Agriculture and Markets, Department of

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Agency Web Site: http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is charged with fostering a competitive and safe New York food and agricultural industry for the benefit of producers and consumers. The Department encourages the growth and economic health of the State’s agricultural and food industry and conducts various inspections and testing programs to enforce laws on food safety, animal and plant health, and accuracy of labeling. The Department also acts to preserve agricultural resources and improve soil and water quality, and operates the annual State Fair near Syracuse.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $163.7 million for the Department. This is a decrease of $2.5 million from the 2013-14 budget. The change reflects reductions in local assistance and non-personal service resources that are partially offset by a contractual increase in personal service costs.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 486 FTEs for the Department, the same level as 2013-14.

Major budget actions include:

  • Funding of $1.1 million for the “Taste-NY” program, which promotes locally grown or produced food and beverages by making them readily available across the State at high traffic retail venues located at rest areas, airports and train stations. In addition to this innovative retail concept, Taste-NY also fosters increased demand for these products via strategic branding and marketing efforts.
  • $350,000 in funding for the FreshConnect farmers’ market program, which benefits farmers and consumers alike by awarding competitive grants to create and expand farmers' markets in underserved communities throughout New York.
  • Appropriations of $17.3 million for various programs that provide critical support to New York’s agricultural industry, including: the Migrant Childcare, Pro-Dairy, and Cornell Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory programs, among others.
  • $40,000 to evaluate and test hop varieties in New York for the purpose of increasing the availability of locally grown hops for the State’s growing craft brew industry.
  • Capital funding of $3.5 million to address critical capital needs at the New York State Fair, including roof and façade replacement and other infrastructure improvements.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Environment and Energy (PDF)

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
2013-14
Appropriations
Recommended
2014-15
Change From
2013-14
Reappropriations
Recommended
2014-15
State Operations 119,494,000 119,709,000 215,000 90,540,000
Aid To Localities 41,141,000 38,445,000 (2,696,000) 61,687,000
Capital Projects 5,500,000 5,500,000 0 13,305,000
Total 166,135,000 163,654,000 (2,481,000) 165,532,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program 2013-14
Estimated FTEs
03/31/14
2014-15
Estimated FTEs
03/31/15
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 73 73 0
Agricultural Business Services
General Fund 135 132 (3)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 11 14 3
Special Revenue Funds - Other 11 11 0
Fiduciary Funds 3 3 0
Consumer Food Services
General Fund 152 165 13
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 14 14 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 42 29 (13)
State Fair
Enterprise Funds 45 45 0
Total 486 486 0

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/20/2014

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables