Empire State optimism amidst ‘foggy D.C. policy’
New York State Ag Commissioner Richard Ball gave the keynote address at the 2026 Ag Solutions & Networking Expo at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech last week, echoing the strength of New York’s local and statewide agricultural opportunities, even as the country continues to face a “foggy D.C. policy on ag.”
The Ag Solutions & Networking Expo returned for the second year to SUNY Cobleskill’s campus. It is produced in conjunction with National Grid, Schoharie County Farm Bureau, the Schoharie County Office of Agricultural Development, NYSERDA, CCE Schoharie & Otsego and SUNY Cobleskill’s Institute for Rural Vitality.
This year’s sessions focused on topics like agritourism, value-added product production and marketing, grant and loan programs to preserve operational efficiency and more, all funneling back to one core idea: connecting.
Ball began his speech touching on his own history in Schoharie County, growing up around farming and then segueing into his own 50-something-year career as first operations manager for a vegetable farm and then as owner of his own property from 1993 to the present day.
He and his family built Schoharie Valley Farms. The farm currently comprises 200 acres and produces a wide range of vegetable crops, small fruits and greenhouse crops. The farm serves both retail and wholesale consumers through an onsite farm market and ships to brokers and restaurants in the local area as well as New York City.
Ball has served as the New York State Department of Ag & Markets Commissioner since 2014.
His personal successes and the successful operations represented March 3 in SUNY Cobleskill’s Bouck Ballroom are indicative of what’s possible for the area, he maintained. “We have the crops, the products – we just have to connect with those who need them,” he said, referencing easy regional access to markets in Canada, Boston and one of the largest in the world, New York City.
He discussed the population of the South Bronx, quipping, “We have about the same number of people per square county [upstate],” to laughs around the room. “But that’s a perfect example: All of those people want to know what we do. They want our products. It’s our job to connect the dots.”
He touted a great working relationship with Gov. Kathy Hochul and expressed his confidence in her budget proposals and what they will accomplish for New York agriculture (many outlined in her 2026 State of the State Address).
“Things are still a little foggy in Washington,” Ball said, referencing the ongoing discussions around ag policy and the Farm Bill renewal, “but I was reminded recently while flying home just how sure our policy and precedent are here in New York. We have strong programs, from soil and water conservation resources to crop protections. We can lean into that, be confident in that [even in an uncertain federal climate].”
He wrapped up by recognizing a local FFA chapter’s officer delegation who were in attendance, lauding the potential of the next generation and his excitement around what they will bring to Empire State agriculture.
The Ag Solutions & Networking Expo will return to Cobleskill in 2027. The Institute for Rural Vitality’s next producer- centric event is the annual Empire State Entrepreneur Expo, taking place at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech on May 1.
For more information, visit cobleskill.edu/institute/irv-upcoming-events.aspx.
by Andy Haman
