New York Farm Bureau released its 2025 state legislative priorities on Wednesday. Bureau President David Fisher said the priorities address the needs and challenges of the state’s diverse agricultural community.
Critical budget funding
NYFB supports:
- Critical funding for agricultural animal health (such as the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Center at Cornell’s avian health program), promotion, research and environmental programs in the final FY 25/26 state budget.
- A significant funding investment in the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Science to forward its mission of collegiate agricultural education, research and extension. This includes necessary funding to replace teaching resources, capital investment across the college, Cornell University Research Center, the Agricultural Experiment Station and other research facilities across the state.
- Increased funding for the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Farmworker Housing Program revolving loan fund, and an increased per-project cap from $200,000 to $400,000.
- Funding for the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health to do research and promote education on temperature-related working conditions before any legislation (such as the Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program Act) is passed.
Housing, workforce and tax exemption issues
NYFB supports:
- Allowing construction costs for farmworker housing to be included in the ongoing refundable investment tax credit for agriculture, and providing reimbursement for all incurred expenses in a more timely manner.
- Increasing and extending the farm workforce retention credit.
- Expanding the state’s 10-year real property tax exemption for farm buildings to include those used for the processing or marketing of agricultural products.
Energy and transportation
NYFB supports:
- Renewable energy policies that incorporate common-sense timeframes for adoption based upon grid capacity and the practical realities of electrification of New York State.
- Legislation that would develop a Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
- Addressing transportation issues to facilitate the shipment of food products and farm equipment in New York State, including addressing issues related to workforce development.
Other issues
NYFB supports:
- Allowing farm breweries, cideries and distilleries to sell products at roadside farm markets, like farm wineries.
- Legislation that would define agribusiness in New York State law.
- Establishing a New York State Equine Advisory Board to promote the horse industry in New York State.
- DEC’s regulatory authority over pesticide registration in accordance with sound science; NYFB opposes legislation that prohibits the use of agricultural chemical protectants.
Extended Producer Responsibility Act
NYFB opposes Extended Producer Responsibility legislation that does not require consumer responsibility for packaging they receive and that unduly burdens New York’s food and farm beverage manufacturing businesses.
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