New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker last month announced his department’s Farm Bill priorities after meeting with congressional members in Washington D.C.

Addressing issues such as dairy price stability, renewable energy, conservation and specialty crop assistance, Hooker emphasized the important role the farm bill will have in securing a viable future for New York agriculture. Hooker was in Washington D.C. with his state counterparts from the Department of Environmental Conservation and Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to discuss all of the various titles of the Farm Bill, in addition to other issues facing New York. Following is a list of provisions that Ag & Markets will advocate to be included in the next Farm Bill:

1. Establish a safety net for dairy prices — by either extending the existing Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program and expanding its cap to 4.8 million pounds, or by establishing a floor price of $15.58 per hundredweight for fluid milk, benefiting dairy farmers throughout the Northeast.

2. Enhance conservation programs — by increasing funding and improving programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, making them more advantageous for New York’s farmers and land owners.

3. Increase support for specialty crops — through increased funding for block grants, technical assistance that addresses trade barriers, research to advance plant breeding genetics and the Market Access Program.

4. Create renewable energy opportunities — addressing both the supply and demand sides of the energy equation, increasing the renewable fuels standard, creating incentives for cellulosic ethanol production and biofuel feedstock production, and increased funding for biofuels research and development.

5. Improve nutrition programs — by ensuring that New York receives its fair share of the benefits provided by the Food Stamp Program and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, as well as expanding our schools’ ability to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

6. Increase funding for organics — to allow for research and data collection at the national level that will assist in adequately implementing crop insurance and other production oriented programs.

7. Create a separate forestry title — that will provide technical, educational and outreach assistance to private forest landowners through existing efforts like the Forest Stewardship Program.