(WBNG Binghamton) It's a full list of priorities for the New York Farm Bureau.
The group outlined its hopes for 2012.
Among the issues discussed: mandate relief, budget issues, and promoting local food.
The bureau also addressed plans for natural gas explorations.
Leaders say their farmers could benefit economically, but only in natural resources are protected.
They say that while the DEC has offered many good recommendations, more staffing at wells is necessary.
"We are the largest landowners in the state and a lot of this will impact our farmers," said NYFB Deputy Director of Public Policy Jeff Williams. "So staffing is frankly one of the biggest things that we're looking at at this point."
They're happy to see more than $100 million in dam and erosion work from last year's severe storms, but say promoting locally grown food is proving difficult in New York City.
Their hope is to use Economic Regional Council money to build food hubs to help spread New York produce.
"This would be areas where local farmers can come and essentially have a kind of warehouse with the appropriate climate controls and safety protocols, and then deliver the aggregate product that then can be shipped down to the New York City market," said Julie Suarez, FBNY's Director of Public Policy.
Other issues proposed by the bureau include removing registration fees for farm vehicles, and making the wine reporting process easier.
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