Integrating Agriculture and Economic Development Connecticut An Act Concerning Farmers Markets This act establishes that a farmers market is two or more farmers that are selling food products that are produced by the farmers with the intent to generate household income. PA 06-52 Date passed: 5/8/2006 An Act Concerning the Preservation of the Family Farm and Long Island Sound This act establishes that the Commissioner of Administrative Services will give preference to food grown in the state of Connecticut when purchasing or contracting. This act also enables the Commissioner of Agriculture to certify stores "Connecticut Farm Fresh Market" that sell 15% or more from Connecticut farms. Restaurants and schools may also become certified as "Connecticut Farm Fresh Restaurant" and "Connecticut Farm Fresh School" if 20% of the food served is grown and produced in the state. If any town, municipality, borough or region takes active farmland through eminent domain, they must purchase through a conservation easement of agricultural land in equal size and quality. PA 04-222 Date passed: 6/8/2004 Maine An Act to Establish a Food Policy for Maine This bill establishes the Maine Food Policy Council. Duties include developing a food policy that gives citizens access to safe and nutritious food, review state programs and practices that affect the food system, and conduct research on issues of state significance relating to food production, distribution and consumption. L.D. 2107 Date passed: 5/1/2006 Promoting the Consumption of Maine Farm Products at the State House The resolve requires vendors that providing food in the State House complex and the Cross Cafe to use Maine-grown products whenever possible. It also requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to assist the vendors and the Cross Cafe in identifying and accessing Maine grown products. L.D. 1452 Date passed: 5/31/2005 Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Agricultural Ombudsman Program This bill creates the position of an agricultural ombudsman that the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene will appoint. The ombudsman will be the contact person for the agricultural community and will convey department rules concerning on farm food processing, preparation, and other activities. Maryland Code Article Health-General Section 2-104 Effective Date 10/1/2006 Young Farmers Advisory Board This bill establishes the Young Farmers Advisory Board, which identifies the issues to beginning and young farmers in the state and communicate these to the Maryland Agricultural Commission. The board can create committees for projects relating to beginning and young farmers. HB 755 Date Passed: 5/26/2004
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Farm Viability Task Force This act establishes a committee to study ways to maintain farm viability in the state through term easements, grants, tax incentives, loans, business planning and other technical assistance. A report will be issued by November 1 2006. HB229 Effective Date: 6/7/2006 An Act Defining Farmers’ Market This defines a farmers' market as an event or series of events at which two or more vendors of agricultural commodities gather for purposes of offering for sale such commodities to the public. HB275 Date passed: 5/19/2005 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Grant Program This act established the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Grant program. The grants range from $500 to $5000 which are submitted to New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. Priority is given to those proposals that have a wide range of application. HB1297-FN-A Passed: 1998
New York
An Act to Amend the Public Health Law, in Relation to Creating a Food Security, Empowerment and Economic Development Program This bill, if passed, would authorize the department of health to implement a community food security, empowerment and economic development program (SEED) to help meet the food need of low-income people and promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; provides grants for the cost of program projects which will be available to non-profit organizations and local governments, with limited partnership with for-profit enterprises; makes related provisions. A2651 Currently in legislature An Act to Amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act, in Relation to Financing the Transportation and Distribution of Foods Grown in New York State for Delivery to Food Service Institutions and Underserved Markets This bill would finance the transportation and distribution of New York state farm grown products to food service markets, including restaurants, schools, colleges, and others, especially in underserved urban and other communities. A8000 Currently in legislature An Act to Amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act, in Relation to Developing Local and Regional Wholesale Farmers' Markets to Promote Foods Grown in New York State This bill, if passed, would finance the construction, reconstruction, improvement, expansion or rehabilitation of wholesale regional farmers' markets that promote farm products grown in New York state. A8001 Currently in legislature An Act to Amend the Agriculture and Markets Law, in Relation to Receiving Grants for Operational and Promotional Support This bill allows the Department of Agriculture and Markets to expand the farmers` markets grant program to be expanded to include small grants for the operational and promotional efforts of farmers markets. AB 10624 Date passed: 8/16/2006 An Act to Amend the Agriculture and Markets Law This bill aims to improve communication between different state agencies on issues relating to agriculture. This bill allows the Commissioner of Agriculture to review and comment on proposed rules and regulations of other state agencies that may have an adverse impact on agriculture in the state. It is hoped that this bill will encourage more mediation and consultation on matters pertaining to agriculture. Laws of New York; AGM - Agriculture and Markets; Section 305-B Date passed: 2/23/2005 Establishment of Farm Trails, Apple Trails and Cuisine Trails. Establishes farm, apple and cuisine trails and requires the state department of agriculture to market the trails. Defines these trails as a group of food producers who sell complementary food products, are in close proximity, sell their products in a cooperative manner, and utilize maps and other directional devices to market their products. Agriculture and Markets Law § 284-A Date passed: 7/24/2004 Farmland Viability Program The Farmland Viability Program provides technical and financial assistance in the form of matching grants to applicants for projects which contribute to overall farm profitability and sound environmental management. N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 329 Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Passport This program's aim is to partner various agricultural related assets and promote agricultural awareness through increased tourism and helps drive agricultural economic development, by assisting farms and farm based ventures with an additional source of income, thus preserving small farm operations and increasing tourism revenue in rural communities. Launched March 2004 Sustainable Agriculture Programs This law establishes a program for sustainable agricultural practices and creates a Board, defines the Board, provides for loan and grant programs, and funding. 7 P. S. § 130c Date Adopted: 3/30/2001
Rhode Island
An Act Relating to Agriculture and Forestry This act preserves the agricultural rights by limiting the effect of changes in rules and regulations that would impair the ability to continue farming. SB 2499 Effective Date: 06/14/2006
Vermont
An Act Relating to Agricultural Energy and Fuel Production This bill establishes use of funds in the agricultural economic development special account to provide assistance to farmers interested in biofuel production, implement assistance to farmers to invest in capital needed for agricultural energy production, and to provide non-farmers assistance in developing technology to produce agricultural energy. This also establishes that the agency of agriculture, food, and markets to create and maintain a website with information on energy production for farms. Sec. 1. 6 V.S.A. § 4710(g) Date approved: 5/30/06 Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program This act establishes the Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program. This is a voluntary program that will enhance financial success and the long-term viability of Vermont farming. A grant program provides resources for technical, financial, and infrastructure improvements on Vermont farms. 6 V.S.A. § 4710 Effective Date: 6/3/2004
West Virginia
An Act Amending to the West Virginia State Fertilizer Law This bill amends and reenacts the West Virginia Fertilizer Law. Local legislation is prohibited in the registration, packaging, labeling, sale, storage, distribution, use and application of fertilizers, was added to the law. SB 631 Date approved: 3/21/2004 | 
