§ 309-a. Young farmer advisory board on agriculture. 1. There shall be established within the department the young farmer advisory board on agriculture, to advise and make recommendations to the state agencies on state government plans, policies and programs affecting agriculture, as outlined below, and in such areas as its experience and studies may indicate to be appropriate. The department shall provide necessary secretariat and support services to the board. 2. The young farmer advisory board on agriculture shall consist of twenty members, ten to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate and assembly, selected for their experience and expertise related to areas of board responsibility. The board shall be comprised of diverse members of the agriculture industry as follows:(a) Of the twenty members appointed to the board:
(1) one shall be from the department;
(2) one shall be from the empire state development corporation;
(3) one shall be an officer of the Future Farmers of America (FFA);
(4) one shall be an urban farmer;
(5) one shall be from the New York Farm Bureau; and
(6) fifteen shall be from the general public appointed as follows: five to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, five to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and five to be appointed by the governor.
(b) Each member shall:
(1) be interested in the preservation and development of agriculture and preservation of the agricultural way of life in New York;
(2) be under the age of forty-five years old at the beginning of the member's term;
(3) derive at least fifty percent of the member's personal income from farming or agricultural activities in the state;
(4) be a resident of the state; and
(5) be appointed for a term of three years and may serve until their successors are chosen; provided, however, that of the members first appointed, six shall serve for a term of one year, six shall serve for a term of two years and eight shall serve for a term of three years.
(c) Members shall serve without salary but shall be entitled to reimbursement of their ordinary and necessary travel expenses.
(d) The members of the board shall meet quarterly. 3. The duties and responsibilities of the young farmer advisory board on agriculture shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) annually electing from its members a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a secretary of the advisory board at the advisory board's first meeting of the calendar year;
(b) communicating to the general public, the federal government, and the state government the importance of young and beginning farmers to agriculture in the state;
(c) identify issues relating to young and beginning farmers in the state and provide timely advice to the commissioner, the governor and the relevant state agencies, with regard to the promotion of agriculture as a career path and the economic development of young and aspiring farmers;
(d) produce an annual report and provide such report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on or before the end of each calendar year. Such report shall identify and prioritize policy issues which affect young and aspiring farmers; and
(e) establish committees, as necessary, to develop projects relating to the aspects of life for young and beginning farmers in the state.
