"STATEWIDE - NEW YORK FARMERS ARE UNDER INCREASING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PRESSURE because of federal policy changes, including higher tariffs, cuts to certain agricultural programs and stricter immigration enforcement policies, according to a report that state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released on Tuesday, Jan. 27. DiNapoli warns these challenges could diminish farm production, squeeze profits and lead to higher prices for consumers."
"Moreover, it projects that the decrease in funding for nutritional assistance programs will result in less money spent at grocery stores, at farmers markets and on purchases by food banks, resulting in a loss of markets for farms, and that the federal government's tighter immigration policies, which could cause the loss of farm employees at crucial points in the growing season, or in the case of dairy farms, at any point in the year, could devastate individual farms."
Federal policy changes have raised tariffs, reduced funding for conservation and forestry, and cut Farm Service Agency appropriations, increasing economic and financial pressure on New York farmers. A 10-year reduction of $1.8 billion for conservation and $150 million for forestry will decrease resources for land stewardship and habitat management. An $84 million cut in FFY 2026 appropriations for the Farm Service Agency will limit program support for producers. Reductions in nutritional assistance funding will reduce consumer spending at grocery stores, farmers markets, and food banks, shrinking markets for farms. Tighter immigration policies risk losing seasonal and year-round farm employees, potentially devastating individual operations. New York's dairy sector may be the only local commodity to see a significant benefit from commodity funding programs.
Read at Brooklyn Eagle
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]