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.

Organization and Staffing

The Department of Agriculture and Markets will have a workforce of 483 positions for FY 2018. The Department is run by a Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The Department is headquartered in Albany and maintains regional offices in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Hauppauge, Poughkeepsie, Rochester and Syracuse.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets’ operating programs are funded by tax dollars from the General Fund, fees, federal grants and other funds.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends $207 million All Funds for the Department of Agriculture and Markets. This is an increase of $36.7 million from the FY 2017 budget. The change reflects increased capital spending related to the State Fair.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 483 FTEs for the Department, unchanged from FY 2017 levels.

Major budget actions include:

  • $3.5 million in annual capital funding to address critical capital needs at the New York State Fair, including roof and façade replacement and other infrastructure improvements;
  • $70 million in additional capital funding for Phase II of the State Fair modernization efforts. Capital projects funding of $50 million will be used to develop a multi-use, hybrid building to host events and build a gondola to transport visitors and concertgoers between the Fairgrounds and Onondaga County’s Lakeview Amphitheater. An additional $20 million from reappropriated funds will be used for parking improvements and to construct a new on-ramp to Interstate 690. This investment builds upon the $50 million included in the FY 2016 budget that has already transformed the State Fair;
  • $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;
  • $625,000 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;
  • $750,000 for the Farm to School program, which promotes the purchasing of food from local farmers by school districts, while expanding access to healthy foods for students;
  • $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; and
  • $19.6 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.

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)

Program Highlights

The Agricultural Business Services program promotes the agricultural economy of the State and fosters the responsible use of resources to preserve agricultural land and the environment. These programs are carried out through six divisions which:

  • Support and serve the State’s food and agricultural industry in the areas of market development and promotion, food and nutrition, and business development and support - including the Taste NY program and the NY Grown & Certified program;
  • Inspect and test livestock, poultry, and plants to control and eradicate diseases that can both cause severe economic losses for farmers and present a public health hazard;
  • Oversee the activities of county soil and water conservation districts, direct the agricultural non-point source pollution control and farmland preservation grant programs, establish agricultural districts, administer agricultural product market orders and the Federal Farmers Market Nutrition Program for low-income families, and collect and disseminate statistical agricultural information; and
  • Exercise a variety of statutorily required activities involving the pricing and marketing of milk and milk products, and the licensing and bonding of milk and farm products dealers.

The Consumer Food Services program ensures that wholesome food products are sold to the consumer and that the industry and the public are protected from fraud, adulteration, or malpractice in the production, processing, transportation, and retailing of food and gasoline, and in the use of measuring devices. In carrying out these purposes, the program:

  • Licenses and inspects more than 35,000 businesses that produce, process, manufacture, or distribute food products, registers food represented as kosher, and grades farm products;
  • Inspects and tests dairy products to enforce laws pertaining to milk and milk product sanitation, and guards against harmful or misrepresented food; and
  • Certifies and calibrates weighing and measuring devices and oversees the testing of motor fuels under the Motor Fuel Quality and Clean Air programs.
ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2017
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2018
Change From
FY 2017
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2018
State Operations 108,857,000 109,319,000 462,000 95,196,000
Aid To Localities 50,915,000 41,459,000 (9,456,000) 100,059,000
Capital Projects 10,500,000 56,215,000 45,715,000 8,858,000
Total 170,272,000 206,993,000 36,721,000 204,113,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2017
Estimated FTEs
03/31/17
FY 2018
Estimated FTEs
03/31/18
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 72 72 0
Agricultural Business Services
General Fund 128 125 (3)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 14 14 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 11 14 3
Fiduciary Funds 3 3 0
Consumer Food Services
General Fund 160 160 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 21 21 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 29 29 0
State Fair
Enterprise Funds 45 45 0
Total 483 483 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
General Fund 34,591,000 34,794,000 203,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 29,644,000 29,644,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 21,498,000 21,784,000 286,000
Enterprise Funds 21,282,000 21,261,000 (21,000)
Fiduciary Funds 1,842,000 1,836,000 (6,000)
Total 108,857,000 109,319,000 462,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund (983,000)
Appropriated FY 2017 107,874,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
Administration
General Fund 8,260,000 7,595,000 (665,000)
Agricultural Business Services
General Fund 13,160,000 14,028,000 868,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 21,919,000 21,919,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 11,801,000 12,236,000 435,000
Fiduciary Funds 1,842,000 1,836,000 (6,000)
Consumer Food Services
General Fund 13,171,000 13,171,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 7,725,000 7,725,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 9,697,000 9,548,000 (149,000)
State Fair
Enterprise Funds 21,282,000 21,261,000 (21,000)
Total 108,857,000 109,319,000 462,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 5,240,000 0 5,135,000 0
Agricultural Business Services 10,725,000 388,000 10,067,000 (62,000)
Consumer Food Services 12,316,000 0 11,468,000 0
Total 28,281,000 388,000 26,670,000 (62,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 60,000 0 45,000 0
Agricultural Business Services 598,000 450,000 60,000 0
Consumer Food Services 296,000 0 552,000 0
Total 954,000 450,000 657,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 2,355,000 (665,000) 136,000 0
Agricultural Business Services 3,303,000 480,000 637,000 137,000
Consumer Food Services 855,000 0 324,000 0
Total 6,513,000 (185,000) 1,097,000 137,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 207,000 0 1,974,000 (665,000)
Agricultural Business Services 175,000 5,000 2,472,000 838,000
Consumer Food Services 240,000 0 285,000 0
Total 622,000 5,000 4,731,000 173,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 38,000 0
Agricultural Business Services 19,000 (500,000)
Consumer Food Services 6,000 0
Total 63,000 (500,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Agricultural Business Services 35,991,000 429,000 4,237,000 251,000
Consumer Food Services 17,273,000 (149,000) 7,502,000 (93,000)
State Fair 21,261,000 (21,000) 6,768,000 (13,000)
Total 74,525,000 259,000 18,507,000 145,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Agricultural Business Services 31,754,000 178,000
Consumer Food Services 9,771,000 (56,000)
State Fair 14,493,000 (8,000)
Total 56,018,000 114,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
General Fund 30,915,000 21,459,000 (9,456,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 20,000,000 20,000,000 0
Total 50,915,000 41,459,000 (9,456,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change
Agricultural Business Services
General Fund 30,915,000 21,459,000 (9,456,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 20,000,000 20,000,000 0
Total 50,915,000 41,459,000 (9,456,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2017
Recommended
FY 2018
Change Reappropriations
FY 2018
New Facilities
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 43,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 5,000,000 0 (5,000,000) 5,157,000
New York Works
Capital Projects Fund 2,500,000 3,100,000 600,000 1,658,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 50,115,000 50,115,000 0
State Fair
Capital Projects Fund 1,000,000 1,000,000 0 0
Misc. Capital Projects 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 2,000,000
Total 10,500,000 56,215,000 45,715,000 8,858,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2017