[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 17, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION 
                                DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2014

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
50th Anniversary of the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation 
District. Since 1964, the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation 
District has actively developed and implemented specialized projects 
and educational programs to improve, protect, and preserve Suffolk 
County's most treasured natural resources.
  Suffolk County's thriving agriculture has been assisted by the 
conservation efforts of the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation 
District in partnership with the local communities and landowners, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Long Island Farm Bureau, the 
Cornell Cooperative Extension and Research Lab, the New York State Soil 
and Water Conservation Committee, the New York State Department of 
Agriculture and Markets, the New York State Department of Environmental 
Conservation, and the New York Association of Conservation Districts.
  As a result of this collaboration, Suffolk County leads the rest of 
our great state in market value of crop production, including sod, 
grapes, nursery stock, aquaculture, and specialty crops. The County can 
also be proud of flourishing agricultural tourism, known for attracting 
thousands of visitors to wineries, greenhouses, and seasonal pumpkin 
picking.
  Consisting of over 600 farms spanning 35,000 acres, Suffolk County 
farms form the pillar of the East End economy and contribute millions 
of dollars to the Long Island and New York state economies, supporting 
local jobs and igniting economic growth across the region. This success 
is sustainable with the help of the Suffolk County Soil and Water 
Conservation District and can help further propel Long Island's 
continuing economic recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, helping local farmers secure federal aid and educating 
them about building green infrastructure are just some of the many 
critically important functions of the Suffolk County Soil and Water 
Conservation District, which remains dedicated to the success of Long 
Island farmers and small businesses, and why it is an honor to offer my 
congratulations on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary.

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