Great news for New York!

Check out these articles for more information(http://www.nyfb.org/nyfbnews/2007/pr071207.htm), (http://www.dec.ny.gov/environmentdec/36566.html).
It seems that the government is starting to recognize the importance of sustainable agriculture in our changing world. Recently Governor Spitzer signed a bill to increase revenue to the state's Environmental Protection Fund from $225 million to $250 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year, and to $300 million in fiscal year 2009-10. The bill was first passed by the legislation and sent to the governor. But how will this affect the farm industry?
Jeff Williams, Deputy Director of Public Policy for the New York Farm Bureau, says this effort is the first step in government legislation that will allow more resources and opportunities for farmers. Hopefully the government will begin to recognize the importance of preserving farmland and the relationship between farmland and tourism will improve. Some of this money will go towards farm education and research says Williams.
Williams says that farmers need more help to preserve the nation's lakes, streams and rivers.
The Farmland Protection Program, which helps keep farmland in agriculture for future generations. That program allows for local municipalities to purchase the development rights on farms.
The legislature also approved increased funding for Agricultural Non-Point Source Abatement programs, which helps protect waterways from manure runoff.
Farmers access this funding to help pay for facilities that store manure over winter months, eliminating the need to spread nutrients on frozen farmland which could then runoff into waterways.
This has been an important effort for the farming community, especially in the New York City Watershed area, where clean water efforts are critical says Williams. Farmers access this funding to help pay for facilities that store manure over winter months, eliminating the need to spread nutrients on frozen farmland which could then runoff into waterways according to the New York Farm Bureau.
This bill will also influence the EPF's pollution prevention efforts which is another important topic in today's world says Williams.
Spitzer will continue to be a green advocate! This is great news for New Yorkers!