New York Farm Bureau members and staff were at the State Capitol this week for their annual Taste of New York Reception and Lobby Day, meeting with lawmakers and promoting the state’s agricultural industry.
More than 350 people, including members of the State Assembly and Senate, attended the Taste of New York Reception. The event featured about 90 tables showcasing products grown and made across the state, including beef, produce, microgreens, honey, ice cream, cheese, maple products, oysters, wine and craft beverages.
The reception served as a lead-in to Lobby Day, when County Farm Bureau members joined the organization’s public policy staff to meet directly with legislators and discuss key issues facing farmers and agribusinesses.
Among their top priorities: securing funding in the upcoming state budget for animal health, research and environmental programs, increasing support for Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, extending the refundable investment tax credit and expanding it to cover farmworker housing construction, and shifting oversight of product marketing and research orders to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Farm Bureau leaders also pushed for changes to farm labor rules, support for a Clean Fuel Standard, continued funding for the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, and exemptions for agricultural businesses under proposed recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility laws. Other priorities included property tax assessment reforms for farmland and energy policies that avoid all-electric mandates and allow a mix of energy sources, including nuclear.
In total, members and staff met with more than 175 legislators and staffers.
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher called Taste of New York a celebration of the state’s agricultural diversity and an important opportunity to connect with partners and lawmakers. He said Lobby Day gives farmers a chance to share their stories directly with elected officials and advocate for programs that support the industry statewide.
