Ag Commissioner Richard Ball: Farming Is Economic Development

Edition of Thursday-Friday, Nov. 20-21, 2014

Agriculture is increasingly understood in New York State as economic development, Richard Ball, the recently appointed state agriculture commissioner, told 200 people at NYSHA’S “Celebration of Our Agricultural Community” Saturday, Nov. 15, at The Farmers’ Museum.

“We get to work and farm a couple of hours away from the biggest appetite in the country,” said Ball, himself a Schoharie County farmer.

He concluded, “If New York is New York’s customer, we’ll be just fine.”

He also reported Ag & Markets has opened a marketing office in New York City, upped the amount of farm products being sold to the Department of Corrections, and expanded a beginning farmers’ program.