NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

This week we are celebrating World Food Safety Week! As a leader in food safety initiatives, New York State is committed to ensuring every consumer can feel confident that all the foods they buy in our state comply with our safety laws and standards. Follow along this week as we spotlight staff whose critical work helps keep New Yorkers safe! Today we feature Peter Olsen, a microbiologist from The Food Laboratory Division. This Division provides expert analytical testing to support food safety programs throughout New York State. The Food Lab’s main goal is to protect public health by analyzing the purity of product and label accuracy. It also serves other divisions like the Plant Industry, Food Safety and Inspection, and Milk Control and Dairy Services. Want to learn more about The Food Laboratory? Click this link: https://lnkd.in/e3EvM9Sw

Earlier this month, the Department announced a cooperative agreement with USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service that will offer over $14.7 million through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant Program. Funding will help provide technical assistance to farmers and food businesses operating at the middle of the supply chain, helping to enhance coordination throughout the food system and improve access to markets for farmers. The Department is partnering with Farm and Food Growth Fund, Inc (FFGF) to administer the grant program and to fund projects that focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York markets and will benefit multiple producers and multiple markets.   Applications for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program are open now through Friday, June 28. If you are interested in applying, but have some questions, we have great news! You can join Farm and Food Growth Fund for an Open Office Hours tomorrow May 29th from 12pm-1pm to help answer any of your questions! Register online at ffgrowthfund.org  

This #EarthWeek, we want to remind you that we are approaching the deadline to apply for the AEM-Leopold Conservation award! Each year, a New York farm is awarded the annual AEM-Leopold Conservation Award by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and their Sand County Foundation for their collective efforts to protect the environment (in 2023, we honored Dygert Farms Creamery!). If that sounds like you – or someone you know – we encourage you to work with your local Soil and Water Conservation District to apply! Applications are being accepted through May 15, 2024. To learn more about the award and how to apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/d8ywwaHe

Production animal veterinarians: this one is for you! GlobalVetLink (GVL) is hosting an informative webinar to introduce attendees to the GVL platform and discuss the Department’s Production Animal Certificate of Veterinary Instruction (CVI) program. To register for the webinar, visit: https://lnkd.in/ekU9U22s Last month, the Department announced a new partnership with GVL to build on the state’s efforts to transition to digital CVIs. Funding for this project was provided through USDA’s Animal Disease Traceability program, and complements Governor Hochul’s goal to promote a One Health approach as part of New York’s agrifood system. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/ejKbyZhm

Keep your eyes peeled 👀 two grant opportunities available for New York agricultural businesses are coming down the pipeline this spring! Through the USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI), the Department is partnering with Farm and Food Growth Fund, Inc, to administer a funding opportunity to strengthen local and regional food systems. There will be two available grant opportunities: 🥕Infrastructure Grants: Applications may be submitted for projects ranging from $100,000 - $3,million. 🍏Equipment-Only Grants: Eligible applicants may request awards in the amount of $10,000 - $100,000. Those interested in applying should check the Department’s RFSI webpage, as well as the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage, for more information about RFSI requirements, program resources and notice of the application period opening this spring.

We have several deadlines approaching on exciting opportunities to work with The Great New York State Fair … see the deadlines below: 🚑 Deadline April 9: IFB 0335 - Emergency Medical and Infirmary Services for the New York State Fair The Department is inviting qualified bidders to submit proposals to provide emergency medical and infirmary services during the Great New York State Fair at the Infirmary located onsite. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eWbETXHM 🎡 Deadline April 18: IFB 0300 - Signage and Related Services at the New York State Fairgrounds The Department is inviting qualified bidders to submit proposals for the design, production, delivery, and, if requested, installation and/or removal of signage for the Great New York State Fair. The goal of this IFB is to retain a contractor to design, produce or manufacture, deliver, and, if requested, install or remove signage for the State Fair. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e5cchQfm 🕺 Deadline May 7: IFB 0299 - Entertainment Booking and Production Services for the New York State Fair The Department is inviting qualified bidders to submit proposals to provide entertainment booking and production services for the Great New York State Fair (Fair) and, together with AGM’s current advertising contractor, provide entertainment advertising, marketing and promotion services for the entertainment presented at each Fair held during the Term of the contract awarded from this IFB. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ejxzBCSD

The Department is hiring, and we want you to join us! Cultivate your career in a dynamic environment that values innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. With a wide range of opportunities spanning from veterinary science to economic development, sowing the seeds of your career with us here at the Department! 🌱 To view employment opportunities at the Department, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eb5r4yph.

Happy National Agriculture Day from our farms to yours – we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank you for the work you do, today and every day! #NationalAgricultureDay Read Commissioner Ball's full statement at https://lnkd.in/eGwDdQXZ

It's Ag Literacy Week! 🍓 Every year, New York Agriculture in the Classroom organizes this weeklong effort to educate students statewide about the importance of agriculture and opportunities for careers in the industry. This week, farmers, FFA and 4-H members, adults engaged in a career in agriculture, and volunteers engaged in our food system will read the book "I LOVE Strawberries" by Shannon Anderson to elementary students across the state, accompanied by a paired hands-on activity related to the book. The book, which tells the story of one girl’s mission to grow her own food from seedling to table (with the help of her pet rabbit), shares many wonderful examples of how we can all connect to agriculture, no matter how small in scale. 🍓🐰 To help classrooms that are unable to host a volunteer this year, Commissioner Ball teamed up with Leeloo – the Department’s resident rabbit correspondent – to put together a virtual book reading to help share the educational lessons of this year’s Ag Literacy book far and wide, which you can view here: https://lnkd.in/e7iCadqZ

🍎🥛🍞 TOMORROW is the LAST DAY to apply for RFP 0325 - New York Food For New York Families Round 2! Funded through the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), this program aims to improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency and support farmers by purchasing food grown and produced in New York State and delivering it to food insecure communities. Additionally, this program focuses on creating new markets and purchasing from underserved producers. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eHjT_SnF