Go to https://www.facebook.com/NYFarmBureau/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf to check out a video on the Farm to Food Bank bill.
Showing posts with label Farm to Food Bank Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Farm to Food Bank Bill. Show all posts
Friday, March 31, 2017
Farm Bureau Seeks Passage of Farm to Food Bank Bill
Go to https://www.facebook.com/NYFarmBureau/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf to check out a video on the Farm to Food Bank bill.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Senate, Assembly Favor Family Farm in their Budgets
From New York Farm Bureau:
New York Farm Bureau said the Senate
and Assembly, especially the Agriculture Committee Chairs, Sen.
Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Bill Magee, have made the state’s family
farms a priority in their respective budgets.
Many of the funding lines have been restored to last year’s levels, which will make a difference in the support and promotion of the state’s diverse agricultural commodities. This includes funding multiple research projects that the agricultural community depends on to confront growing challenges that exist on farms.
The New York State Senate also stepped up to the plate to fund many of the priorities of New York Farm Bureau including a refundable investment tax credit to assist farms looking to reinvest in this down farm economy.
The Senate majority is also supportive of doubling the agricultural minimum wage tax credit which will help farms better manage labor costs while attempting to remain competitive with farms in other states that have significantly lower wage rates.
The Farm to Food Bank Bill also received budgetary support for the first time in both chambers’ budgets.
This is a big boost to the bill that has seen bi-partisan support the past two years only to have the governor veto the bill, in part, because it was passed outside of the budget process.
Farm Bureau believes there is no excuse for the governor to pull out his veto stamp again, and we encourage him to negotiate funding in the final budget to support the tax credit, as he promised. It will allow farmers to donate even more fresh food to their regional food banks and pantries.
The support of the “Farm to Food Bank Bill” comes on the heels of New York state farmers donating more than 13.2 million pounds of food in 2016. The number is the second highest for any state in the country. The total was announced last month at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Fusion Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
New York Farm Bureau participates in Feeding America’s Harvest for All Program. This record number for New York highlights the generosity of farmers in this state, and food donations will likely increase with the passage and signing of the “Farm to Food Bank Bill.”
The tax credit on 25 percent of the wholesale value of the food, up to $5,000 annually, would help offset a portion of the costs of labor, packaging and transportation required to get more food from the fields to those in need.
“As the April 1 budget deadline approaches, we are hopeful these items will remain in New York State’s final fiscal plan. The past year has been a difficult one for the state’s farmers," said Farm Bureau President David Fisher.
"From higher labor costs to lower commodity prices, coupled with extreme weather woes, the additional support could not come at a more necessary time for the hard working farm families of New York,” Fisher said.
Many of the funding lines have been restored to last year’s levels, which will make a difference in the support and promotion of the state’s diverse agricultural commodities. This includes funding multiple research projects that the agricultural community depends on to confront growing challenges that exist on farms.
The New York State Senate also stepped up to the plate to fund many of the priorities of New York Farm Bureau including a refundable investment tax credit to assist farms looking to reinvest in this down farm economy.
The Senate majority is also supportive of doubling the agricultural minimum wage tax credit which will help farms better manage labor costs while attempting to remain competitive with farms in other states that have significantly lower wage rates.
The Farm to Food Bank Bill also received budgetary support for the first time in both chambers’ budgets.
This is a big boost to the bill that has seen bi-partisan support the past two years only to have the governor veto the bill, in part, because it was passed outside of the budget process.
Farm Bureau believes there is no excuse for the governor to pull out his veto stamp again, and we encourage him to negotiate funding in the final budget to support the tax credit, as he promised. It will allow farmers to donate even more fresh food to their regional food banks and pantries.
The support of the “Farm to Food Bank Bill” comes on the heels of New York state farmers donating more than 13.2 million pounds of food in 2016. The number is the second highest for any state in the country. The total was announced last month at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Fusion Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
New York Farm Bureau participates in Feeding America’s Harvest for All Program. This record number for New York highlights the generosity of farmers in this state, and food donations will likely increase with the passage and signing of the “Farm to Food Bank Bill.”
The tax credit on 25 percent of the wholesale value of the food, up to $5,000 annually, would help offset a portion of the costs of labor, packaging and transportation required to get more food from the fields to those in need.
“As the April 1 budget deadline approaches, we are hopeful these items will remain in New York State’s final fiscal plan. The past year has been a difficult one for the state’s farmers," said Farm Bureau President David Fisher.
"From higher labor costs to lower commodity prices, coupled with extreme weather woes, the additional support could not come at a more necessary time for the hard working farm families of New York,” Fisher said.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Bill Providing Tax Incentives for Farmers Donating Food to Food Banks Passes State Senate
New York Farm Bureau applauds the New York Senate for quickly moving on the “Farm to Food Bank Bill.”
The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Rich Funke, R-Perinton, remains a priority for our organization this legislative session, and because of its swift, unanimous passage today, it is clear the Senate highly values the bill as well.
The vote sends a clear message to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has vetoed this bill twice, that lawmakers believe the food donation tax credit will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers who turn to food pantries and other programs for help in feeding their families.
The governor’s main objection in his veto message was that the bill was passed outside of the budget process. However, he still did not provide a pathway for funding in his Executive Budget released earlier this month.
Because of today’s unanimous vote by the Senate and hopeful passage again in the Assembly, we are optimistic that funding will be included in the chambers’ one-house budget bills.
We encourage Gov. Cuomo to work with the bipartisan group of lawmakers to see this bill finally become law.
The tax credit would be for 25 percent of the wholesale value of the donated food and no more than $5,000 per farm.
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.
In 2016, farmers donated more than 13-million pounds of food to their regional food banks, which is the equivalent of more than 10 million meals. This amount set a new record for the state’s farmers and demonstrated their generosity. The “Farm to Food Bank Bill” would incentivize even greater food donations.
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