S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10195
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 5, 2022
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Lupardo) --
(at request of the Department of Agriculture and Markets) -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the
beginning farmer advisory board on agriculture
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 309-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added
by chapter 129 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
§ 309-a. [Young] BEGINNING farmer advisory board on agriculture. 1.
There shall be established within the department the [young] BEGINNING
farmer advisory board on agriculture, to advise and make recommendations
to the state agencies on state government plans, policies and programs
affecting agriculture, as outlined below, and in such areas as its expe-
rience and studies may indicate to be appropriate. The department shall
provide necessary secretariat and support services to the board.
2. The [young] BEGINNING farmer advisory board on agriculture shall
consist of [twenty] TWENTY-TWO members, [ten to be] appointed by the
[governor, with the advice and consent of the senate and assembly,
selected] COMMISSIONER for their experience and expertise related to
areas of board responsibility. The board shall be comprised of diverse
members of the agriculture industry as follows:
(a) Of the [twenty] TWENTY-TWO members appointed to the board:
(1) one shall be from the department;
(2) one shall be from the empire state development corporation;
(3) one shall be an officer of the Future Farmers of America (FFA);
(4) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR;
(5) one shall be an urban farmer;
[(5)] (6) one shall be from the New York Farm Bureau; [and
(6) fifteen shall be from the general public appointed as follows:
five to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, five to
be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and five to be appointed by
the governor.]
(7) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE CORNELL SMALL FARMS PROGRAM;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13958-02-2
A. 10195 2
(8) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE;
(9) ONE SHALL BE AN ORGANIC FARMER;
(10) ONE SHALL BE A VETERAN FARMER;
(11) ONE SHALL BE FROM THE YOUNG FARMERS COALITION;
(12) ONE SHALL BE A MEMBER OF A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED IN FARM OWNERSHIP; AND
(13) TEN SHALL BE ENTRY LEVEL FARMERS OR NOVICE FARMERS, AGRICULTURE
SERVICE PROVIDERS, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS TO FARM OPERA-
TORS, CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION REPRESENTATIVES, ADVOCACY ORGANIZA-
TION REPRESENTATIVES, ACADEMICS, AGRICULTURAL LEADERS, AND/OR OTHERS WHO
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE ADVISORY BOARD ON ISSUES, INCLUDING,
AMONG OTHERS: ACCESS TO LAND AND CAPITAL, GRANTS, BUSINESS PLANNING,
FARM PROCESSES AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
(b) Each member shall:
(1) be interested in the preservation and development of agriculture
and preservation of the agricultural way of life in New York;
(2) be [under the age of forty-five years old at the beginning of the
member's term] ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN FARMING, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES,
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND/OR PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE AGRICULTURAL
COMMUNITY IN THE STATE;
(3) [derive at least fifty percent of the member's personal income
from farming or agricultural activities in the state;
(4)] be a resident of the state; and
[(5)] (4) be appointed for a term of three years and may serve until
their successors are chosen; provided, however, that of the members
first appointed, six shall serve for a term of one year, six shall serve
for a term of two years and eight shall serve for a term of three years.
(c) Members shall serve without salary but shall be entitled to
reimbursement of their ordinary and necessary travel expenses.
(d) The members of the board shall meet [quarterly] TWICE A YEAR.
3. The duties and responsibilities of the [young] BEGINNING farmer
advisory board on agriculture shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) annually electing from its members a chairperson, a vice chair-
person, and a secretary of the advisory board at the advisory board's
first meeting of the calendar year;
(b) communicating to the [general] public, the federal government, and
the state government the importance of [young and] beginning farmers to
agriculture in the state;
(c) [identify] IDENTIFYING issues relating to [young and] beginning
farmers in the state and provide timely advice to the commissioner, the
governor and the relevant state agencies, with regard to the promotion
of agriculture as a career path and the economic development of [young
and aspiring] BEGINNING farmers;
(d) [produce an annual] PRODUCING A BIENNIAL report and provide such
report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the
speaker of the assembly on or before the end of each calendar year. Such
report shall identify and prioritize policy issues which affect [young
and aspiring] BEGINNING farmers; and
(e) establish committees, as necessary, to develop projects relating
to the aspects of life for [young and] beginning farmers in the state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.