Assemblyman Ron Dancer today spoke at a rally opposing Governor Corzine’s proposed elimination of the Department of Agriculture and said that the farming industry is too important to New Jersey for this department to be eliminated.

            “In a state we call the ‘Garden State’ this department is of vital importance,” said Dancer, R-Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Mercer. “We must have a voice in the Governor’s cabinet for the farming industry and we must have a department trained to focus on and respond to the concerns of our state’s farmers.”

            Corzine has proposed eliminating the department as part of this year’s budget cuts, but Dancer noted the department is one of the smallest in state government and most of its functions are essential and will need to be transferred to other departments.

            Dancer, who joined other legislators at the rally, wore his former racing silks to the rally (Pictures attached). Dancer, who has deep ties to New Jersey’s farming and horse racing industries was raised on a family farm and was a professional trainer and driver for Stanley Dancer Racing Stables.

            Dancer also noted that this is a crucial issue because the horse racing industry is vital to the New Jersey economy and to the preservation of open space and farmland in New Jersey. There are more than 42,000 horses in New Jersey on 7,200 horse farms and equine operations that generate about $1.1 billion annually for our economy.

            Meanwhile,  176,000 acres of land in this state are devoted to equine operations with an additional 46,000 acres producing hay and grain for horses.