Agriculture

Today over 4,000 farms in the 20th District carry on New York’s proud tradition of family faming.  From dairy and livestock to apples and grapes, New York farmers drive our economy, strengthen our communities and provide the world with food and nutrients that we too often take for granted.  As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am committed to representing the agriculture community to ensure not only that it stays competitive in the global economy, but preserves the rich tradition of family farming in Upstate New York.

These are difficult times for family farms. The economic downturn combined with high energy and feed costs, and labor shortages have made it difficult for New York farmers to make a profit while continuing to produce food that feeds our families. There is perhaps no better representation of these difficult challenges than with New York’s dairy farmers, who in recent months have watched milk prices fall far below the cost of production.

In order to bring both short-term relief and stability to the dairy industry, I introduced legislation to provide immediate financial support to dairy farmers, while working to restore balance in the dairy market. In addition, I have worked closely with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to reactivate USDA’s Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP), and temporarily increase the amount paid for dairy products through the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP).  Furthermore, I worked with my colleagues in Congress to include $350 million in emergency relief to struggling farmers in the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill. 
 
As a member of the Subcommittee of Conservation, Credit, and Energy, I am also committed to ensuring that New York’s farmers have the tools they need to preserve land and protect the valuable resources that allow agriculture to thrive. From conservation programs and farm credit to investments in rural broadband, I am working to provide the resources our farmers need to strengthen our communities and remain competitive in the global economy. 

In order to achieve these goals and better serve the agricultural needs of New York, I meet regularly with local farmers across the 20th District. I have created an agriculture advisory committee, which advises me on how the work being done in Washington affects the Upstate New York farming community. It is a privilege to work with our local farmers, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to strengthen our rural communities so that New York’s family farmers can carry on their rich agriculture heritage.