New York Farm Viability Projects Slashed

During last week’s New York Ag Leadership Luncheon, New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI) vice chairman Jim Bittner spoke about the negative impact of state budget cuts on agriculture.

According to Bittner, NYFVI’s board of directors (composed of all farmers) had to shut down 42 research projects before they were able to achieve measurable results. A 66% funding cut is the reason for the projects’ demise. New project funding has been slashed by 88%, as well, and funding for active projects was cut by 55%. This is after last year’s 55% cut.

“No one in New York has been untouched by the difficulties of the recent economic downturn and its impact on the state’s budget, but 15 years of work and funding projects producing a seven-to-one return on investment has been nearly wiped out in this year’s difficult state budget,” Bittner said.

The NYFVI will be inviting several organization leaders to a brainstorming session in December on how to address the issues. For more information, contact Tom Sleight at [email protected].

Source: FarmProgress/American Agriculturist