SWEENEY/FISHER/BURZICHELLI COMMEND GOVERNOR FOR DECISION TO SEEK PRESERVING FARM ADVOCATE
Pledge to Work with Administration, Colleagues To Keep Agriculture Department Open

(TRENTON) - Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney and Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher and John J. Burzichelli today applauded Governor Jon S. Corzine for his commitment to make every effort to save the state Department of Agriculture.

The legislators pledged to work with the administration and their colleagues to find the alternative budget cuts necessary to restore the department's funding.

"I applaud the Governor for recognizing that agriculture is a priority in the Garden State," said Sweeney (D-Gloucester).  "This year's budget may be one of the toughest budgets ever faced by the State of New Jersey, but even in a fiscal crisis, we cannot turn our backs on the needs of our constituents. The Department of Agriculture has served to give a crucial voice to farmers in state government, and we must look elsewhere for the cuts needed to balance our budget."

"The Governor clearly recognizes the important role agriculture plays in our state and his decision to seek to keep the department open is welcome news," said Fisher (D-Cumberland), chairman of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. "New Jersey's farming community will be well-served by continuing to have all the crucial services that help grow the state's multi-billion dollar food and agriculture complex under one roof."

The 3rd Legislative District contains one of the state's largest population of farmers. Agriculture is a major economic engine for the region.

"The Department of Agriculture is a lean operation that makes invaluable contributions to New Jersey's farming community," said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. "The department has been incredibly effective in growing our farming industry into an economic powerhouse. We must preserve what works."

Programs funded by the state Department of Agriculture include soil and water resource conservation, farmland protection and preservation, and food certification. The department also runs one of the nation's most successful school nutrition programs.

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