New York pitches “I Love NY Agriculture” specialty license plate

New York Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine last week bought a new item for the pickup truck he drives around his farm in Cape Vincent. And, now he’s encouraging others to buy it as well to help fund a state agricultural education program.

“Last week I went on the DMV website and purchased my very own ‘I Love NY Agriculture’ license plate. Not only is it a sharp looking license plate that reflects my own love of agriculture here in New York State, but it helps support a great cause,” Aubertine said in a news release.

The specialty license plate supports the New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) program. NYAITC is a partnership of the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, Cornell University, state Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and New York Farm Bureau. The program works with pre-K through middle-school teachers, Cornell Cooperative Extension and other community educators, farmers, volunteers, parents, and community partners to increase agricultural literacy in the state, according to the release.

NYAITC supports a number of agricultural education programs throughout the year, including Agricultural Literacy Week, Kids Growing Food, an art and writing contest, and educator workshops.

“As our students are becoming further removed from the farm and agricultural production, our program is growing in necessity,” Katie Bigness, coordinator of New York Agriculture in the Classroom, said in the release. “The funds generated from the license plate allow us to train more teachers how to integrate agriculture into their curriculum, and allows hundreds of students the chance to participate in food production themselves through in-school activities and school gardens.”

The “I Love NY Agriculture” plate is available for both passenger and commercial vehicles and can be ordered in person at any Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, by phone, or online at dmv.ny.gov/cplates.htm.

The initial fee is $53.75 and the annual fee of $25 is in addition to the standard registration renewal fee. This $25 annual fee supports the NYAITC program.

Contact The Business Journal at news@cnybj.com