New York Farm Bureau

New York Farm Bureau 2018 Policies 2018 Policy Book The policies that follow were adopted by county delegates at the State Annual Meeting December 5-6, 2017, in Albany, New York. The Mission of the New York Farm Bureau is To Serve and Strengthen Agriculture FARM BUREAU ORGANIZATION Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, volunteer organization financed and controlled by member families for the purpose of solving economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural industry. Farm Bureau’s “grassroots” policy development process continues to ensure that the organization represents the majority position of its membership. Policy development begins at the county level with problem identification and culminates at the New York Farm Bureau Annual Meeting with resolutions addressing the issues. Our success in implementing the enclosed policies depends upon our active, well-informed membership guided by the efforts of many dedicated volunteer leaders. Farm Bureau is the voice of New York agriculture and will continue to meet the needs of those who make farming their livelihood and rural New York their home. FARM BUREAU BELIEFS America’s unparalleled progress is based on freedom and dignity of the individual, sustained by basic moral and religious concepts. Economic progress, cultural advancement, ethical and religious principles flourish best where people are free, responsible individuals. Individual freedom and opportunity must not be sacrificed in a quest for guaranteed “security.” We believe in government by legislative and constitutional law, impartially administered, without special privilege. We believe in the representative form of government—a republic— as provided in our Constitution, in limitations on government power, in maintenance of equal opportunity, in the right of each individual to freedom of worship and in freedom of speech, press, and peaceful assembly. i New York Farm Bureau Individuals have a moral responsibility to help preserve freedom for future generations by participating in public affairs and by helping to elect candidates who share their fundamental beliefs and principles. People have the right and the responsibility to speak for themselves individually or through organizations of their choice without coercion or government intervention. Property rights are among the human rights essential to the preservation of individual freedom. We believe in the right of every person to choose an occupation; to be rewarded according to his contribution to society; to save, invest or spend; and to convey his property to the next generation. Each person has the responsibility to meet financial obligations incurred. We believe that legislation and regulatory policy should prioritize the self-employed farmers and businesses that are critical to our state’s economy. We believe that legislation and regulations favorable to all sectors of agriculture should be aggressively developed in cooperation with allied groups possessing common goals. AGRICULTURE IN NEW YORK Agriculture is New York’s most important industry. The farm economy generated more than $5 billion in 2016. There are more than 35,500 farms in New York State and 99 percent of those are family owned. A viable and strong agricultural industry is not only beneficial to the state’s farm and food industry, but to the economy of the state, hundreds of local communities, and to all consumers of New York. New York has a tremendous agricultural resource base with abundant rainfall, productive soil, sufficient growing season, and proximity to the nation’s largest markets. The outlook for the future of New York agriculture is one of great potential for a vigorous and thriving industry. ii 2018 Policy Book State Priorities I. Support funding for critical food safety, animal health and agricultural promotion and economic development programs in the Agriculture and Markets budget II. Double the minimum wage tax credit for farmers starting in 2018 Increasing the agricultural minimum wage tax credit will help offset increased labor costs on farms and help them better compete with farms in neighboring states Taxable Current Proposed Tax Year Tax Credit/ Credit Employee for FY 18-19 2018 $300 $600 2019 $500 $800 2020 $400 $1,000 2021 $600 $1,200 III. Support for funding of Environmental Protection Fund programs that provide cost-sharing of critical farm water quality and farmland protection projects that allow farms to reinvest in their farm business iii New York Farm Bureau IV. Cornell CALS Faculty Seed Fund ($2 million) Seed funding will help to pave the way to attract much needed faculty and research at CALS V. Cornell CALS Capital Fund ($3 million) This funding will provide the opportunity to update critical infrastructure at CALS to ensure continuing research and extension work vital to New York’s agricultural products VI. Oppose unworkable farm labor mandates and make much needed updates and reforms to New York State labor laws and regulations. a. Oppose the farm worker labor omnibus legislation and components thereof b. Update housing payroll allowances and peg annual increases to inflation c. Remove the requirement that farm employers pay unemployment insurance on H2A workers d. Extend the time for responding to unemployment insurance requests for information from 7 to14 days VII. Transfer farm tax assessment functions from the Department of Taxation and Finance to the Department of Agriculture and Markets VIII. Increase school meal reimbursements to incentivize the purchase of fresh and minimally processed local food iv 2018 Policy Book IX. Allow for the registration of UTV’s for legal travel on roads from farm to field X. Increase funding for tick-borne disease enhanced detections and vaccine development XI. Support the removal of an acreage requirement for farms in the agricultural assessment program as long as they meet income eligibility requirements v New York Farm Bureau Table of Contents AGRICULTURAL ISSUES ............................................................ 1 AGRICULTURAL ASSESSMENTS ..................................... 1 AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY............................... 3 AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS LAW .................................. 3 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND PROMOTION ... 5 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT . 8 AGRICULTURAL SAFETY ................................................. 10 AGRICULTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAM ................... 10 ANIMAL CARE ..................................................................... 11 General Issues ..........................................................................11 Animal Cruelty Issues .............................................................13 Disease Control ........................................................................14 COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ............................................ 16 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS .... 17 General .....................................................................................18 Fairs ..........................................................................................22 Funding.....................................................................................23 State Agricultural Product Branding Program ....................23 SMALL SCALE FOOD AND MEAT PROCESSORS .... 23 FOOD SAFETY ................................................................... 25 LIVESTOCK PROMOTION AND RESEARCH ............. 27 PROTECTION OF AGRICULTURE ................................. 28 Economic Environment...........................................................28 Farmland Protection Techniques ..........................................30 Producer Protections ...............................................................34 Right to Farm ...........................................................................35 COMMODITY ISSUES ................................................................ 35 APICULTURE ......................................................................... 35 AQUACULTURE/FISHERIES .............................................. 36 DAIRY INDUSTRY ............................................................... 38 Promotion – New Product Development ...............................39 Quality Programs ....................................................................40 Dairy Research.........................................................................41 Imitation Food Products .........................................................42 vi 2018 Policy Book Milk Producers Security .........................................................42 Milk Marketing Orders ..........................................................43 Over-Order Pricing .................................................................43 EQUINE INDUSTRY ............................................................. 44 FARM-BASED BEVERAGES ............................................... 47 Brewery, Distillery and Cidery Issues ...................................47 Grape and Wine Industry .......................................................49 FOREST INDUSTRY ............................................................. 51 FRUIT ....................................................................................... 52 HORTICULTURE ................................................................... 53 NON-TRADITIONAL LIVESTOCK ................................... 54 MAPLE INDUSTRY .............................................................. 54 ORGANIC ................................................................................ 55 POULTRY

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