By Hinman-Straub
Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her FY 2024-25 Executive Budget address on Tuesday, January 16, in the “Red Room” at the State Capitol in Albany. Her Executive Budget proposal totals $233 billion, a $6 billion increase (4.5%) over FY 2023-24. She reiterated her recent pledge not to raise taxes this year, while at the same time stating her intent to use increased revenues (identified in recent months) to not only close gaps but increase reserves.
Tax receipts have increased in recent months, resulting in a General Fund surplus of approximately $2.2 billion. $1.7 billion will be used in FY 2024-25 to reduce the $4.3 billion current year budget gap, and $500 million set aside for costs related to assisting asylum seekers. The budget plan includes several actions to reduce out-year budget gaps to $5 billion in FY 2026, $5.2 billion in FY 2027, and $9.9 billion in FY 2028.
The Governor’s budget proposal includes initiatives unveiled in her State of the State address on January 9. In her remarks announcing her Executive Budget proposal, she stated her priorities as being initiatives in fighting crime, mental health, children and families, housing, healthcare, economic competitiveness, infrastructure, climate change, education, and migrants.
Highlights of the 2025 Executive budget proposal most directly related to NEAFA include:
Farm Labor Specialist
The Executive Budget proposal includes $702,000 for the farm labor specialist program, an increase of $301,000 over the SFY 24 Enacted Budget.
Dairy Farm Modernization Grants
The Executive Budget proposal includes a new $24 million in capital appropriation to implement the dairy farm good and growth fund to allow for increased investment in on-farm milk storage capacity and improve in efficiencies in milk transfer systems and cooling technologies.
NY Farm Viability Institute
The Executive Budget proposal includes $1 million for this program.
New York State Occupational Health Clinic Network (OHCN) and New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH)
The Executive Budget proposal includes $9,560,000 for this program.
On-Farm Health
The Executive Budget proposal includes $1.25 million for the on-farm health and safety program administered by Mary Imogene Basset hospital. This is a $1 million increase over last year’s enacted budget.
PRO-DAIRY
Core Program: The Executive Budget proposal includes $1,213,000 to support the Pro-Dairy core program.
Dairy Profit Teams: The Executive Budget proposal includes $374,000 for the Dairy Profit Teams.
Dairy Advancement Program: The Executive Budget proposal includes $700,000 for the Dairy Advancement Program.
NY FarmNet
The Executive Budget proposal includes $1.4 million for NY FarmNet.
Agricultural Education and Outreach Programs
The Executive Budget proposal includes $2 million for existing agricultural education and outreach programs. These funds support the following programs:
$1 million for Future Farmers of America
$500,000 for Agriculture in the Classroom
$500,000 for Agricultural Educators
This proposal would also include a new allocation of $250,000 to support the inaugural agricultural youth leadership conference.
Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
The Executive Budget Proposal would include $19 million for this program. This represents a $500,000 reduction from the SFY 2024 Enacted Budget.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Within Cornell University Integrated Pest Management program, the Executive Budget proposal includes a new proposed $2.25 million allocation to support this work, including support for farmers for adopting integrated pest management practices and field trials.
Within the agricultural nonpoint solution control allocation, $2 million is provided for integrated pest management in the Executive Budget proposal. Additionally, the Executive Budget proposal makes $1 million available through community nonpoint pollution control for community integrated pest management.
Agribusiness Child Development
The Executive Budget proposal includes $10.3 million in funding and $3.2 million in Capital for the Agribusiness child development program.
Farm to School Initiatives
The Executive Budget proposal would include $1,508,000 to the Department of Agriculture and Markets to support development of farm to school initiatives, which maintains the Legislative add included in last year’s enacted budget.
The Executive Budget proposal would include $10 million to support an increase for reimbursement for school lunches from $0.06 per meal to $0.25 per meal for any school districts that purchase at least 30% of its food from New York farmers and growers.