Senate Majority Advances Legislation to Support New York’s Farmers and Encourage Community Engagement with Agriculture

(Albany, NY) Today, the Senate Democratic Majority passed a package of bills to support farmers and agriculture communities across New York State. The legislation in this package aims to support our state’s current farmers while also empowering new, prospective farmers and youth with the tools and resources they need to carry on thriving farming operations for generations to come. 

The bills passed would establish a youth program to provide students with information about hands-on experience with the agricultural industry, create a farm ownership succession planning program to facilitate the transfer of farming operations, expand regional farmers’ markets, implement carbon farming tax credits, and widen property tax exemption eligibility for farm buildings. 

  “Farmers are the heart of our communities in the Southern Tier, feeding our families and growing our economy,” said Senator Lea Webb. "Thank you to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins and Agriculture Chair Senator Michelle Hinchey for advancing this legislative package in support of New York's farmers and our agriculture sector. My bill (S6848) will help establish or expand existing regional farmers' markets in those areas of the state that have poor consumer access to high quality and reasonably priced fresh food and farm products. Our farmers are essential, and I am committed to ensuring their success."  

The legislation passed by the Senate Democratic Majority includes: 

Establishing and Expanding Regional Farmers’ Markets: This bill, S.6848, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, would direct the department of agriculture and markets to increase the number of regional farmers’ markets for the direct marketing and promotion of healthy, locally produced farm and food products produced in the state. 

Establishes a NYS Youth in Agriculture & Entrepreneurship Summer Employment Program: This bill, S.592, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, would require the Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) to establish the New York State Youth in Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Summer Employment Program to provide students with the opportunity to be educated on the agricultural industry as well as gain agricultural and entrepreneurship work experience. 

Expands Property Tax Exemptions for Farm Buildings: This bill, S.3665, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, would expand the property tax exemption to include on-farm buildings and structures, used for processing of crops produced on farm. 

Farm Ownership Succession Planning Program: This bill, S.4755, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, would establish the Farm Ownership Succession Planning Program (FOSPP) to provide farmers and prospective farmers with a succession planning toolkit that can be used by farm owners who plan on retiring, selling or ending their farming operations to ensure such operations can be taken over by new owners. In addition, this bill would establish a taskforce to assist the program with outreach to minority communities to help increase the number of minority farm owners in New York State.

Carbon Farming Tax Credit For Farmers: This bill, S.1529, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a "carbon farming" land management strategy and directs the Department of Environmental Conservation to develop regulations related to certifying the amount of carbon sequestered or emissions reduced. This would create a new financial incentive for land management practices undertaken by farmers which help improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making New York a leader in promoting new agricultural strategies that combat climate change. 

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