New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball has issued a call for nominations for the new Beginning Farmer Advisory Board. The Board, which was created by statute, will help identify challenges affecting beginning farmers across New York State and provide recommendations to the Department on state priorities, policies, and programs to promote the next generation of farmers. Nominations for the board must be received no later than Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Commissioner Ball said, “As beginning farmers enter the agricultural industry, it’s important that they have the support they need. The Beginning Farmer Advisory Board will help us better address the challenges new farmers face and provide valuable insight into what policies and resources are needed to help them build a successful operation.”
The Beginning Farmer Advisory Board will be comprised of diverse members of the agriculture industry, including the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, and 25 members. Board members will be appointed to three-year terms, with initial terms staggered to allow terms to expire gradually. Nominations for 13 appointed seats are now open. Nominees must be residents of New York State, show interest in the preservation and development of agriculture and New York’s agricultural way of life, and be actively engaged in farming or other agricultural activities such as research or services that support the agricultural community. Nomination forms can be found at https://tinyurl.com/mvc2z36f.
Nominations should include the name and email address of the individual being nominated, their organizational affiliation, and a description of their experience related to areas of board responsibility. Completed nomination forms will be used to evaluate the nominee’s qualifications. For more information, please contact BeginningFarmer@agriculture.ny.gov.
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