Senator Gipson Announces Legislation to Help Upstate Dairy Farms Passes State Senate

For Immediate Release: March 25, 2014
Media Contact: Jonathan Heppner | 845.463.0840 | heppner@nysenate.gov

SENATOR GIPSON ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO HELP UPSTATE DAIRY FARMS PASSES STATE SENATE

ALBANY, NY – New York State Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam) announced that on March 24, 2014, the New York State Senate passed legislation S.2192. Senator Gipson, Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, was a co-sponsor of the legislation. The bill aims to remove the restrictions on bulk milk haulers that negatively impacts upstate dairy farms' ability to continue their important role of delivering milk in bulk to consumers in New York City and Long Island such as schools and hospitals.

“This is an important, and common sense piece of legislation that will allow business to flow more efficiently for upstate dairy farmers and their downstate customers,” said Senator Gipson. “Our hardworking farms are an important part of our upstate economy and should not be burdened by unnecessary regulations.”

The legislation allows the New York State Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Agriculture and Markets to investigate and resolve any unnecessary barriers that impact upstate farms transporting bulk milk. The State Department of Transportation and the New York City Department of Transportation will also be able to establish shared weight standards for bulk milk haulers traveling within the city.

Senator Gipson concluded, “I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to take up and pass this legislation in an effort to support our state’s dairy farmers and the consumers who rely on their products. I remain committed to supporting our hardworking family farms in the Hudson Valley and across New York State.”

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