Ghent - The Assembly Minority Task Force on the State of New York Agriculture today heard testimony from farmers and agricultural organizations about the key challenges facing the farming community in Columbia and Dutchess counties. Also discussed were new ideas for strengthening the region's agricultural economy.

The public forum in Ghent is the twelfth in a series of meetings throughout the state hosted by the Task Force to develop new ways to improve New York State's #1 industry and increase public awareness of the various agricultural products that the many regions of the state have to offer.

"I am proud to represent a district rich in agricultural heritage. By hosting the Task Force event here in Columbia and Dutchess counties, it gives us the opportunity to spotlight the many successful farms the Hudson Valley region has to offer," said Assemblyman Pat Manning (R-East Fishkill), a Task Force member. "It also allows us as legislators to hear ideas directly from local farmers and take their concerns and suggestions back to Albany to find creative ways to strengthen the agricultural economy."

Assemblyman Manning was joined by colleagues Assemblyman Cliff Crouch R-Guilford), Task Force Chair; Assemblyman Dan Hooker (R-Saugerties); and Assemblyman Jim Bacalles (R,C-Corning). Prior to the forum, the Task Force members toured the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company in Old Chatham, Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, Ronnybrook Farm Dairy in Ancramdale and the Taconic Orchards in Hudson.

"I know firsthand how important agriculture is to this region and I am pleased that the local farming community was given the chance to show off their quality farms," said Task Force Member Assemblyman Dan Hooker (R-Saugerties), who represents a portion of Columbia County. "With each Task Force event, we get a better sense from farmers of what we can do to protect family farms and help the agriculture industry thrive in New York."

"As Chair of the Agriculture Task Force, I have been fortunate to visit many of New York's agricultural regions over the past 18 months and have learned that every community has its own concerns," said Assemblyman Cliff Crouch (R-Guilford), ranking member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and a dairy farmer for more than 20 years. "Farmers in the Hudson Valley have shown us their tremendous contribution to our state's top economy and I look forward to turning the information we have gathered into legislative solutions to help them."

"The future of agriculture in New York State affects everyone from the tip of Long Island to the shores of Lake Erie," said Assembly Minority Leader Charles H. Nesbitt (R,C,I-Albion). "I created this Task Force at the request of our state's farmers with the goal of learning about the challenges facing the farming community and finding creative ways to improve New York agriculture. I continue to be impressed by the participation of farmers all over the state and these events provide an excellent platform to transform ideas into policies and laws that will ensure our farming future."

Although this is the final event scheduled for 2004, the work of the Task Force will continue next year. For more information, please contact the Assembly Minority Office of Public Affairs at (518) 209-6527.