News from NYSDAM

$313K For Towns To Develop Farmland Protection Plans

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:05:53 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced $313,750 in funding to help 14 towns develop local agricultural and farmland protection plans. This announcement is in addition to the $860,000 announced earlier this year for ...

Commissioner Announces AG Environmental Management Award

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:18:31 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced the recipients of the 2008 Agricultural Environmental Management Award, which honors farm families and their county Soil and Water Conservation District for exceptional steward...

2008 Fair Concert Ticket Sales To Date Beat Last Year's Total

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:02:52 -0000

With the New York State Fair still three weeks away, ticket sales to the Fair's grandstand concerts have already exceeded the total of all grandstand tickets sold for the 2007 Fair, marking a successful debut for Live Nation, the Fair's new bookin...

Media Advisory - Commissioner to Kick Off "Eat Local" Challenge

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:05:50 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will kick off New York State's "Eat Local" Challenge in Albany, challenging New Yorkers to eat only foods produced locally for one day this week, August 3-9.

Commissioner Hooker Challenges NYers To “Eat Local”

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:04:46 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today challenged all New Yorkers to "eat local" for at least one day this week. During the week of August 3-9, National Farmers' Market Week and the peak of fresh summer produce, New Yorkers a...

Autumn Valley Farm Voluntarily Suspends Direct Sale or Raw Milk to Consumers

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:14:08 -0000

Autumn Valley Farm today alerted consumers of possible Listeria contamination in its "unpasteurized" raw farm milk. Currently, Autumn Valley Farm has voluntarily suspended all raw milk sold directly to consumers until subsequent sampling indicates...

MEDIA ADVISORY~COMMISSIONER TO OBSERVE HAIL DAMAGE IN OSWEGO COUNTY

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:10:25 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will tour onion fields in Oswego County with State Senator Darrel Aubertine tomorrow to observe hail damage from a storm that damaged agricultural crops in many areas of New York Sate. This i...

STATE ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY GARDENS

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:19:54 -0000

Governor David A. Paterson and Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced a new grant program that will strengthen community gardens. The Community Gardens Capacity Building Grants Program will improve access to fresh local produce, h...

Commissioner Recognizes Blueberry Season in NYS

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:15:21 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today recognized the peak of blueberry season in New York State and encouraged all New Yorkers to visit their local blueberry patch. Blueberries represent an important sector of the State's a...

CONSUMER ALERT

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:21:12 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today warned consumers not to eat "Smoked Mud Fish" sold by the Central African Market located at 25B Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10701, and the African Carribean Market located at 141...

State Offers Free Testing to Help Eradicate Scrapie

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:24:40 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today offered free genetic testing to any New York sheep owner in order to further advance the State's ongoing efforts to eradicate the ovine disease, scrapie. The free testing is made availa...

20,000 Farms Enrolled in NYS Animal ID System

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:23:44 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced that more than 20,000 New York farms have enrolled in the New York State Animal Health Identification System, a program that will help protect the State's livestock industry in...

Governor Signs Bills into Law that Promote NY Products

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:17:39 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced that Governor Paterson signed into law several bills that will help bolster New York's agricultural industry, in particular the State's wine and dairy industries.

Commissioner Encourages NY’ers To Visit A County Fair

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:24:53 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced that the county fair season has kicked off and encouraged New Yorkers to visit their local county and youth fairs this summer. The first county fairs of the season opened this...

Commissioner Announces Milk Marketing Advisory Council

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:24:14 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker announced the members of the Milk Marketing Advisory Council (MMAC), created to advise the Commissioner on dairy policy matters. The announcement was made at a public Dairy Forum in Syracuse ...

Commissioner Announces $106,000 to Promote Farmers’ Markets

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:31:49 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced more than $106,000 for 30 grants that will provide promotional support for the State's farmers' markets. Farmers' markets across New York State are now open for the season, off...

Media Advisory ~ Commissioner to Observe Hail Damage in Genesee County

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:18:47 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will tour a devastated cabbage field in Elba tomorrow to observe damage to agricultural crops from a hail storm that hit much of New York State on Monday. Farmers from Niagara County to the H...

Media Advisory~Commissioner To Observe Hail Damage In Wayne County

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:43:09 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will tour Van de Walle Farms in Alton tomorrow to observe damage to agricultural crops from a hail storm that hit much of New York State yesterday. Farmers from Niagara County to the Hudson V...

NYS Council On Food Policy to Meet June 27 In Albany

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:35:06 -0000

The New York State Council on Food Policy will meet on Friday, June 27, 2008 in Room # 250 (known as the Blue Room) of the Capitol Building in Albany from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. At this meeting, Council members will receive updates on food security ...

Commissioner Announces the Arrival Of Berry Season in NYS

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:08:45 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today celebrated the arrival of berry season in New York State. Berries are an important and expanding sector of the State’s agricultural industry.

Media Advisory~Commissioner To Recognize Arrival Of Berry Season In NYS

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:07:01 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will celebrate the arrival of berry season in New York State with a visit to Abbott Farms in Baldwinsville on Friday. The Commissioner will discuss how fruit farms in New York are expanding t...

COMMISSIONER TO HOLD PUBLIC DAIRY FORUM IN SYRACUSE

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:47:40 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will host a public Dairy Forum to gain perspective from members of the dairy industry on milk marketing issues.

Consumer Alert

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:10:02 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today clarified for consumers that New York grown tomatoes are safe to consume, and have not been linked to the recent salmonellosis outbreak in raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw round red to...

Consumer Alert

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:06:44 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today warned consumers in Western New York not to consume “unpasteurized” raw cow’s milk from Elizabeth S. Neadow d/b/a/ Teacup Farm due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamin...

Commissioner Hooker Recognizes June Dairy Month

Fri, 30 May 2008 18:44:03 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced that June is Dairy Month in New York State. With 6,200 dairy farms producing over 12 billion pounds of milk annually, New York is the nation’s third largest dairy state.

New York State Allows Half-Pricing At Gas Pumps

Wed, 28 May 2008 18:59:47 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced that gas stations with non-digital fuel dispensers can apply for half-gallon pricing, since older equipment cannot compute prices in excess of $3.999. Signs advertising fuel p...

Commissioner Hooker Offers Farm Advice For Hurricane Season

Tue, 27 May 2008 15:15:05 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today offered advice for farmers in preparing for hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Hurricanes or coastal storms often result in torrential rainfall and dama...

Consumer Alert

Wed, 21 May 2008 19:55:34 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today warned consumers not to eat "Smoked Kuta Fish and Boney Fish (Herring)” sold by the African Carribean Market located at 1415 N. Clinton Ave., Rochester, New York 14621, becaus...

Public Service Notice

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:08:30 -0000

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in coordination with the New York State Departments of Health and Education, is notifying residents in the Washington County area of invalid veterinary tests conducted by Dr. Ronald Peters ...

Council On Food Policy To Hold Listening Session

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:49:40 -0000

The New York State Council on Food Policy is holding a listening session in Harlem to gain perspective from community members on several food policy issue areas and to seek opportunities to maximize collaboration among stakeholders.

Council On Food Policy To Hold Listening Session

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:02:45 -0000

The New York State Council on Food Policy is holding a listening session in Long Island to gain perspective from community members on several food policy issue areas and to seek opportunities to maximize collaboration among stakeholders.

Commissioner Reminds Farmers To Only Sell To Licensed Dealers

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:17:18 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today reminded producers of farm products to only sell to licensed farm product dealers and to promptly report to the Department any dealer who does not pay for farm products. This reminder h...

Commissioner Recognizes 10 Years Of Cattle Health Program

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:41:28 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today recognized ten years of healthier cattle in New York State due to the New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP). As a voluntary disease prevention program, NYSCHAP has be...

Media Advisory~Commissioner Recognizes 10 Years Of Cattle Health Program

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:28:07 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will recognize ten years of healthier cattle in New York State due to the New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP). As a voluntary disease prevention program, NYSCHAP has been...

New York State Food Lab To Be Rebuilt In Capital District

Tue, 06 May 2008 18:33:09 -0000

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced the State’s decision to rebuild the New York State Food Laboratory in the Capital District. The food lab provides expert analytical testing in support of food safety and...