N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 309-a: Beginning farmer advisory board on agriculture

§ 309-a. Beginning farmer advisory board on agriculture. 1. There

shall be established within the department the beginning farmer advisory

board on agriculture, to advise and make recommendations to the state

agencies on state government plans, policies and programs affecting

agriculture, as outlined below, and in such areas as its experience and

studies may indicate to be appropriate.

2. The beginning farmer advisory board on agriculture shall consist of

twenty-five members selected for their experience and expertise related

to areas of board responsibility and comprised of diverse members of the

agriculture industry, including the commissioner, or the commissioner's

designee, with the remaining members selected as follows:

(a) The commissioner shall appoint the following eleven board members:

(1) one representative from the empire state development corporation;

(2) one officer of the Future Farmers of America (FFA);

(3) one representative from the department of labor;

(4) one urban farmer;

(5) one representative from the New York Farm Bureau;

(6) one participant from the Cornell small farms program;

(7) one representative from the United States department of

agriculture;

(8) one organic farmer;

(9) one veteran farmer;

(10) one representative from the Young Farmers coalition;

(11) one member of a group identified in the most recent United States

department of agriculture census of agriculture that is currently

underrepresented in farm ownership; and

(b) The remaining thirteen board members shall be from entry level

farmers or novice farmers, agriculture service providers, financial and

legal service providers to farm operators, Cornell Cooperative Extension

representatives, advocacy organization representatives, academics,

agricultural leaders, and/or others who can contribute to the work of

the advisory board on issues, including, among others: access to land

and capital, grants, business planning, farm processes and government

programs selected as follows: seven appointed by the commissioner; two

appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two appointed by the

speaker of the assembly; one appointed by the minority leader of the

senate; and one appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

(c) Each member shall:

(1) be interested in the preservation and development of agriculture

and preservation of the agricultural way of life in New York;

(2) be actively involved in farming, agricultural activities,

agricultural research and/or providing services to the agricultural

community in the state;

(3) be a resident of the state; and

(4) be appointed for a term of three years and may serve until their

successors are chosen; provided, however, that of the members first

appointed, eight shall serve for a term of one year, eight shall serve

for a term of two years and nine shall serve for a term of three years.

(d) Members shall serve without salary but shall be entitled to

reimbursement of their ordinary and necessary travel expenses.

(e) The members of the board shall meet twice a year.

(f) The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall chair the

board and the department shall provide the necessary secretariat and

support services to the board.

3. The duties and responsibilities of the beginning farmer advisory

board on agriculture shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) communicating to the public, the federal government, and the state

government the importance of beginning farmers to agriculture in the

state;

(b) identifying issues relating to beginning farmers in the state and

provide timely advice to the commissioner, the governor and the relevant

state agencies, with regard to the promotion of agriculture as a career

path and the economic development of beginning farmers;

(c) producing a biennial report and provide such report to the

governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the

assembly on or before the end of each calendar year. Such report shall

identify and prioritize policy issues which affect beginning farmers;

and

(d) establishing committees, as necessary, to develop projects

relating to the aspects of life for beginning farmers in the state.