New York State Assembly, Albany, New York 12248 |
2002 Legislative Newsletter |
Sheldon Silver, Speaker William Magee, Chairman Summer 2002 |
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Assembly Takes Steps to Manage Deer Population |
As part of that effort, the Assembly has passed a bill (A.11166) which would give the Department of Environmental Conservation greater flexibility in managing the deer populations. The bill includes granting hunters the ability to transfer deer management permits, changing of the beginning of the deer season, allowing hunters who have filled their tags to remain in the hunting party, and giving the DEC the authority to establish open seasons and bag limits. This bill is awaiting action by the Governor. |
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Committee Happenings |
Recognizing that, Chairman Magee along with the State University of New York at Morrisville have developed a program known as Project MOO (Milk Out in the Open) to place milk vending machines in schools. The initial program placed MOO machines in three schools in Madison and Oneida Counties, with SUNY Morrisville students conducting taste testings and focus groups to determine the viability and profitability of milk vending machines. As a result, it was determined that students, overwhelmingly, will purchase vended milk, with one of their favorite flavors being chocolate. With the number of milk and dairy based beverages and sports drinks continuing to increase there is little doubt that milk vending machines will become a common sight all around every town.
Making another try at improving the market for vended milk products in New York State, Assemblyman Bill Magee has introduced legislation similar to that previously vetoed that would provide an incentive for vending companies to get into the vended milk market. The bill – A.11097 - specifically exempts vending companies from duplicative and burdensome state regulations while maintaining their strict adherence to the state sanitary code. The ultimate goal of this bill is to create a strong partnership with vending companies in order to create a larger market for vending milk from machines. In the end this will aid our dairy farmers, consumers and overall economy. This bill is awaiting action by the Governor.
Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Bill Magee joined with others across the state in lobbying United States Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, as well as the Congressional delegation, for a farm bill that was beneficial to New York dairy farmers. The result is the Federal farm bill, which includes provisions to establish a three and a half year National Dairy Program. This program will provide assistance to dairy farmers through monthly payments equal to 45 percent of the difference between $16.94 and the Boston Class I price on the first 2.4 million pounds of milk. There are estimates that this could translate into an additional $15,000 in revenue annually for the average dairy farm in New York State. |
Agricultural districts improved There is no doubt that agricultural districts have proven to be an important tool for our farmers and the Assembly is working to improve their effectiveness in helping our farmers do what they do best — farm. Included in the bills the Assembly is working on to enhance the agricultural districts program are:
Farm vehicles get Under a bill (A.5865) that has passed the Assembly, registered farm vehicles will now be allowed to be driven up to twenty-five miles to a repair shop or garage for normal maintenance or necessary repairs. As it is now, farmers must pay to have the vehicle towed to a repair shop for service and repairs. This bill is awaiting action by the Governor. |
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Other Farm Information & Initiatives |
Whether measured by the number of people boarding, breeding and racing horses, or by the increase in horse trails, it is absolutely clear that the equine industry in New York State is growing by leaps and bounds. This is only having a positive effect on the agriculture industry, as the horse industry contributes billions of dollars to the New York economy and employs thousands of people right here in our state. Among the bills the Assembly has passed to assist with the continued growth of the equine industry are:
With New York State ranking second in wine production in the United States and with over 150 wineries and almost 1,000 grape growers generating over $500 million annually in sales and $85 million in state and local tax revenue, the Assembly is assisting the wine and grape industries with becoming an even greater economic force both in New York State and — as New York produced wine has been gaining national and international recognition and attention — throughout the United States. Among the bills that the Assembly is pursuing are:
Spurred on by Mrs. O’Conner’s fourth grade class at Cazenovia Elementary School — which was upset to learn that real Christmas trees were not allowed in their classroom — Assemblyman Bill Magee has introduced Assembly bill 10475, which would allow for the seasonal placement of real evergreen trees in schools and other public buildings. With at least 1,500 tree farmers generating over $10 million annually in sales, the passage of this bill would prove to be a great victory for New York tree farmers. This bill is being considered by the Assembly Rules Committee. Additionally, Assemblyman Magee has introduced Assembly bill 3111 which seeks to enhance the outlook of Christmas tree growers by making them eligible for the Agricultural Property Tax Credit just as all other agricultural enterprises are. This bill is being considered by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. |
Chairman Magee and Mrs. O’Conner’s fourth grade class at Cazenovia Elementary School lobbying in Albany for a bill allowing live Christmas trees in schools and public buildings. |
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Other Farm Information & Initiatives |
Chairman Magee at the kick off for the Pride of New York Program at the Grand Union in Glenmont. Chairman Magee, Speaker Silver and Bill Byrne of Byrne Dairy at Dairy Day festivities in Albany. Chairman Magee and members of the Agriculture Committee touring I.L. Richer Feeds in Oneida County. |
Time and again, surveys have shown that consumers would prefer to buy a "locally grown, locally known" product if it is comparable in both price and quality. This has never been more true than now as more and more food and farm products are being imported to both New York State and the United States. As a long time advocate of promoting New York produced and processed food to New Yorkers, Assemblyman Bill Magee has worked tirelessly to ensure that farmers have access to programs that assist in marketing their products. As all farmers know, it doesn’t matter how much you can grow, but how much you can sell that will determine if you remain in business. That’s why Assemblyman Magee joined with other Agriculture Committee members and the Department of Agriculture and Markets to kick-off the grand opening of the first major Pride of New York display at the Grand Union in Glenmont. The Pride of New York Program is a voluntary program administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets that works with New York producers and processors to promote and market the many farm products and agricultural commodities that are processed and produced right here in New York State.
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AgriDevelopment and Energy Incentives |
For too long, traditional economic development and energy incentive programs have not focused on agriculture, food processing and farming as an industry. To change this, the Assembly has introduced:
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