Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I – Corning) today joined his Assembly Minority colleagues in celebrating their annual Dairy Day event in Albany’s Legislative Office Building.

New York has more than 5,700 dairy farms, and their 610,000 milk cows produce more than one billion pounds of milk each month, making New York the third-largest producer of dairy products in the United States. New York State is currently fourth in the nation in dairy production.

Dairy and animal production in New York provided $2.39 billion value of production to farmers in 2010. Additionally, distribution and processing accounts for $10 billion statewide and $50 billion regionally on an annual basis. Agriculture is the number one industry in New York state and dairy is the number one component of the agricultural industry, so it is vital that we provide farmers with the resources that they need to succeed, noted Palmesano.

“The farming industry is the heart of New York,” said Palmesano. “Today, I join my colleagues in celebrating all that our agricultural industry does for the people of New York.”

The annual event is held to offer the public a chance to sample a variety of New York’s dairy products and to meet organizations and companies representing various sectors of the dairy industry.

“I encourage New Yorkers to buy local agricultural products whenever possible,” Palmesano stated. “That way, you can provide your family with the freshest food available and also help New York’s dairy farmers remain productive and profitable, thus ensuring a bright future for New York.”