§ 309-a. Young farmer advisory board on agriculture. 1. There shall be
established within the department the young 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 experience and studies may
indicate to be appropriate. The department shall provide necessary
secretariat and support services to the board.

2. The young farmer advisory board on agriculture shall consist of
twenty members, ten to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and
consent of the senate and assembly, selected 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 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 an urban farmer;

(5) 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.

(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;

(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) 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.

3. The duties and responsibilities of the young farmer advisory board
on agriculture shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) annually electing from its members a chairperson, a vice
chairperson, 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 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
farmers;

(d) produce an annual 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 farmers; and

(e) establish committees, as necessary, to develop projects relating
to the aspects of life for young and beginning farmers in the state.