ALBANY – The State Legislature’s Conference Committee on Agriculture has restored roughly $5 million in funding to a number of agriculture programs vital to farmers in Sullivan and Orange counties, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said Wednesday.  She is vice-chairwoman of the Commission on Rural Resources.

“Farmers are an important part of the economic fabric of rural New York and funding for these critical programs needed to be restored in this year’s budget,” she said.

There is money placed back in the 2011-2012 budget for farm viability, the wine and grape industry, pest control, dairy excellence, seed lab, maple producers and the Environmental Protection Fund.               

The legislature is also working on legislation to provide sales tax relief for families, Gunther said.

“The fact that so many families are struggling right now, and anything like clothing, footwear, and related items for less than $55 would be exempt from state four percent sales tax, which I think will save families a ton of money if they go to school shop or if they have to buy shoes for their children,” she said.

Those provisions would be included in the state’s 2011-12 budget that is being hammered out and by law, must be adopted by the end of this month.