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NYFB Strongly Opposes Anti-Farmer Bill

SENATE FARM LABOR BILL WILL DEVASTATE FARM ECONOMY

Please review NYFB's memorandum in opposition to this bill, as well as a fact sheet about New York Farm Workersand a fact sheet explaining the real truth about farm labor regulations in the state and nation.

Members and non-members concerned about keeping food and farming in New York State are urged to contact their legislators, as well as Senator Onorato, the Chair of the Senate Labor Committee and Assemblywoman John, Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, and oppose these mandates on family farms. The Senate switchboard number is 518-455-2800 and Assembly switchboard is 518-455-4100.

You may also send a letter opposing this bill to your representatives and key legislators through our E-Lobby Center.

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.

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, puttingNew Yorkagriculture at a disadvantage will hurt our ability to thrive and sustain our industry," saidJim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association. "IamamazedatwhyAlbanydoes 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 agreewith Senator Sampson that we must do everything possibleto 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. 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."