§ 309 — Advisory council on agriculture

New York § 309

• Jurisdiction: New York
• Law AGM: Agriculture & Markets
• Art. 25-AA: Agricultural Districts

Text

§ 309. Advisory council on agriculture. 1. There shall be established\nwithin the department the advisory council on agriculture, to advise and\nmake recommendations to the state agencies on state government plans,\npolicies and programs affecting agriculture, as outlined below, and in\nsuch areas as its experience and studies may indicate to be appropriate.\nThe department of agriculture and markets shall provide necessary\nsecretariat and support services to the council.\n 2. The advisory council on agriculture shall consist of eleven members\nappointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate,\nselected for their experience and expertise related to areas of council\nresponsibility. At least five members of the council shall be operators\nof a commercial farm enterprise and at least two members shall be\nrepresentatives of local governments. The balance of the council shall\nbe comprised of representatives of business or institutions related to\nagriculture. Members shall be appointed for a term of three years and\nmay serve until their successors are chosen provided, however, that of\nthe members first appointed, three shall serve for a term of one year,\nthree shall serve for a term of two years, and three shall serve for a\nterm of three years. Members shall serve without salary but shall be\nentitled to reimbursement of their ordinary and necessary travel\nexpenses. The members of the council shall elect a chairman.\n 3. The duties and responsibilities of the advisory council on\nagriculture as they pertain to agricultural districts shall include, but\nnot be limited to, providing timely advice, comments and recommendations\nto the commissioner in regard to:\n a. the establishment of agricultural districts;\n b. the eight year review of agricultural districts; and\n c. the establishment of and any revision to the land classification\nsystem used in connection with the determination of agricultural\nassessment values.\n The commissioner may delegate to the council such additional duties\nand responsibilities as he deems necessary.\n 4. The duties and responsibilities of the advisory council on\nagriculture shall include, but not be limited to, providing timely\nadvice, comments and recommendations to the commissioner of taxation and\nfinance in regard to the establishment of agricultural assessment\nvalues.\n 5. The advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner\nand other state agency heads on state government plans, policies and\nprograms affecting farming and the agricultural industry of this state.\nConcerned state agencies shall be encouraged to establish a working\nrelationship with the council and shall fully cooperate with the council\nin any requests it shall make.\n 6. The advisory council on agriculture may ask other individuals to\nattend its meetings or work with it on an occasional or regular basis\nprovided, however, that it shall invite participation by the chairman of\nthe state soil and water conservation committee and the dean of the New\nYork state college of agriculture and life sciences at Cornell\nuniversity. The advisory council on agriculture shall set the time and\nplace of its meetings, and shall hold at least one meeting per year.\n 7. The advisory council on agriculture shall file a written report to\nthe governor and the legislature by April first each year concerning its\nactivities during the previous year and its program expectations for the\nsucceeding year.\n 8. The advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner\nin regards to whether particular land uses are agricultural in nature.\n 9. a. The advisory council on agriculture shall advise the\ncommissioner in establishing procedures for making annual awards\nrecognizing New York farms, agricultural, food, and animal or plant\nfiber textile businesses, and institutions that are successful in\nproducing, processing, marketing, and/or promoting New York farm, food,\nand animal or plant fiber textile products. The commissioner shall\ncoordinate with the commissioner of economic development to determine\nwhich department shall make awards in categories that may be similar to\nthose listed in subdivision eighteen-c of section one hundred of the\neconomic development law. These awards shall be given in recognition of\nexceptional performance and support for New York agriculture by persons,\nfirms and organizations that are principally located within the state of\nNew York and engaged in the operation of New York state farms,\nbusinesses and institutions.\n b. The council may annually nominate and forward such nominations for\nawards to the commissioner for the commissioner's consideration in the\nfollowing categories:\n (i) innovative and unique farm products developed for food, beverages,\nanimal or plant fiber textiles, or horticulture;\n (ii) agri-tourism;\n (iii) foods or beverages processed or manufactured from New York farm\nproducts;\n (iv) retail food stores;\n (v) restaurants and other food service businesses;\n (vi) education, health care and residential institutions including,\nbut not limited to, food service in schools, colleges, hospitals,\nnursing homes, day care and senior centers; and\n (vii) animal or plant fiber textiles processed or manufactured from\nanimal and plant fibers grown or produced predominantly in New York\nstate.\n c. The council may also recommend to the commissioner nominations for\nawards given pursuant to subdivision eighteen-c of section one hundred\nof the economic development law.\n d. The commissioner may designate award winners from these nominees at\nhis or her discretion. Current members of the advisory board and their\nbusinesses are not eligible as nominees.\n