Agriculture is a large and important ingredient for New York's economy.
Governor Pataki's 2001- 2002 Executive Budget reflects this importance by incorporating new and aggressive initiatives to help farmers and agribusiness. Here in Central and Northern New York we have hundreds of farm families and numerous agriculture related businesses. These farms and businesses are where much or our milk, cheese, vegetables and other food products are grown and processed. They play a vital role in each of our lives, even if we do not realize it. In his executive budget, the Governor supports already existing programs and proposed new ones that will be equally important to the well-being of New York State farms.