The Department of Food and Agriculture regulates and promotes the Commonwealth's agricultural industry. These services are intended to safeguard public health and the environment, while ensuring the continued viability of the Commonwealth's agricultural sector. Through the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program, the Department purchases deed restrictions on agricultural land to prevent commercial development. Since 1977, the APR program has preserved 40,000 acres of farmland in over 123 towns.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1999 will enable the Department to provide the same level of services as in Fiscal Year 1998.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ADMINISTRATION
2511-0100	For the operation of the department of food and agriculture	4,712,920

EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2511-0105	For the purchase of food for the emergency food assistance program within the Second Harvest nationally-certified food bank system of Massachusetts; provided, that not less than $150,000 shall be made available to the greater Boston food bank for the establishment of a statewide nutrition education program; and provided further, that not less than $2,850,000 shall be made available to the greater Boston food bank for the purchase of food, said food to be distributed as follows: 73.5 per cent to the greater Boston food bank, including a portion to be distributed to the Merrimack valley food bank pursuant to a contractual agreement between said food bank and the greater Boston food bank, 15.2 per cent to the food bank of western Massachusetts, and 11.3 per cent to the Worcester county food bank	3,000,000

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
2511-3002	For the operation of the integrated pest management program	299,500

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
2511-4010	For the operation of the aquaculture program	140,207

STATE RECLAMATION BOARD
2520-0100	For the operation of the state reclamation board	57,661

Federal Grant Spending

PESTICIDE ENFORCEMENT
2511-0310	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Pesticide Enforcement	262,662

CERTIFICATION OF PESTICIDE APPLICATORS
2511-0320	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Certification of Pesticide Applicators	30,700

SOIL SURVEY DIGITIZING
2511-0971	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Soil Survey Digitizing	13,573

DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL MARKETING
2516-9002	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Development of Institutional Marketing	50,000

FARMERS` MARKET COUPON PROGRAM
2516-9003	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Farmers` Market Coupon Program	670,238

Trust and Other Spending

2511-0330

MOSQUITO AND GREENHEAD FLY CONTROL FUND

5,061,183

2518-1002

SIMULCAST WAGERING OF HORSE RACING TRUST

24,000