NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Since the earliest days of agriculture, farmers have been developing tools to better cultivate crops or care for livestock. From simple tools like the plow and sickle to automated advancements like as the mechanical reaper, tractor, and combine harvester, and so much more, agricultural equipment has revolutionized farming practices and shaped the world we live in today!

To celebrate the start of the growing season and all the work that comes with it, May’s photo contest category is: “Tractors, Trailers, Tools, and Tech!” The description is right there in the title… this month we want to see all the agricultural equipment that helps your farm run – whether it be tried, true, and traditional or exciting, innovative, and advanced!

To submit a photo, email it to [email protected] with your name and a brief description of the photograph. Additionally, if you’d like to receive updates and reminders about the photo contest, you can subscribe to our Photo Contest mailing list at the link in our bio! Submissions are due May 22, 2026.

Congratulations to April's photo contest winner, Logan LaFave, whose picture captures a quick break from drilling soybeans to enjoy a gorgeous rainbow.

Thank you to everyone who voted this month, and to all our semifinalists: Colleen Brown, Dawn Szurek, Holly Owens, and Rebecca Mitchell. We love seeing everyone's interpretation of each month's theme, and look forward to seeing submissions for next month's category! Any guesses on what it will be? 👀

It’s New York cider week! As the second-largest apple producing state in the country, we produce over 40 varieties and 30 million bushels of apples annually. This week, we’re excited to celebrate one of this delicious food’s most refreshing forms: cider! 🍏🍎🍻

New York Cider week runs from May 2-10 and showcases the diversity and quality of New York’s cider industry and New York agriculture. We encourage everyone to join the New York Cider Association in exploring the cider producers in your own backyard! Check out the full list of events across the state from tastings and orchard tours to crafting events, yoga, and more, at www.ciderweeknewyork.com.

Happy Adopt a Shelter Pet Day!

Yesterday, our Assistant Director of the Department’s Animal Industry Division joined our partners at New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Mohawk Hudson Humane Society to celebrate the “Our Best Friends” License Plate program. The program supports the Animal Population Control Fund, which provides critical grants to rescue organizations like MHHS, allowing them to provide low-cost spay neuter programs that can help remove real barriers to pet ownership for some and pave the way for more successful adoptions of our dogs and cats.

At the Department, we know that pets are family, and for many of these beloved animals, their journey begins at humane society or rescue organization. Organizations like Mohawk Hudson Humane Society are our true boots on the ground, providing the critical care, shelter, and enrichment these animals need while they wait for their forever families to find them. Thank you to all our rescue organizations across the state, and thank you to our partners at the Department of Motor Vehicles for dedicating the proceeds of this special license plate to such a worthy cause! You can learn more about the program here: https://dmv.ny.gov/plates/our-best-friends

The semifinalists have been selected for the Department’s Agricultural Photo Contest for April’s Category: “April Showers!” It is always so difficult to narrow down all the submissions to the final five. Between raindrops decorating spring flowers and their buzzing inhabitants, rainbows peeking out from fresh storm clouds, and one feathery fowl thrilled about the start of mud season, this month didn’t prove any less challenging! Help us choose the winner!

☔To vote, scroll through all the photos in the post. Each photo has a corresponding number in the bottom left corner.

🌈COMMENT on this post with the NUMBER that corresponds to your favorite photo. Only COMMENTS will be counted - not likes on specific photos.

🌧Only ONE comment per person will be counted. Anyone who votes multiple times will have all votes disqualified.

💧*For Facebook voters – you may cast your one vote in the comments under the entire post, OR under individual photos – votes from both comment sections will be counted. Comments under SHARED POSTS will NOT be counted.

Voting ends Friday, May 1, at 11:59 pm!

Our second Rooted in Success Awardee that we're spotlighting this month is Dr. Margaret Smith, Professor Emerita at Cornell University. Dr. Smith first joined the faculty at College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University in 1987 in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, focusing on corn breeding. Before coming to Cornell, Margaret worked in Latin America working on improving crop varieties for small-scale and subsistence farmers in the tropics – a research interest she maintained throughout her career.

Dr. Smith’s research program at Cornell, which was primarily focused on field corn, emphasized breeding for productivity and adaptation to New York growing conditions, improving insect and disease resistance, and breeding for organic systems. She also served for 25 years as the Extension Leader for Plant Breeding and Genetics conducting educational programs and talks on crop varieties, seeds and plant genetic engineering, as well as oversaw the New York Seed Improvement Program, which produces foundation seed of new Cornell varieties and carries out seed certification inspections.

After almost 50 years at Cornell, she retired at the end of January 2026 and is now Professor Emerita. To learn more about Dr. Smith’s impressive career and work advancing New York agriculture, we encourage you to read Cornell CALS’ profile on her work here: https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2026/01/margaret-smith-embodiment-of-land-grant-mission-elected-emerita

Thank you, Dr. Smith

On Earth Day, we were so thrilled to join NY Sun Works in celebrating an exciting milestone: the opening of theThe City of Yonkers ’ first Hydroponic Classroom!

The state-of-the-art classroom at Lincoln High School in Yonkers was funded through the Department’s Urban Farms and Community Garden grant program, and will provide hands-on, sustainability science education to 400 students every year. NY Sun Works provides sustainability science and climate education to NYC public schools.

We can’t wait to see how our next generation uses and learns from this classroom to further advance New York’s food system. Congratulations on an incredible achievement!

Happy Earth Day! Farmers have always been stewards of our natural environment, working with our planet and natural resources to grow the food we eat and care for our land, water, and animals.

From safeguarding New York State’s natural resources and working landscapes, improving plant health, caring for our pollinators, promoting sustainable farming practices, protecting water quality, and so much more, the Department is committed to preserving our environment.

We owe the food we eat, the clothes on our back, and our way of life to a clean, healthy planet, so remember - no action is too small to help preserve the planet we call home! 🌎🪱🐝🐥🦋🐑🐄🐖🐎🌱☀️

We're excited to announce nominations are open for the 2026 Women in Agriculture Awards! Now in their third year, the awards seek to shine a spotlight on the many inspiring female leaders shaping the future of our industry through 10 different categories, including: research, legacy, sustainability, veterinary practice, leadership, innovation, mentorship, overall achievement, and more.

We encourage you to think about the women in agriculture you know and consider nominating them for one of these awards!

Nominations may be submitted at agriculture.ny.gov/womeninagnominations

Nominations will close May 22, 2026 at 5:00pm. For more information, visit: https://agriculture.ny.gov/news/department-agriculture-and-markets-announces-call-nominations-third-annual-women-agriculture

Continuing our year-long spotlight of the Department’s Women in Agriculture Awards, this month we are highlighting the first two winners of the “Rooted in Success” Award. This award honors an individual specializing in plant cultivation, horticulture, or floriculture, demonstrating contributions to the sustainability, beautification, and productivity of the environment through plant science. This awardee may engage in education, outreach, or community projects related to horticulture.

First up is Dr. Christine Smart, the Department’s 2024 awardee. Dr. Smart is a Professor of Plant Pathology, the Director of Cornell AgriTech, and Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. She is also fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Phytopathological Society. Dr. Smart joined the Cornell team in 2003 after earning her Bachelor of Science and PhD degrees from Michigan State University. Her research focuses on developing improved management strategies for diseases of vegetables and h**p that cause major economic losses to farmers, helping to provide growers with novel disease management options.

Thank you, Dr. Smart, for all that you do for our industry!