Agriculture is one of the oldest and most significant industries in our state’s economy. There is no doubt that it has a major impact on our economy today. In the last year alone, farming and agribusiness generated nearly $6 billion in sales in New York state. That is exciting and outstanding news.

While agriculture has ancient roots, it’s not an antiquated or stagnant industry. There are innovations and scientific discoveries being made on a regular basis. Much of this discovery has been supported by New York state through our agriculture and market programs to help family farmers, the biggest rural job creators, be able to grow and prosper.

Knowing how important agriculture is, and how much research and programs help our family farmers, I struggle to understand the logic behind the governor’s cuts of more than $8 million and the Assembly Majority’s cuts of more than $4 million to these crucial programs.

Making matters worse is that many of the programs the governor and the Assembly Majority are willing to sacrifice support and sustain our region’s farmers. Both the governor and the Assembly Majority propose eliminating funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development program, which directly supports the North Country. The New York Farm Viability Institute, another upstate organization that helps local farms, also received cuts in funding.

It must be easy for downstate politicians in Albany to cut programs when they don’t understand their significance to upstate regions. Lately, our area has had many rabies incidents. This is a real threat to livestock and dairy farms. As these rabies incidents increase, the governor and the Assembly Majority have opted to fully eliminate funding for the North Country Low Cost Rabies Vaccines program.

Also receiving cuts, or having funding eliminated entirely, are programs to support corn and soybean growers, wood product producers, maple producers, and programs to assist the dairy industry. These ill-advised budget proposals do New Yorkers a disservice by cutting funding to the Future Farmers of America program. It is all well and good to say you support farmers, but if we’re not cultivating and encouraging the next generation, what are we doing?

I have been discussing my concerns with the governor and my Assembly colleagues. Cuts that seem insignificant to the governor and the Assembly Majority are devastating to the people of rural upstate New York. There are so many areas where other budget spending could be trimmed or tightened up without negatively impacting our agriculture industry.

In recent years, public support for local farmers has increased significantly. They understand the value of buying local, visiting farmers’ markets, and how these farms provide important jobs in our rural communities. It is time for our elected officials to show their support by restoring funding to our important agriculture and market programs in the budget.