Department of Agriculture and Markets
Department overview
FormedApril 29, 1926 (1926-04-29)
JurisdictionNew York
Department executive
  • Richard Ball, Commissioner
Key document
Websiteagriculture.ny.gov

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is the department of the New York state government that enforces laws relating to agriculture, weights and measures, and the production, processing, transportation, storage, marketing and distributing of food.[1] It principally investigates animal and plant diseases, regulates food safety and labeling, promotes state agriculture, and administers the New York State Fair.[2] Its regulations are compiled in title 1 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations.

Agroeconomy

Agriculture is a major component of the New York economy.[3] As of the 2012 census of agriculture, there were over 35,000 farms covering an area of 7 million acres (28,000 km2) which contributed $5.4 billion in gross sales value and $1.2 billion in net farm income to the national economy.[3][4][5] The Finger Lakes region is the center of state agriculture, and the state is a top-ten national producer of cow milk, apples, grapes, onions, sweet corn, tomatoes, and maple syrup.[5][3]

Structure and services

Kosher food registry

New York State's concern for consumer protection of those seeking to buy kosher food was documented in the 1920s,[6] but a New York Times article noted that some legal protection "originated in the late 19th century."[7]

While the department "maintains an online registry of food represented as kosher"[7] it does not define what is kosher. Consumers are provided, per the Kosher Law Protection Act of 2004, with "information identifying the person or organization certifying that food as kosher,"[8] and as of 2005 may also search online.[9]

In addition, the department verifies that claims about this "food product, ... food establishment or a caterer" are in compliance with consumer protection standards. In 1986 there were 12 inspectors,[10] headed by Schulem Rubin, Director of the Kosher Law Enforcement Division. One significant change Rubin made was to add more people with experience as kosher butchers.[11][10][12]

A vineyard of the Seneca Lake AVA

Based on legislation passed in July 2004,[7] data[13] is submitted by those "involved in the kosher food industry"[14] and also about qualifications of those who provide certification.[15]

Soil and water conservation

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee is an independent agency within the department that supports natural resources management through the support of soil and water conservation districts, which represent each of the 57 counties of New York and New York City (for the 5 counties thereof).[16]

The state committee administers the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Abatement and Control Grant Program, the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Base Program, the annual district reimbursement, and provides review and oversight for AEM Planner certification.[17] The US Natural Resources Conservation Service continues to set standards for water conservation best management practices (BMP) and administers farm bill conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).[17]

History

The department's progenitor was the 1884 New York State Dairy Commission that inspected dairy production and sales facilities, which was abolished in 1893 and its functions transferred to the Department of Agriculture that inspected farms, set agricultural quality standards, and operated agricultural experiment stations.[2][18][19] A separate Department of Foods and Markets was established in 1914 to set standards for grading and selling food, supervise markets, and publish information on dairy prices and marketing methods.[20] In 1917, these two departments and the 1851 Office of State Superintendent of Weights and Measures were consolidated into the Department of Farms and Markets, headed by the Council of Farms and Markets.[21]

The current Department of Agriculture and Markets was established as part of the 1926 reorganization of government under Governor Al Smith and was transferred the functions of the Department of Foods and Markets as well as the State Fair Commission.[22] In 1935 the Council of Farms and Markets was abolished and the power to appoint the commissioner transferred to the governor.[23][24] In February 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent to the states the Standard State Soil Conservation Districts Law, a model law, and on April 23, 1940 the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee was established and the soil and water conservation districts authorized when the Soil Conservation District Law was enacted, and in April 1964 water was added to the jurisdiction and in 1981 the state committee was transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Markets.[17][25]

List of commissioners

See also

References

  1. ↑ Agriculture and Markets Law § 16
  2. 1 2 Karpiak, Christine (2005). "Agriculture and Markets, Department of". In Eisenstadt, Peter; Moss, Laura-Eve (eds.). The Encyclopedia of New York State. Syracuse University Press. p. 36. ISBN 081560808X. LCCN 2005001032.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Importance of Agriculture to the New York State Economy" (PDF). New York State Department of Audit and Control. March 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  4. ↑ NASS. "Volume 1: Geographic area series, Part 32: New York, state and county data". 2012 Census of Agriculture. OCLC 900732649.
  5. 1 2 NASS. "New York state profile" (PDF). 2012 Census of Agriculture.
  6. ↑ Public Papers of Alfred E. Smith, Governor, 1919-1920. ISBN 978-1437-28183-5. authority .. Farms and Markets Council ... the question of the sale of 'non-Kosher' meat as 'Kosher.'
  7. 1 2 3 Joseph P. Fried (February 27, 2005). "State Offers Details Online to Help Determine if Food Is Truly Kosher". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ "Department of Agriculture and Markets: Kosher Law Enforcement". Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ "New York Kosher Registry". search by product name, certifier or food establishment
  10. 1 2 Ken Gross (September 15, 1986). "What, It Ain't Chopped Liver? Never Fear! Max and Malcolm, the Kosher Kops, Are on the Case". People.
  11. ↑ "Intensive Probe Underway in N.Y. Against Kosher Food Fraud".
  12. ↑ "About Rabbi Finman". was .. a kosher inspector .. Kosher Law Enforcement division .. Director of Chai Kosher since its inception in 1992
  13. ↑ "Registration Form for Food Establishments/Caterers Offering Kosher Food" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Registration Form for Manufacturer/Producer/Distributor/Packer/Re-packer of Packaged Kosher Food for Sale" (PDF).
  15. ↑ "Statement of Qualifications for Persons Certifying Non-Prepackaged Kosher Foods" (PDF).
  16. ↑ Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law § 1 et seq.
  17. 1 2 3 New Employee Orientation, New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, retrieved 2017-01-22
  18. ↑ Chapter 202, Laws of 1884, enacted April 24, 1884
  19. ↑ Chapter 338, Laws of 1893, enacted April 10, 1893
  20. ↑ Chapter 245, Laws of 1914, enacted April 8, 1914
  21. ↑ Chapter 802, Laws of 1917, enacted June 9, 1917
  22. ↑ Chapter 646, Laws of 1926, enacted April 29, 1926
  23. ↑ Benjamin, Gerald (2012). Benjamin, Gerald (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of New York State Government and Politics. p. 390. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195387230.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-538723-0.
  24. ↑ Chapter 16, Laws of 1935, effective February 4, 1935
  25. ↑ Phelps, Jess R. (2006). "A Vision of the New Deal Unfulfilled? Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Land Use Regulation". Drake Journal of Agricultural Law. 11: 353. SSRN 979108.
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