Farmers from St. Lawrence County visited with their lawmakers in Albany this week to advocate for their priorities this year that would create a positive economic climate for farms throughout the state.

The St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau said in a press release that, as the building of a state budget continues, they wanted to make the point that investing in agriculture is an investment in New York.

At the Capitol, St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau board member Kevin Acres and state Farm Bureau board director Dave Fisher spoke about ways farming can help drive the economy, investment opportunities, programs that support the availability of local food and ways to expand market opportunities.

Among the specific priorities include support for a refundable investment tax credit. This would encourage greater investment into equipment and also be helpful for younger farmers who may be in greater need of capital to handle the startup costs of owning a farm. That money typically stays right in our communities, the Farm Bureau statement said. Purchasing construction supplies, machinery, or new technology has a multiplier effect supporting additional local businesses and jobs.

Members also asked for more funding to repair aging roads and bridges. Having a safe, reliable infrastructure is critical for a farm to run an efficient operation and transport fresh product to market, the statement said. Farm Bureau has also proposed a Farm E-Z Pass for tolls along the Thruway and across the bridges into New York City to reduce the cost of transporting food.

Other state public policy priorities include support for the Environmental Protection Fund that provides cost-sharing of important water quality and farmland protection programs that allow farms to reinvest into their farm business, and reform of the state’s inherent risk law for equine operations. Members also spoke about the need for additional state investment into regional food hubs to assist in getting local food into urban areas and institutions, along with support for a state tax credit to encourage even more donations of locally grown food by farmers to those in need. This would help offset the cost of labor, packaging and distribution for food going to their regional food bank, the statement said.

There was also support for new funding to help local school districts start new FFA chapters to support future farmers. There is a growing interest for agriculture education in our schools, the Farm Bureau said, but financial constraints often limit the availability.

The members hosted a booth at the Taste of New York reception for state lawmakers and staff. They also participated in the annual lobby day where farmers met with both their local and adopted Senator and Assembly members.

“St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau works on behalf of every farmer in our county. Our priorities stem from Farm Bureau’s annual grassroots process that brings farmers together from across the state who offer up solutions to many public policy issues that impact our farms,” St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau President Jon Greenwood said.

“It is important that lawmakers hear our voices and understand agriculture’s needs, and we look forward to working with our representatives in Albany,” Greenwood said. “The priorities we advocated for will not only grow our rural economy but support the well-being of our communities.”