, NY – In conjunction with National Agriculture Week, the NYS State Legislature is proclaiming March 21st – 27th as Agriculture Week in New York. Senate and Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairs, Senator Michelle Hinchey, and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo sponsored the resolution in each house.

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “We are incredibly lucky in New York State to have such a rich and diverse farming legacy made possible by the skilled work of our farmers who grow our food, guard our natural resources, and bolster our economy. Too few people truly understand how vital these contributions are, which makes Ag Week the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about New York’s leading industry and honor those who work tirelessly to keep our food supply safe and our lands healthy. As Senate Agriculture Chair, I take great pride in standing up for our farmers and food businesses, shoulder to shoulder with my Assembly counterpart, Donna Lupardo. We’re thrilled to invite all New Yorkers to join us this week as we celebrate the critical work of our ag community.”

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “We can never spend enough time bringing attention to the role agriculture plays in our lives and in the economic vitality of the state. Agriculture Week gives us another opportunity to highlight this importance of this industry. From farm to market, this labor-intensive effort faces numerous challenges including changing weather patterns and supply chain disruptions. Our commitment, as always, is to find ways to not only celebrate New York agriculture, but to support and promote its long-term success.”

One of the biggest sectors in the state, the agricultural industry contributes approximately $6 billion in economic output. Home to more than 33,000 family farms, nearly 20% of New York’s land area, or nearly 7 million acres, is farmland. New York continues to be a national leader in food production, ranking in the top ten in the production of 30 different commodities. The state is first in the production of cottage cheese, sour cream, and yogurt. NYS is the second largest producer of apples, cabbage, snap peas, and maple syrup. It ranks third in grapes and dairy, the largest segment of New York’s agricultural sector.

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