The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would streamline the federal government’s H-2A guest-worker program by which growers hire farm workers.  The legislation would also create a merit-based visa program for agricultural workers to earn legal status through their continued employment. Supporters say that will help fill the gap between workers’ availability and the demand for year-round workers, particularly in dairying and horticulture. They also say the existing H-2A guest-worker program does not meet businesses’ employment requirements and has long needed change.

House members voted 260-165 to pass the bill with Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) among those who voted in favor of it. Reed’s office said the bill was also endorsed by the Problem Solvers Caucus, of which the Corning Republican serves as co-chair.

“I hear it every time I step on family farms in Upstate New York — ‘when is Washington going to do something about access for farm labor?’” Reed said in a media release sent out Wednesday night. “This common sense bipartisan compromise is a step in the right direction for this decades old problem, and will deliver relief to the farmers we care about across the nation to give them fair access to workers they need to prosper. I am proud the Problem Solvers Caucus could get behind this bill as we pushed it over the finish line in the House and onto the Senate.

“However, this is just the start of immigration reform. We must secure our southern border and continue to fight to ensure a merit-based system is fully implemented – such as the one proposed by President Trump this spring,” Reed concluded.

Over 300 agriculture organizations from around the country also supported the bill, including the New York Farm Bureau (NYFB).

“New York Farm Bureau is encouraged by the swift movement on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the U.S. House. We appreciate the bipartisan support from many members of New York’s congressional delegation, and we now call on the U.S. Senate to support the bill as well,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President.

“Access to a reliable workforce is a critical issue for Upstate New York dairy farmers like me,” said family farmer David White from Clymer. “I milk my cows 365 days a year. Current agricultural visa programs are seasonal and therefore don’t provide a solution to dairy’s unique challenges. I commend Congressman Tom Reed for his work to support and pass the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act to address this critical issue for our Upstate economy.”

“NYFB is still advocating for some changes to improve the legislation, including to the cap on year-round guest worker visas, ensuring a fair and competitive wage rate, and establishing a workable threshold for agricultural employment. Regardless, this legislation would take a significant step to ensure that New York agriculture is positioned to have a sustainable and reliable workforce that will support our rural economy,” added Fisher.

Congressman Tom Reed – shown here at a Town Hall meeting in Gerry NY in April 2018, will host another town hall Thursday, Nov. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Town of Ellicott administration building in Falconer. 

FALCONER, NY – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) will be hosting a town hall meeting Thursday night in Falconer at the Ellicott Town Hall building on S. Work St.

Reed will likely hear from residents who want to voice their opinion on the ongoing impeachment battle underway in Washington. Reed – like most all other of his Republican Colleagues – has already gone on record saying he opposes the effort by the Democratic Controlled House to hold an impeachment inquiry and he voted against he measure late last week.

But in addition to impeachment, there are several other issues that could be brought up during today’s meeting, including the economy and the lack of progress in helping the struggling agriculture community get back on its feet.

WRFA asked Reed last week during his conference call with local media if progress was being made on that front.

“The biggest thing we can do is get the Mexico-Canada train agreement on the floor, passed and signed into law. We have the votes in the House and Senate to get this done. I am very optimistic that this is maybe the only item that gets to the president’s desk that gets done substantively to impact people in a positive way in a day-to-day basis.  We’re putting all pressure points in place in regards to the speaker’s office that they give us a vote on Mexico-Canada as soon as possible so they can give some relief to dairy farmers and other farmers in the area,” Reed said.

Reed added that he also hopes progress will soon be made in the ongoing tariff wars with China.

“I’m optimistic in the next few weeks we will see pen to paper in regards to some resolutions of some serious outstanding trade issues that we have with China that hopefully will do a little bit to stabilize this marketplace and send a message to dairy farmers and other farmers in the commodity pricing arena that can give them some positive results when it comes to prices going up for their products,” Reed said.

Other issues Reed could likely discuss with constituents on hand include healthcare, immigration, and providing assistance to asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico boarder.

Reed’s town hall meeting in Falconer will tentatively begin at 5:30 p.m. and will run until 6:30 p.m. It is open to the public.

U.S. Senate Candidate Chele Farley (center) made an appearance at the Mid-Knight Dairy Farm in Jamestown to promote her agriculture agenda.

JAMESTOWN – The Republican candidate challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in this year’s election was in Chautauqua County on Monday to promote her platform for helping dairy and agriculture in New York State.

U.S. Senate candidate Chele Farley of New York City said that if she was elected, she would do a better job ensuring farmers in New York State were getting the help they needed – including pushing for better deals in Trade Pacts as well as ensuring more aid would be available when the market struggles.

“Sen. Gillibrand’s very first bill that she put forward was a Farm Bill, which I would absolutely support. Unfortunately that, like the next 304 bills that she put forward, didn’t get passed. We need somebody in Washington who can actually get things done and help New York,” Farley said.

Farley said the proposed U.S. trade deal with Canada and Mexico that was announced last month will provide some help and New Yorkers need a Senator who will work on and support revised trade deals with other global partners as well – claiming that Sen. Gillibrand would rather fight the Trump administration and its proposals rather than work with the administration to ensure New Yorkers are getting their fair share. That not only includes reworking trade pacts, but also crafting and passing the overdue federal farm Farm Bill.

“Reauthorization of the Farm Bill is two years overdue and while farmers struggle here in New York, Sen. Gillibrand is busy campaigning in Georgia and around the country,” Farley said. “While there was good news last week as Canada agreed to end its so-called ‘Class 7’ trade quotas and tariffs with the US as part of an agreement to modernize NAFTA, more help is needed now. Dairy prices have been on a long decline and the impacts of the new trade agreement won’t be felt immediately.”

Farley appeared with both Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andy Goodell as well as County Executive George Borrello Monday afternoon at Mid-Knight Dairy, located off of Fluvanna Town Line Road in Jamestown.

The New York Farm Bureau, along with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner, Richard Ball, and Farmers for Free Trade gathered at the New York State Fair on Thursday to discuss their concerns.

According to the group, a number of New York commodities – including dairy, soybeans, wine, maple and apples – face retaliatory tariffs in several countries including China, Canada, Mexico and in the European Union.

“We understand that trade agreements may need to be updated, but we have to be careful not to damage the relationships that we already have and depend on,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher. “We are encouraging our leaders in Washington, to move quickly at getting the parties back to the negotiating table, much like we have seen this week with Mexico, and to move forward on improving trade relations with our partners.”

As a result, prices for those products have fallen, while equipment prices are rising due to steel and aluminum tariffs.

As a result, the group say farmers are concerned about losing long established markets as countries turn to other, cheaper sources for their food.

“The tariffs being imposed on our agricultural commodities are compounding an already difficult marketplace and putting New York’s farmers in a precarious situation.  Once these markets are lost, we could find it extremely difficult to regain that footing. We have an opportunity here to collaborate with our partners and to call for new free trade agreements and thoughtful, long-term solutions,” said Ball.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

JAMESTOWN – The rain we received overnight is a welcome sight for farmers and residents across the region, but it’s still not anywhere near the amount that is needed to help relieve drought conditions.

Last week the State DEC declared a Drought Warning for much of New York State, including Chautauqua County.  According to recent news reports, rainfall totals for many areas in the region are 8 to 9 inches below the average amount that has fallen by this time in any given year.

To respond to the drought, Senator Chuck Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin monitoring the situation so it can be prepared to offer drought relief funding for farmers who are affected by the weather.

On Monday, WRFA asked Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) about the drought in the 23^rd congressional district. He said it is something his office in is monitoring and he’s obviously concerned about.

“It’s definitely something we are involved with and are participating in. We just had a meeting with our New York Farm Bureau representative, which is a great voice for the agricultural community across Western New York,” Reed said. “The drought is real and it is significant, so we are asking [the Farm Bureau] to make sure that all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed in preparation for a potential declaration coming down the pipeline. But that all depends on the next few weeks and the weather and what the crop yields are going to be.”

Reed also noted that his congressional district has a significant amount of agriculture industries and nearly every single one is being impacted by the dry weather.  They include corn, onions, potatoes, applies, and various other specialty crops.

“On top of that you’ve got feed supplies for our dairy farmers and the other supply chains. The vineyards seem to be a little bit heartier than some of our other specialty crops, but the grapes are something that could be impacted too,” Reed said.

This can yield more flavorful wines and potentially some new variations of flavors as well. There is one negative; however, of having a lower crop yeild.

In regard to the grapes in our area, some specialists say that while a drought my result in a lower grape yield, it may also lead to more flavorful wines and potentially some new variations of flavors.

On Tuesday the Olean Republican, who represents Chautauqua County in Albany and is a ranking member of the New York State Senate, announced the “Planting Seeds” initiative, a multifaceted proposal that would allocate research, education, and marketing assistance; establish new tax and regulatory relief; advance efforts to expand markets; promote quality and increase food safety; and generate new job opportunities for veterans and others interested in farming.

• The “Planting Seeds” initiative is made up of an array of proposals, including:
• Restoring Funding Cuts
• Strengthening Farmers’ Bottom Lines
• Supporting Research
• Protecting Food and Human Health
• Encouraging Innovation
• Supporting Agriculture Education
• Assisting Our Veterans

“New York is known as the food state, because we produce such a variety of fresh, locally grown products. Agriculture is central to our way of life. Creating greater opportunities for family farms, local vineyards and others is paramount to expanding our upstate economy,” Senator Young said.

“The Senate’s ‘Planting Seeds’ initiative will build on past successes, correct funding cuts proposed in the Executive Budget, increase our local farmer’s ability to produce their goods in the most cost effective manner, and encourage growth in the next generation of farmers,” she said.

The 2015 Chautauqua County Ag Forum is a five-hour event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 17, starting at 10 a.m at the Cassadaga Legion.

The Ag Forum will give agricultural leaders from across the county an opportunity to network and learn more about succession planning, industry success stories, and what agri-businesses are doing to grow through innovation.

Participants will also have the opportunity to help shape the future of agriculture in Chautauqua County.

And the forum will also feature a keynote address entitled “Success in Succession Planning” and presented by Gary Snider, an agricultural consultant with over 35 years of experience with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Farm Credit East. There will also be panel discussions from industry leaders and innovators on various topics.

The event is hosted by the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County, and County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency.

The event is free but reservations are required. For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension at (716) 664-9502 or visit www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua.

That’s according to the State Comptroller, who this week issued a report that said Agriculture contributed $37.6 billion to New York’s economy in 2012, an increase of more than 22 percent from 2007.

According to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s report, the state also ranks in the top 10 nationwide for milk and other dairy production, as well as wine, apples, maple syrup and other products.

Milk is the state’s largest commodity, with $2.4 billion in sales, followed by grains, peas and beans at $856 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 census.

New York also ranked first nationwide in the production of yogurt, cottage cheese and sour cream, and was the second-largest wine producer. The state also ranked second nationally in maple syrup production.

As of 2012, roughly 56,000 New Yorkers operated farms, with an additional 61,000 people hired as farm laborers. Both the total value of agricultural commodity sales and farm acreage increased from 2007 to 2012, while the number of New York farms and farmers declined modestly. With an average farmer’s age of 55 years old – reflecting the national average – fewer younger adults are entering the farming profession.  In 2012, more than half of New York farms had sales below $10,000.

As the State’s leading agricultural sector, dairy accounts for approximately one-half of the state’s total agricultural income. New York is the third leading producer of milk in the country and also the largest producer of yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese in the nation.

New York accounts for 6.7 percent of national milk production and, according to the governor, the state’s dairy industry had an economic output of $14.8 billion in 2011.

New York State Senate Chautauqua County farmers (left to right) Dick Kimball, Joanna Nocero, Erin Urban, and John Knight with Senator Young.

ALBANY – Senator Cathy Young and her Senate colleagues have announced a new program that could help support and encourage the next generation of farmers in New York State.

The proposed “Young Farmers NY” program is designed to focus on obstacles to farm ownership and the improvement of opportunities for agricultural education. The plan includes a tax credit of up to 10 percent for the purchase or renting of land or equipment, a $5 million revolving loan fund dedicated solely to land and equipment purchases by farmers, and an estate tax reform that allows for the preservation of family farms passed from generation to generation.  Several other young farmer benefits are also included in the bill.

According to Senator Young, the average New York farmer is 57 years old, and for every farmer under the age of 35 there are two aged 65 or older. She says the Young Farmers NY program is aimed at attracting more young people to farming and supporting family farming for generations to come.