As Congress begins debate over the next farm bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, says she will hold listening sessions around the state over the next several months to discuss new efforts to help New York farmers and farming communities.

Gillibrand plans to focus on key areas of the bill that will have major influence on New York, including access to financing, new market opportunities, assistance for specialty crops, and investments in renewable energy.

Gillibrand said, “We need to make sure the next farm bill is a good deal for New York. I plan to take the next several months to listen to farmers and businesses in every corner of the state and discuss my ideas on how to help farmers survive and prosper in the new economy.”

Gillibrand plans to hold sessions in agricultural communities in New York to listen to concerns and discuss ideas this month in Western New York, the Finger Lakes region and the Hudson Valley.

Over 35,000 farms stretch across 7.1 million acres, making up one-fourth of New York State. New York’s agriculture industry generates over $4 billion for the state’s economy.