New York state has formed its first ever task force to examine ways to remove barriers within state government and promote growth of the state’s agriculture industry
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo earlier this month announced the formation of the Strategic Interagency Task Force on Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture (SILO).
Task force members, comprised of leadership from State government, as well as representatives from the field of agriculture, will work together to ensure that State agencies that deal with farmers are communicating regularly, interacting efficiently, and lessening regulations on farms, he said.
“This new task force is designed to improve how State agencies interact with farmers, producers, and each other to best expand the agriculture industry in New York,” said Cuomo.
“Agriculture is vital to the State’s economy and by using constructive methods to identify and decrease barriers and leverage industry strengths, we can work proactively to promote growth, create jobs and support new economic opportunities statewide,” the governor said.
The summit approach has already paid dividends for New York agriculture, Cuomo said. Since the inaugural Yogurt Summit, where state government listened to the needs of industry and acted accordingly, New York has become the yogurt capital of the nation and reclaimed its status as the number three producer of milk nationwide.
State officials said New York has also experienced a 72 percent increase in farm-based beverage licenses since 2011, in part as a result of reforms enacted at the first Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit.
Additionally, New York is traditionally the second highest producer of apples in the nation and by many accounts, 2013 was the best year for the state’s apple industry in a generation, according to the governor’s office. New York also ranks first in cabbage production, second in maple production, and third in wine and grape juice production. Industry members of the Task Force are:
Jeff Williams, director of Public Policy, New York Farm Bureau; Jim Bittner, president and general manager, Singer Farms, Appleton, N.Y.; Cathy Martin, co-owner, Martin Farms, Brockport; Ken Schmitt, retired vegetable farmer, Melville, N.Y.
Brian Reeves, co-owner, Reeves Farms, Baldwinsville, N.Y.; Dave Fisher, owner, Mapleview Dairy, Madrid, N.Y.; Tim Stanton, owner, Stanton’s Feura Farm and Markets, Feura Bush, and Tonya Van Slyke, executive director, Northeast Dairy Producers Association.
State agencies taking part in the Task Force include:
The Department of Agriculture and Markets, Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, Public Service Commission, Department of Health, Energy Research and Development Authority, Empire State Development, Department of Tax and Finance and the state Liquor Authority.