Senator James Sanders Jr. and the Senate Majority Pass Legislation To Support New York’s Agriculture Industry

Senator James Sanders Jr. and the Senate Democratic Majority advanced legislation to support farmers and the agriculture industry across New York State. The legislation passed by the Senate Democratic Majority broadens the presence and promotion of farmers’ markets and New York farm products, places in statute the New York State Council on Food Policy, makes the Nourish New York Program permanent, and establishes the carbon farming tax credit.

“As someone who represents part of a geographic area containing a food desert, I know how difficult it can be to get fresh fruits and vegetables," Sanders Said. "Instead, we have to settle for sugary, fattening or processed foods which can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, No, my friends, we need to support our local farms and eat the delicious fresh produce that they grow right here in the great State of New York. That is why I have introduced legislation, which will incentivize state agencies to set procurement goals for products they purchase from our agriculture industry.”

The legislation passed by the Senate Majority include:

• New York State Council on Food Policy: This bill, S.549A, sponsored by Senator James Sanders Jr., places in statute the New York State Council on Food Policy.  The Council will develop and track guidelines and programs that promote locally grown food products and set goals for procurement of locally grown foods by state agencies.

• Agricultural Custom Operators: This bill, S.2135, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, extends statutory protections for farmers to contractors hired by farmers to work on farmlands with an agricultural district.

• Expansion of Regional Farmers Markets: This bill, S.2199, sponsored by Senator Tim Kennedy, directs the Department of Agriculture and Markets to facilitate the establishment of regional farmers' markets in order to directly market NY grown food and food products. This will benefit those areas of the State that have poor consumer access to high quality and reasonably priced fresh food and farm products, especially in areas that are “food deserts.”

• New York State Animal and Plant Fiber Program: This bill, S.3396, sponsored by Senator Rachel May, establishes the New York State Animal and Plant Fiber Program, which includes animal and plant fiber products grown in New York in the New York State Grown and Certified program.

• One-Stop Farming Hotline: This bill, S.4072, sponsored by Michelle Hinchey, establishes a one-stop farmer hotline operated by the Cornell Cooperative Extension for farmers, agricultural professionals, and others to access information and referral services regarding programs that assist in establishing and expanding farm and agricultural related businesses.

• Establishes a Carbon Farming Tax Credit: This bill, S.4707, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, establishes a tax credit for farmers that adopt practices to limit carbon emissions and promote carbon sequestration. This bill will  help combat climate change.

• Nourish New York Program: This bill, S.4892A, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, makes the Nourish New York program permanent and ensures that certain surplus agricultural products are provided to food relief organizations at competitive wholesale prices. This helps both farmers and those experiencing food insecurity.