New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on January 8, 2026 delivered the State of Agriculture Address at the 194th New York State Agricultural Society Annual Forum, outlining the agricultural industry’s progress in 2025 in several key priority areas. The Forum, which is traditionally the oldest and largest agricultural meeting of its kind in the State, took place at the Wegmans Conference Center in Rochester. This year’s State of Agriculture address was accompanied by a series of videos showcasing the on-the-ground impact of the State’s efforts to support the many diverse sectors of New York agriculture, including in the areas of school food, agricultural education, dairy, and environmental protections.
“We all have a shared mission, a common goal that brings us together: to uplift New York agriculture, to see it grow and thrive. It’s because of this, despite all that is going on in the background, I carry tremendous optimism for the future of our industry here in New York,” said Commissioner Ball. “With the support of our Governor, here in New York State, we are staying the course. We are working harder than ever toward our number one priority of supporting our farmers, our producers, our food businesses, and our families who rely on the food we cultivate.”
In keeping with this year’s Forum theme of “Harvesting Change,” Commissioner Ball spoke about the need for adaptation in the face of challenges that New York farmers are facing on the global, national, and local fronts. The Commissioner highlighted the progress of the State’s many programs aimed at helping industry stakeholders evolve and adapt, including through climate- and land-focused initiatives such as the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program, the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program, and the Farmland Protection Program; and through programs aimed at helping farmers modernize their operations and remain flexible, like the Dairy Modernization Grant Program, the Aquaculture Infrastructure Grant Program, and the NYS Grown & Certified Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Development Grant Program.
Calling the 2020s “the decade of collaboration,” the Commissioner additionally emphasized the need for the agricultural community to continue working in partnership to tackle challenges and uncertainties and highlighted the many opportunities the industry has before it. This includes the State’s efforts to provide increased support for agricultural education and agricultural workforce development, ensure continued innovation and the future of the industry, and maintain its high level of environmental protection programming.