NYC has backed a farm bill that aims to cripple upstate farms and drive up costs for taxpayers. Read more on what this calamity means for Upstate New Yorkers.

1. NEWS FROM NEW YORK FARM BUREAU
Contact: Peter Gregg, (518) 337-7896 or (518) 692-2204, pgregg@nyfb.org
FOR RELEASE, Friday
January 15, 2010
SENATE FARM LABOR BILL WILL DEVASTATE FARM ECONOMY
So-called “Compromise” Bill Is No Compromise At All, Says Farm Bureau
New York Farm Bureau president Dean Norton today blasted the so-called ―compromise‖ farm
labor bill being pushed by Sen. Pedro Espada and corporate labor unions, saying it threatens the
entire Upstate rural economy and Long Island farm towns.
―Producing food is a basic need, and unless the Legislature seriously rethinks this legislation it
will jeopardize our farmers’ ability to produce local food for local people,‖ Norton said of bill
S.2247b, introduced last evening.
―This proposal forces mandates on our family farms that will put New York at an extreme
competitive disadvantage,‖ he said. ―Sen. Espada and the legislature need to consider the long-
term viability of the Upstate and Long Island economy before passing legislation that wrecks it.‖
Ironically, the bill calls for $200 million in mandates on farmers that are not imposed on all
workers advocating for the bill, including domestic workers, taxi drivers, religious non-profit
employees and legislative staff among others. Non-profit workers and legislative staff are
exempt from overtime laws.
The amended Senate labor bill would have a tremendous impact on New York’s smaller farmers,
while also putting unsustainable pressure on larger family farms that provide the bulk of the
fresh New York-grown products.
The bill creates an overtime regulation that is more stringent than the vast majority of other
states. The only other state with more strict labor mandates is California, which has an
agricultural industry more than triple the size of New York’s family farms.
The legislation also forces small seasonal operations –who supply food to the Greenmarkets in
New York City—to pay unemployment insurance on seasonal workers who cannot collect the
benefit due to their short duration of employment in New York.

2. The new Senate bill also pushes for collective bargaining. 99% of New York’s farms are owned
by families – not huge corporate manufacturers with staff to negotiate with New York’s powerful
unions.
―Food is a basic human need, and this legislation seeks to ensure that local farms won’t be
around to produce local food for local people. This bill would force us to turn our farms into
factories, to meet these onerous labor mandates that virtually no other state in the union has. It’s
yet another example of Albany seeking to drive businesses – and farmers – out of New York,‖
said Norton.
"In today's economic times, with competitive pressure from all over the world, putting New
York agriculture at a disadvantage will hurt our ability to thrive and sustain our industry,"
said Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association. "I am amazed at why Albany does
not try to enhance New York agriculture, the state's number one industry, rather than constantly
add more barriers that help drive farmers out of business!"
New York State Vegetable Growers Association president Larry Eckhardt said, ―One more straw
on the camels back, we’re already regulated in regards to labor way more than any other
industry, requires more paperwork than any other industry, and we’re required to provide way
more amenities as part of the contracts such as housing and transportation. How many other
industries are required to house their workers free of charge? We’re inspected by everybody but
the local library.‖
―We strongly agree with Senator Sampson that we must do everything possible to make it easier
for our farming communities to thrive in New York. They are truly the key to the health of our
economy," said Brian Sampson, Executive Director of Unshackle Upstate. ―That is why we
strongly oppose any measures that will result in unworkable labor mandates on our New York
State farms, and we stand with New York Farm Bureau and others in opposition to this bill.‖
Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State, Inc. said,
―Farmers are a vital part of New York’s economy. They provide local food production, help to
preserve open space and support many businesses in their communities. This legislation would
damage New York’s farmers and our economy.‖
―Dairy farmers are already losing money and working long hours for next to nothing. This labor
bill would pay workers more than the farm owners, and force many farmers to quit the dairy
industry. That would not be good for the farmer, workers or consumers who rely on fresh, local
dairy products,‖ said Doug DiMento of Agri-Mark.
―Apparently some in Albany aren’t satisfied to have only the second highest cost of doing
business in the country, and in the race to top that dubious list are just about declaring war on the
family farm. Make no mistake: If this bill were to become law, it would not only jeopardize the
survival of farms across New York, but would undermine New York’s entire agricultural
industry by placing it at a tremendous competitive disadvantage in the national and global
marketplace in which it competes. It would mean fewer farms and fewer jobs in New York,
which doesn’t strike me as particularly beneficial to the farmworkers this bill purports to help.

3. NFIB urges legislators to stand with small business and the family farm by rejecting this job-
killing legislation,‖ said Mike Elmendorf, New York State Director of the National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB), New York’s leading small business advocacy association.
―Dairylea Cooperative Inc. joins New York Farm Bureau and others in opposition of Assembly
Bill 1867 and Senate Bill 2247,‖ Said Clyde Rutherford, President Dairylea Cooperative Inc.
―We, as dairy farmers, produce fresh, wholesome milk and dairy products that are enjoyed by
New Yorkers every day, and our farm workers are vital to our operation. We treat our workforce
fairly and competitively today. This legislation would place New York farms at a competitive
disadvantage to farms in other areas of the country, and would jeopardize our ability to continue
to produce a fresh and wholesome product.‖
Robert Smith, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for Farm Credit East, said, ―For every
$100 of production sold, New York farmers paid $13.82 to farm workers compared to the U.S.
average of $8.88. So New York State agriculture is already spending about 56% more on labor
than the average for the country. Farm Credit made the same comparison for the top 10 largest
farm states which account for approximately 54% of total US agricultural production. Only
California was higher than New York State. The other Top Ten states ranged from $2.66 to
$9.09 per $100 of agricultural production. Farmers in those and other states will be quite pleased
to see profitability of New York State agriculture cranked down because it will create additional
profitable opportunity for them and a loss of farms for us.‖
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New York Farm Bureau is the statewide lobbying/trade organization that represents thousands of member families.
Its members and the public know the organization as "The Voice of New York Agriculture." New York Farm Bureau
is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.