Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,I,C-Gowanda) recently joined his Assembly Minority Conference colleagues and New York’s dairy farmers at their annual Dairy Day celebration on Tuesday, June 8. Giglio noted that agriculture is not only a cornerstone of New York’s heritage, but a boon to the state’s economy as well.

“Given that June is ‘National Dairy Month,’ there is no better time to turn our attention to New York’s dairy industry and showcase the excellent and healthy products that they are able to provide,” Giglio said. “Dairy Day is meant to gear consumers toward shopping and buying locally, as well as alerting our Legislative colleagues of the harsh climate facing New York’s dairy farmers. At a time when New Yorkers are struggling to find work in a bleak economy, we cannot afford to turn a cold shoulder to an industry that plays such a central role in providing quality employment and economic activity in the state.”

More than $4.5 billion is generated annually through New York’s agricultural industry, with 34,200 farms encompassing 25 percent of the state’s land base. Although New York’s dairy industry is the third most productive of its kind in the nation, the state’s farms are struggling to stay solvent due to the federal recession, the state’s fiscal crisis, increasing operational costs and government regulations that dairy farmers are required to follow.

“Agriculture is ingrained in the history of this great state, but it also means a great deal to the health of our present day economy,” Giglio said. “The revenue generated through the farming industry is vital to our local economies, and the impact of agri-tourism dollars stemming from scenic open spaces can be felt statewide.”