A plan to preserve the future of family farming, increase investment in agriculture programs and a renewed push to encourage people to “eat local,” are highlights of the 2014 Annual Report of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released by the committee’s chair, state Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton).

“Throughout 2014, my colleagues and I worked diligently to grow our state’s largest industry by doing things like repealing costly mandates affecting farmers, restoring and increasing funding for vital programs and launching new initiatives like Young Farmers NY,” said Ritchie, whose district covers northern St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton, Gouverneur, Oswegatchie, Waddington, Lisbon, Madrid, Louisville, DeKalb, DePeyster, Hermon, Edwards, Fowler, Rossie, Macomb, Morristown, and Hammond, plus Jefferson and Oswego counties.

“By doing this, we laid groundwork that has positioned us for even further growth in the year to come. Last year was extremely productive for our committee, and I’m looking forward to us accomplishing even more in 2015 when it comes to continuing to grow agriculture and supporting New York’s hardworking farmers.”

Highlights of the report -- which is available on Ritchie’s website, www.ritchie.nysenate.gov -- include:

· the launch of Ritchie’s Young Farmers NY program, which aims to protect New York’s agriculture industry by providing young people with resources and incentives to enter careers in farming or agribusiness

· final passage of a bipartisan bill that directs the state agriculture commissioner to find ways to support aging farmers

· the adoption of a state budget that includes support for agricultural programs

· final passage of legislation to increase the amount of locally grown and produced foods purchased by state agencies

· new efforts to protect people and animals from deadly diseases like EEE, Lyme, West Nile and rabies through increased funding for preventative programs as well as the creation of the “21st Century Workgroup for Disease Elimination and Reduction,” a group of experts in diseases, infection and public health for the development of effective vaccines.

As a freshman senator, Ritchie was first named chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2011 and has served as its leader since then. In this role, she promoted increased funding for agriculture programs by more than $21 million above the governor’s recommendation and launched new initiatives to protect the future of agriculture and cut red tape and to help ensure farming remains New York’s largest industry.