State budget awards millions to agriculture, thousands for farm business and education programs

APRIL 12, 2017

Several programs that provide industry insight and educational
opportunities to current and future farmers were given hundreds of
thousands of dollars in the 2017-18 state budget passed Sunday.

State Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, said the 2017-18 state budget
allocated $51 million for agriculture, $10 million more than what was
provided in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s budget proposal in January and about $7
million more than last year’s funding.