The 2018-19 New York State Budget includes $600,000 for the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program that prioritizes research and technical assistance to benefit the dairy, livestock, field crops, fruit, vegetables, maple and honey production industries in St. Lawrence, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Essex and Clinton counties.

Nearly 100 farmers from across the six-county region participate in identifying projects and targeting funding to address uniquely northern New York challenges, and to maintain and grow the regional agricultural economy at the farm level and industry-wide.

“The work done by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is critically important to our farmers’ bottom lines and its research helps to strengthen key sectors of New York’s leading industry, including maple, dairy, and others, that are important to our region,” said Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton. “I was proud to advocate for this important funding and look forward to seeing how it strengthens our agriculture industry as a whole.”

Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, noted, “The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program makes efficient use of its state funding to address the critical needs of the diverse farming sectors and the North Country farmers that are essential economic drivers in our regional communities.”

“Without the hard work and perseverance of the state’s farmers, New York would not be the agricultural engine that it is today,” said Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome. “This funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program will help continue the important research for and provide assistance to farmers throughout the state to ensure that they continue to thrive for many more generations to come.”

Recent projects have addressed Northern New York microclimate impact and shorter growing season, as well as the potential to grow into a regional maple production capacity of $10 million per year, and the use of high tunnels for year-round fruit and vegetable production.

The January 2018 Northern New York Agricultural Development Program report highlights projects that focused on helping dairy cows and calves adjust to localized hot and cold climate extremes, applying tile drainage to improve field crop production and stewardship, advancing maple production, developing new opportunities for fruit and vegetable growers, and the results of the first-ever Northern New York bee health survey.

The results of past research projects funded through the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program are posted at www.nnyagdev.org.