Court Grants Farm Bureau's Request to Dismiss Collective Bargaining Lawsuit

Message from New York Farm Bureau

New York Farm Bureau learned today that Judge Richard McNally has granted farm bureau's request to dismiss the New York Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit that sought to create collective bargaining rights for farmworkers. 

The court’s decision is a major victory for New York’s family farms, said Farm Bureau President David Fisher.

"New York Farm Bureau argued in State Supreme Court in Albany, last July that our system of government requires that the legislature change state law, not the courts.   

The court agreed," Fisher said.

In his decision, Judge McNally wrote, “…the plaintiffs and the State have not demonstrated that the Labor Law statues are racially discriminatory or that farm workers are a suspect class entitled to constitutional protections. Any changes to the SERA (State Employee Relations Act) should emanate with the New York State Legislature as ‘the legislative power of this state shall be vested in the senate and the assembly.’”

The court previously granted New York Farm Bureau intervenor status in the lawsuit. "Our organization petitioned the court in 2016 to become a defendant only after the Governor and Attorney General refused to uphold and defend the State Labor Relations Act from the lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union," Fisher said.

New York Farm Bureau has long opposed farmworker collective bargaining for one simple reason. Farms do not have a standard eight-hour workday.  

Last year’s growing season demonstrated that. Weeks of heavy rains followed by shorter bouts of sunshine forced farmers and their employees to squeeze in weeks of work into just a few dry days. Work never stops inside the barn. For instance, cows need to be fed and milked multiple times every day, Fisher said.  

"A farmworker strike or confining work agreements could jeopardize a crop or the health of an animal. Everyone who works in farming understands this, including farmworkers," Fisher said. 

"Farmers have great respect for the people who they employ, and this court victory does not diminish that. They value their employees’ commitment, work ethic, and the partnership it takes to get the job done on the farm.

"New York Farm Bureau has represented farmers for more than a century, and today’s ruling will go down as another defining moment in Farm Bureau’s long history. 

New York Farm Bureau will always stand up for our members, either in court or at the Capitol, to ensure that their rights are protected and their voices are heard,” said Fisher.

Dairy Farmers Persevering During Adverse Industry Trends; Look for Silver Lining

From EMPIRE FARM & Dairy magazine

By MARCUS WOLF
MWOLF@WDT.NET
 
Dairy farmers like Amy Beyer want industry conditions to improve after years of working to produce more milk to keep up with bills — to compensate for earning less for each pound of milk her cows produce.
 
Beyer, who with her husband, Ernest, owns Glory Days Farm in Lowville, said despite working harder than ever, they have only earned enough to cover their costs and support their family. There is no revenue to put into upgrades, new equipment or other improvements to their operation.
 
“Your head is down and you just stay focused,” she said. “There’s not a lot of time to look up and say, ‘Boy, this is a wonderful life.’”
 
Trying to preserve their operations despite receiving a lower price for their milk and dealing with consistent, if not rising, costs, difficulties securing labor and losing crops during harsh weather conditions have drained many farmers of their energy and morale.
 
“Believe me, there’s days where you start to think if it’s all worth it,” said Ronald Robbins, who owns North Harbor Dairy in Hounsfield, Jefferson County.
 
More than two years of low earnings have pushed Robbins to farm while predominantly breaking even or losing money. Despite adverse conditions, he said dairy farming is in his DNA.
 
“It’s been good to (my) family,” he said.
 
Beyer said farming is still the best way to raise her five children because it teaches them the values of hard work that translate to the farm, school and sports.
 
At the same time, Beyer said, she and her husband have discouraged their oldest son, William, from taking over the family farm or starting his own because they want him to avoid the financial stress and earn enough money to raise a family and retire someday.
 
William Beyer, 18, will begin his first term at St. Lawrence University this fall. He has in the past expressed a desire to become a farmer.
 
“We don’t want to encourage that, and we are certainly not setting him up for it,” she said.
 
Some experts, however, predict slightly higher prices and improved market productions in 2017, providing a few farmers with optimistic outlooks.
 
“It’s got to get better at some point,” said Lyle Wood, who owns H Wood Farms in Cape Vincent with Scott Bourcy.
 
THE RISE AND FALL
 
Prices paid to farmers for their milk in the Northeast peaked in 2014, a peak that broke a record high throughout most of the region.
 
The average statistical uniform price, or blend price, paid to farmers who had their milk shipped to handlers in the Northeast Market Area, which covers most of the Northeast, reported at 3.5 percent butterfat content, was $24.28 per hundredweight, according to the Market Administrator’s Annual Statistical Bulletin for 2014.
 
That price was reportedly the highest average price for Northeast farmers since the order’s inception and was $4.03, or 20 percent, more than the 2013 average.
 
Bruce Krupke, executive vice president of the Northeast Dairy Association Inc., said producers and processors in 2011 and 2012 began to reach out to the world marketplace, creating a spike in exports to countries including China, Mexico and Canada.
 
U.S. dairy producers previously exported 1 to 3 percent of dairy products, but exports increased to about 16 percent.
 
“We were finding a new place to sell our products — a whole new consumer to sell to,” Krupke said. “It kind of created a new opportunity and industry for us.”
 
At the same time, demand for dairy products at home continued to increase, an increase Krupke, who also is chairman of the Empire State Council of Agricultural Organizations, said continues to this day. He also said an economy improving from the 2008 recession and a resurgence in processing plants also helped bring prices to record highs.
 
Robbins said he remembers state officials’ ambitions to boost yogurt production at the Yogurt and Dairy Summit in 2014, when New York state was the leading yogurt producer in the country.
 
“We were going to be the yogurt capital of the world,” Robbins said of the state’s goals at the time, but “the yogurt boom never materialized.”
 
The price paid to farmers in the Northeast for their milk dropped dramatically in late 2014 and early 2015 and continued, for the most part, to decline into 2017.
 
The average blend price at 3.5 percent butterfat in the Northeast Marketing Area dropped in 2015 by $7.14 per hundred-weight, from $24.28 in 2014, to $17.14. That price dropped again in 2016 by an additional $1.24, to $15.90.
 
The blend price was up in January this year, but decreased consecutively into April, according to the monthly reports for the marketing area.
 
Andrew Novakovic, a professor of agriculture economics at Cornell University, Ithaca, said the price dairy farmers receive for their milk almost routinely fluctuates in three-year cycles.
 
“We’ve now broken that cycle for the first time. We’re now in three years of really depressed prices,” Robbins said.
 
The decline in international demand when China dropped out of the market played a crucial role in the drop in milk prices, Novakovic said.
 
In addition to China reducing its demand, Robbins said, a few processing plant closures reduced the number of outlets for farmers or the cooperatives that represent them. Chobani opened a processing plant in Idaho and cut its production in New York, Robbins said. The Muller Quaker Dairy plant in Batavia closed in early 2016.
 
“You had a perfect storm of events,” Robbins said.
 
Farmers, however, continued producing enough milk for a demand that no longer existed at the time, pushing the price they received down and flooding the market.
 
The amount of milk handlers in the Northeast received from producers in 2016 reportedly exceeded 27 billion pounds for the first time, according to the Northeast 2016 bulletin. Milk pooled in the marketing area was slightly more than 26 billion pounds in 2015, about 25.8 billion in 2014 and 25.4 billion in 2013, according to each year’s respective report.
 
Robbins said many farmers purchased additional cows and expanded production around 2014 to take advantage of the increasing milk prices. Some, however, have continued buying more cows and increasing production just to keep up with the costs of their operations.
 
State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said state milk production is up 5 percent while exports have declined by 2 to 3 percent.
 
“There’s a whole lot of milk being made and not enough homes to go to for it to be processed,” said John D. Peck, a Jefferson County legislator who owns Peck Homestead Farm in Carthage.
 
Jon Greenwood, owner of a large Potsdam dairy farm, said dairy prices have always been determined by the relationship between supply and demand.
 
Until a few decades ago, milk prices fluctuated based solely on what was happening in a particular region of the country.
 
However, today, local farmers can be impacted by supply and demand changes around the world, according to Greenwood, who is president of the St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau.
 
“We never used to export, but we were up to exporting 18 percent,” he said.
 
Giving an example, he said a lessening demand for U.S. milk products from China and Southeast Asia contributed to the drop in milk prices that started about two years ago.
 
In particular, China was importing a lot of powdered milk used in baby formula.
 
”That market has gone down significantly,” Greenwood said.
 
While international demand dropped, Ronald Kuck, livestock educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, said demand for dairy products per capita has increased since 2015. The problem, Kuck said, still lies with overproduction.
 
“Supply and demand,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
 
Novakovic said cutting production could balance supply and demand, but few, if any, producers would cut down their own production.“No farmer would rationally cut back the number of cows they’re milking,” Peck said. “That’s the main thing we can control to be able to get back more.”
 
KEEPING UP
 
Farmers still need to keep up with their routine expenses despite earning less, and while some farmers’ costs have remained stable, others’ expenses have risen.
 
Robbins said he recently had an in-depth analysis conducted to review his expenses from 2012 to 2017.
 
He said costs including labor, insurance, workers compensation, health insurance, utilities and technical supplies all increased from the five-year-period. At the same time, his cost for feed remained stable and the cost of fuel decreased.
 
“What we found was those cost-of-production increases are centered around a lot of things we don’t have control over,” he said.
 
While Peck said feed and supply expenses have remained relatively stable, he has to pay more for his family’s health insurance.
 
Beyer said many of her costs, including veterinary bills, have climbed in recent years.
 
“We basically are just kind of surviving,” she said.
 
Kuck said farmers typically plan five years in advance, including what upgrades and practices to implement. 

Farms that evolve by investing in more efficient equipment, cow comfort and infrastructure will survive in the industry, Kuck said. The past few years, however, have pushed dairy farmers to adjust those plans, accommodate for decreased cash flow, and prioritize.
 
“They just can’t do as much as they would like to do,” he said.
 
Wood said he wanted to expand his feed storage and build a new garage, but lower revenue in recent years has halted those plans.
 
Earning less revenue also has prevented the Beyer family from upgrading or replacing equipment, Amy Beyer said. The family, instead, has to predominantly repair equipment by themselves and “pray everything holds out.”
 
“You want to be a progressive farmer, but you can’t,” she said. “Your hands are tied.”
 
Reduction in investments on the farm not only hinders dairy operations, but impacts several agribusiness sectors in the industry.
 
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher, who is also a family owner of Mapleview Dairy in Madrid, said farmers having to cut back their spending brings less revenue to agribusinesses such as machinery, milking equipment and feed suppliers.
 
“It affects the whole economy,” he said.
 
Labor expenses have also increased for several dairy farmers, particularly New York farmers who have to compete with other industries as the state minimum wage rises annually. The state minimum wage is set to increase 70 cents every year in areas outside of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties until it reaches $12.50 on Dec. 31, 2020.
 
“Who’s going to want to go milk a cow for eight hours a day when they can go flip a burger and make more?” Peck said.
 
At the same time, farmers nationwide are finding it more challenging to find prospective employees willing to work long hours milking cows and harvesting crops for feed.
 
Robbins argued that farming provides competitive pay rates when compared to other industries, but hours of hard work deter people from applying for farm jobs. A stigma also surrounds farm labor that leads many 
Americans to believe farm work is beneath them, Robbins said.
 
Novakovic also said farm labor allows little room for breaks and vacations.
 
“The work is demanding, and frankly, the work is very dirty,” Novakovic said. “It doesn’t matter how much you get paid.”
 
In response to a lack of interest from American laborers, several farmers hire and rely on migrant workers, a method made difficult under federal regulations.
 
Krupke said all agriculture in New York relies on a work force made up of legal migrant workers and the ability to hire those workers. Congress, he said, must enact new laws that will make it easier for people from other countries to work at U.S. farms.
 
Robbins said lawmakers need to create a workable guest program that meets the needs of the industry while maintaining the interests of national security.
 
“It’s just Washington’s lack of fortitude to make that happen,” Robbins said.
 
Weather in recent years, including drought conditions last year and excess rainfall in several parts of the country this year, have harmed crop quality and yield for many dairy farmers, which can have adverse effects on cows’ nutrition and reduce production.
 
Robbins said a cold summer and fall in 2015 lowered his crop quality, the 2016 drought reduced quality and volume and this year’s excess rainfall has drawn insects that have damaged his crops.
 
Wood said his farm experienced about average weather in 2014 and 2015, but excess heat in 2016 reduced his soybean and hay yield, and excess rainfall this year has inhibited his harvesting plans.
 
Hot and humid weather at Peck Homestead Farm make cows uncomfortable and heat stressed, Peck said, which reduces production. The 2016 drought dried up the grass in Mr. Peck’s pasture early on, but he said 2015 and this year haven’t inhibited his operations.
 
“Weather’s always a challenging thing,” he said. “You have no choice but to take what comes. There’s no point complaining about it.”
 
ADAPTING TO TOUGH TIMES 
Farmers are naturally resilient when facing adversity, Ball said, and they haven’t stood idle during recent challenging years. They have continued to adapt by exploring opportunities such as planting new crops and have advanced their education and marketing abilities.
 
“When adversity comes their way ... they keep going and figure out how to get it done,” he said.
 
In order to at least break even, Robbins said he pre-sells 50 to 60 percent of his milk, meaning he earns revenue at the current price before having it shipped months later. Milk prices fluctuate monthly, and Robbins said pre-selling his milk allows him to take advantage of months with slightly higher prices.
 
Farmers like Robbins are also reviewing their bills and deciding what, if any, expenses they can reduce.
 
When compiling information for the 2016 Northeast Dairy Farm Summary, Farm Credit East staff members found farmers on average earned $15 per cow last year, up from a loss of $30 per cow in 2015, by cutting costs. One example includes a more than $4 decrease in net cost of production from 2014 to $16.79 per hundredweight last year.
 
“We’re tightening our belts and trying to save money wherever we can,” Fisher said. “Try to get by with whatever you got and make do.”
 
Despite trying to reduce costs, Novakovic said farmers have to be careful not to let their attempts to cut costs reduce their herd health and, in turn, production. Farmers who stick with their plans typically avoid a loss of production, Novakovic said, which doesn’t provide them with many options for cost reduction.
 
“Farmers, especially the better ones, develop a plan and stick to it,” he said. “They will continue to do it no matter what happens with these prices … when it’s bad, you just lie down and take a beating and the trick is how resilient you are.”
 
Farmers must expand and diversify their operations during adverse market conditions, Peck said. Peck has implemented technology that allows him to harvest earlier and mix crop silage in ways that increase its nutritional benefits for his cows. He also said he is trying to sell farm-raised beef.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
Many farmers and experts believe milk prices will increase slightly this year from 2016, although they will not soon return to the record-breaking prices of three years ago.
 
Average dairy prices are expected to rise by $2 per hundredweight from last year, according to Farm Credit East, bringing more revenue for farmers. Average blend prices for farmers who have their milk shipped to Northeast handlers has increased from $16.39 per hundredweight in April to $17.53 in June. July prices are not yet available.
 
“It’s going to remain a sober year,” Mr. Ball said, “a gradual improvement.”
 
China has returned to the market with a demand for more dairy exports, Novakovic said, and other countries, including Vietnam, are providing additional markets for U.S. dairy products. Robbins also said the U.S. prices for products have become more competitive in the international marketplace.
 
“That’s sort of the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
 
Companies have also expressed plans to open new processing plants, Novakovic said. HP Hood recently purchased the Muller Quaker Dairy plant in Batavia. . Wood also said Dairy Farmers of America are investing in opening new plants.
 
The lack of milk processing plants in the Northeast has contributed to a surplus of milk that also drives down prices, Greenwood said.
 
“We have more milk than we have processors,” he said. “It’s critical that we get some plants built to take this milk supply.”
 
Krupke said dairy pricing should slightly increase so long as the economy, weather and overseas demand remain constant and manageable.
 
“I think they’re going to be constant,” he said. “I think we’re on this slow incline.”
 
Not all farmers, however, are as optimistic about the projected trends.
 
Peck said he believes the price will not increase, but will at least not decline any longer. Beyer said whatever increase in earnings she receives will go straight toward hauling fees.
 
“I almost feel like I’ve lost hope,” she said.
 
Officials at the state and federal levels have implemented programs and policies in an attempt to remediate adverse industry conditions, and their efforts are ongoing.
 
Ball said the state introduced the Climate Resilient Farming Grant program this year to help fund projects that help farmers deal with adverse weather like droughts. 

Ball and his office have also pitched state agriculture products, including dairy, to Canada and Mexico and worked with the state Department of Labor to create more skilled laborers for agriculture by doubling the number of agriculture teachers and increasing aid for agricultural education.
 
U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer, and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, both D-N.Y., are looking to improve conditions for dairy farmers through the 2018 Farm Bill.
 
Sen. Schumer said in a statement that Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers and processors must work together to help farmers navigate volatile price fluctuations through a comprehensive policy for the upcoming Farm Bill.
 
“Simply put, the dairy price challenge is wreaking havoc across upstate farms, and I am devoting a lot of time and energy preparing for the 2018 Farm Bill, which must include flexible and sufficient support for the 21st century family dairy farmer,” Sen. Schumer said in a statement.
 
Sen. Gillibrand said in a statement that she wants to reform the Margin Protection Program for dairy producers, which was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to provide farmers with financial assistance when the difference between the price of milk and feed costs falls below a farmer’s selected coverage level.
 
She said the program hasn’t helped farmers when the price they are paid for their milk fell below the cost of production, and they should return to a system that uses a “reasonable base price” that adjusts to inflation.
 
“I plan to pressure (USDA) to use all of the tools at their disposal, like refunding premium payments, making useful decision tools, and joining me as I go out and talk to dairy farmers that struggle to make ends,” she said in a statement. “We owe our farmers more than a failed program and must do what we can to make things right.”
 
U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, has also joined others in Congress in a call for reforms to the Margin Protection Program, including premium rate reduction and ensuring farmers have a viable safety net, according to a news release.
 
Tom Flanagin, a spokesman for Stefanik, said in a statement that she also sponsored the Family Farm Relief Act, meant to expand the H-2A agricultural visa program to dairy farmers.
 
With 40 years of dairy farming experience under his belt, Greenwood is confident the milk price situation will eventually stabilize.
 
“Prices are going to go up, it’s just a matter of when and how much,” he said.

Farm Bureau President Comment on Collective Bargaining Lawsuit

From New York Farm Bureau:

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher made the following comments July 21 concerning a lawsuit that seeks collective bargaining rights for farmworkers.

“New York Farm Bureau made a strong case today in State Supreme Court in Albany, NY as to why the Court should dismiss the NYCLU lawsuit that seeks collective bargaining rights for farmworkers. Our attorney argued that our system of government requires that the legislature change state law, not the courts.  Our attorney also argued that the State Labor Relations Act, as written, is constitutional.  

"'We appreciate the opportunity that the Court provided to us to argue the reasons for dismissal, and we are hopeful that we will have a decision in our favor very soon.

"The court previously granted New York Farm Bureau intervenor status to defend agriculture from the lawsuit after New York State abdicated its duty. Our organization had petitioned the court last year to become a defendant only after the Governor and Attorney General refused to uphold and defend the State Labor Relations Act in court.

"New York Farm Bureau has long opposed farmworker collective bargaining for one simple reason. Farms do not have a standard eight-hour workday. This growing season has taught us that. Heavy rains across New York have forced farmers and their employees to get in every dry moment they can in the fields before the next storm cloud arrives. Life inside the barn is no different.  

"For instance, cows need to be fed and milked every day. A farmworker strike or confining work agreements can jeopardize a crop or the health of an animal. Everyone who works in farming understands this. Added regulations will further tie the hands of New York’s farmers and place them in a business environment where it is becoming harder and harder to compete against farmers from out of state and out of the country.

"Farmers have great respect for the people who they employ. If we are to have a vibrant agricultural sector in New York that offers good job opportunities, farms must be able to have a chance to succeed. Collective bargaining will only make it more difficult to do that.

"New York Farm Bureau will continue to stand up for our members, either in court or at the Capitol, to ensure that their voices are heard,” Fisher said.

New York Farm Bureau Members Meet with Legislators in Albany

Farmers from across the state spent two days in Albany this week visiting with lawmakers on March 6-7 to highlight New York Farm Bureau’s public policy priorities for the year. 

They kicked things off with the popular Taste of New York Reception at the Empire State Plaza for state lawmakers, commissioners and staff. Nearly 90 county Farm Bureaus and agricultural organizations hosted tables featuring local farm products for people to sample. 

New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan were among the many dignitaries who attended the event.

 New York Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, and Long Island Farm Bureau President Karl Novak are enjoying the New York Farm Bureau Taste of New York Reception in Albany on March 6.

Following the evening reception, more than 250 members participated in the annual lobby day on March 7 where they met with both their local senators and assembly members. The county Farm Bureaus also visited with their “adopted” lawmakers who represent the New York City area. 

In addition, NYFB’s executive committee met personally with legislative leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Flanagan and the Chairs of the Agriculture Committees, Senator Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Bill Magee.


“We had record participation for our Taste of New York reception and Lobby Day this year. The high turnout is a testament to our organization’s strong grassroots support, and it demonstrates the value our members place in meeting to face-to-face with their elected officials,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau president.


The state priorities for the organization include securing a refundable investment tax credit for farmers. With 2015 farm income down nearly 20 percent to $5.3 billion across the state, according to the latest figures from the National Agriculture Statistics Service, it is important that tools be in place to help farmers weather the downturn. 

This initiative would incentivize farm investment to meet the needs of global competition.


In addition, farmers pushed to double the minimum wage tax credit from $30 million to $60 million. The first step of the minimum wage hike climbed at the beginning of the year on its way to $15 for farms on Long Island and $12.50 for Upstate farmers.  

New York Farm Bureau led the way in opposition to the hike last year, resulting in a $250 tax credit per employee for this first year of the increase. That will cover only a small fraction of what it will cost family farms to implement the wage hike.


State funding for critical farm programs is another top priority for Farm Bureau. The governor included a number of things in his budget plan which would help agriculture in the state. 

This includes funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, which will assist farms with water quality, conservation and farmland protection programs, as well as necessary investments into animal health programs. 

Farm Bureau also asked lawmakers to restore funding for promotion and research programs that also benefit agriculture. New York Farm Bureau also supports the governor’s proposed $2 billion clean water infrastructure program that includes $70 million for nutrient management and conservation programs to reduce farm runoff.


The Farm to Food Bank Bill is another top priority for farm bureau members who have seen the governor veto the popular legislation the past two years. Members asked their lawmakers to include the tax credit that encourages greater fresh food donations to regional food banks and local food pantries to be included in their one-house budget bills.


These priorities are based on member-approved public policies that originate every year at the county Farm Bureau level and are passed by the full delegate body at New York Farm Bureau’s State Annual Meeting in December.


In addition to advocating for priorities with lawmakers, members also participated in a special panel discussion with the commissioners from the Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Environmental Conservation and Labor. Members asked the public officials questions about a number of issues facing the state’s family farms.


“Our organization is grateful for the time our members spent off their farms to advocate on these important issues in Albany," said Fisher. 

"In addition, New York Farm Bureau appreciates the time lawmakers and staff spent meeting with their constituents. The relationships we have built on both sides of the aisle serve our members well as legislators make policy decisions in Albany that impact every farmer in this state,” he said.

Fisher Honored for His Achievements in Agriculture

Pictured left to right are Kevin Acres, farmer and St. Lawrence County Legislature chairman; Sen. Ritchie; New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher; and Jon Greenwood, farmer and co-chair of the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program.

State Sen. Patty Ritchie recently honored New York Farm Bureau’s new president, David Fisher of Madrid, St. Lawrence County, congratulating him on his new role, as well as recognizing him for his contributions to the agriculture industry.

Ritchie, who serves as chair of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, presented Fisher, a St. Lawrence County dairy farmer, with an official Senate proclamation honoring him for his achievements.

NY Congress Members Introduce Family Farm Relief Act

From the Watertown Daily Times:

Rep. Elise Stefanik, left, and Rep Chris Collins

Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, Erie County, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, Essex County, have introduced the Family Farm Relief Act of 2017, legislation to move the H-2A Agricultural Visa program from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture to better meet the unique labor needs of farmers and agricultural businesses.
 
“The last thing our farmers need is for the federal government to make it harder for them to make ends meet,” said Collins. “Access to a willing and available labor force is absolutely critical for Western New York’s agriculture community, particularly our dairy farmers. I am proud to join my colleague Congresswoman Stefanik in introducing this common-sense legislation to streamline and improve the H-2A visa program.”
 
“Agriculture is the backbone of our North Country economy and I am pleased to introduce this important bill to address the labor shortages facing our farmers,” said Stefanik. “When I travel the district speaking with our farmers, I often hear about how unnecessary delays in worker visas lead to difficulty meeting production goals. This commonsense legislation simply puts the H-2A agricultural visa program in the hands of those who best understand the specific needs of our farms.”
 
“Immigration reform that allows for both seasonal and year round farm labor has been a longtime priority for New York Farm Bureau. For too long, the federal H2A guest visa program has been cumbersome, prone to delays and too rigid to fit the needs of both farmers and their employees,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher.
 
The Family Farm Relief Act of 2017 takes practical measures such as allowing visa applicants to fill out H-2A applications on paper or online, requiring a user-friendly online system, and ending burdensome requirements on advertising and prevailing practice surveys.
 
The current H-2A visa program is unworkable, especially for the dairy farms across our nation.  The H-2A visa program does not currently provide a category for year-round livestock workers, including dairy. This has caused difficulties for dairy farms that need employees year-round. This legislation addresses this oversight, by creating an H-2A category for these workers.
 
Additionally, the proposed law also allows farm cooperatives and other agricultural associations to apply for workers for their members, makes the program more workable for dairy and other livestock operations, and requires reporting to Congress if delays occur in the H-2A Visa application process.

New York Farm Bureau Lists Priorities for 2017

NEW YORK FARM BUREAU
 

New York Farm Bureau released its 2017 state priorities Jan. 25 that seek to address a significant loss in farm income across the state.
 
These priorities will include supporting reinvestment into the state’s family farms as well as opening up new markets for New York farm products.
 
During the past two years, agriculture has been under additional economic pressures with low commodity and milk prices and rising labor costs. 

The governor has been quick to highlight when times are good for the agricultural economy, but new numbers just released by National Agricultural Statistics Service show the value of farm production in New York dropped by a billion dollars in 2015 to $5.33 billion. 
 
That is a significant loss in farm income, and anecdotally Farm Bureau members are saying that farm income will likely drop even further when 2016 numbers are released.
 

Fisher

“The 16 percent drop in farm income highlights why it is imperative that New York Farm Bureau advocate for common sense laws, regulations and tax policies that support the state’s family farms,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President, in a press conference call with reporters Jan. 25.
 
The first priority for the organization is to enact a refundable investment tax credit for farmers. Because of the down farm economy and the weather-related crop losses many farmers experienced last year, farmers are extremely short on cash flow and many do not have the savings to reinvest back into their businesses. 
This initiative would incentivize farm investment to meet the needs of global competition.
 
“It is important for farms and the rural economy, that farmers stay on top of equipment needs, structural repairs and new technology in order to meet consumer demands and business needs.  We cannot let our farm infrastructure take a hit during an economic downturn,” said Fisher.
 
Another top priority is doubling the minimum wage tax credit for farms, from $30 million to $60 million. The first step of the wage hike climbed at the beginning of the year on its way to $15 for farms on Long Island and $12.50 for Upstate farmers. 
 
New York Farm Bureau led the way in opposition to the hike last year, resulting in a $250 tax credit per employee for this first year of the increase. That will cover only a small fraction of what it will cost family farms to implement the wage hike.
 
The minimum wage increase will also push all wages up across the board, including for those who currently make well above the minimum. The average farm wage in New York is around $12.40/hour.
 
“Farms cannot just increase their prices to make up for that growing gap,” Fisher said. “They have to compete against farms in neighboring states and around the world.  If the state is going to force a higher wage on farms, they should be prepared to offer greater assistance, especially when farm income is down 16 percent.”
 
Securing state money for critical farm programs is also a top priority for New York Farm Bureau. The governor included a number of positive things in his budget plan, which will be beneficial to agriculture. This includes strong funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, which will assist farms with water quality, conservation and farmland protection programs.
 
There is also money to support agricultural education and FFA programs that will assist in job and skills training to meet future employment demands in agriculture.
 
New York Farm Bureau also will work with the legislature and governor to restore important funding for things like research, technical assistance and promotion dollars that support the diversity of New York’s farms. In addition, the organization is hopeful the governor’s $2 billion plan to improve the state’s water infrastructure and water quality will include significant money for conservation projects on farms across the state.
 
“New York Farm Bureau has pushed for this important investment with the administration. It will improve on our strong record of environmental stewardship in New York,” said Fisher.
 
The buy local movement continues to grow across the state, and New York Farm Bureau believes New York residents should not be the only ones to turn to their farmers first. The state of New York should do so as well.
 
That leads to the organization’s fourth priority, advocating for legislation that will provide a procurement preference for New York grown food for state institutional purchasing. This would be for food served in universities, prisons and other New York state-run facilities. 
 
There has been a greater focus on procurement by the administration, but we believe more should be done to make New York products a priority.
 
“This will this open up new markets for New York’s farmers. For only pennies more, the state can support its farmers and get more fresh, local food into the state system,” said Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau’s Public Policy Director.
 
Finally, another top priority for farmers is a state tax credit for donations of locally grown food by farmers to food banks. The governor has vetoed this bill twice. While he expressed support for the idea, his major objection was that the legislature passed it outside of the budget. New York Farm Bureau is asking the governor to fund it this time around.
 
The tax credit would be for 25 percent of the wholesale value of the donated food and no more than $5,000 per farm. The impact to the overall budget will be quite small in comparison to the $152 billion spending plan. We estimate it would be around $700,000.  

However, its impact will be far reaching.
 
“It will help farmers offset a portion of the costs of picking, packing and transporting the food to regional food banks.  More importantly, it will allow more locally-sourced food to be shared with those in need all over the state,” said Williams.
 
In 2016, farmers donated more than 13 million pounds of food to their regional food banks, which is more than 10 million meals. This is a new record for the state’s farmers and demonstrates their generosity.  However, the “Farm to Food Bank” bill would incentivize even greater food donations and that record number would climb even higher.
 
New York Farm Bureau establishes its priorities every year. Members of 52 county Farm Bureaus voice their opinions and vote on public policy resolutions at the county level.
 
Those make their way to the state Annual Meeting each December where farmer delegates cast their votes that determine the organization’s positions on legislative issues. The state Board of Directors then establishes the priorities for the year.

Farm Bureau Presents Awards

From New York Farm Bureau

At its state Annual Meeting in Albany, New York Farm Bureau presented a number of awards to members and counties that have excelled in the Farm Bureau mission to “serve and strengthen agriculture.”  

The Young Farmers and Ranchers program handed out three awards for their annual contests. Winners of these awards will represent New York at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting this January in Phoenix, Az. 

The New York State Discussion Meet champion is Marc Silva from Cayuga County. The Excellence of Agriculture award was presented to Emmaline Long from Genesee County, and the 2016 New York State Achievement Award winners are Bret and Johanna Bossard from Madison County.

Membership is a crucial part of Farm Bureau and many individuals took an active role in the campaign to increase numbers. Many individuals worked tirelessly to recruit new members and over 20 people were awarded for their efforts. 

Chenango County Farm Bureau received the coveted “New York Farm Bureau Trophy for Membership Excellence.” It goes to the county Farm Bureau that ranks the highest in six membership categories.

The Promotion and Education Award which recognizes a county Farm Bureau’s efforts, program and creativity was given to Seneca County Farm Bureau for its “Why I Farm” series of articles featured in local newspapers and websites.

Lastly, New York Farm Bureau awarded the “Farm Bureau Key” to counties that excel in overall program accomplishment. Four counties won the 2016 Gold Key Award. They are Allegany, Chenango, Washington and Onondaga County Farm Bureaus. 

Farm Credit East was also recognized at the awards banquet for its 100 years of service to New York’s farmers.

St. Lawrence County Dairy Farmer New President of NY Farm Bureau

From New York Farm Bureau

David Fisher

David Fisher, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County, is the new president of New York Farm Bureau.

He succeeds Dean Norton, who has been president for eight years. He was elected by voting delegates at the statewide New York Farm Bureau annual meeting held this past week in Albany.

Fisher and his family have operated Mapleview Dairy in Madrid for four generations. He has served on the New York Farm Bureau Board of Directors for the past five years and previously was president of St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau. A graduate of Cornell University, Fisher earned a degree in Animal Science.

“I am humbled that the farmer members of New York Farm Bureau have placed their confidence in me to lead this great organization," Fisher said. "My family has a long history with Farm Bureau, and I am excited to work on behalf of our diverse membership to increase the value and visibility of New York agriculture. I would also like to thank Dean Norton for his service and commitment to New York Farm Bureau.”

Vice President Eric Ooms, a dairy farmer from Columbia County, was re-elected to his position.

In addition, representatives to the state Board of Directors were elected, too. This concluded the annual two-day long meeting where resolutions were discussed and voted on to set NYFB’s 2017 public policy agenda.

Those elected include Pat McCormick of Wyoming County, re-elected as District 2 Director; Lin Davidson of Tompkins County was elected as District 4 Director; Jacob Schieferstine of Oneida County was re-elected as District 6 Director; Dean Casey of Rensselaer County, re-elected as District 8 Director; Chris Kelder of Ulster County, re-elected as District 10 Director; Kristen Brown of Orange County as the new Young Farmer and Rancher Chair on the State Board and Phyllis Couture of Cattaraugus County was re-elected as the Promotion and Education Chairperson on the State Board.

In addition, New York Farm Bureau handed out the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Awards to two worthy individuals who have made an impact on New York Farm Bureau and agriculture in this state. 

The awardees were Chris Fesko of Spafford and a member of Onondaga County Farm Bureau, and Michael DellaRocco of Melrose,  a member of Rensselaer County Farm Bureau.

Finally, New York Farm Bureau announced two recipients of the James Quinn Award that recognizes extraordinary efforts by individual Farm Bureau members during the course of a given year “to serve and strengthen agriculture”.  The honorees were Joe and June Swyers of Livingston County Farm Bureau and Brad and Carolyn Almeter of Wyoming County Farm Bureau.