New York Farm Bureau delegates unanimously re-elected David Fisher, a dairy farmer from Madrid, to his third two-year term as president of the state’s largest farm organization. 

The delegates voted recently during a virtual business session of the 64th State Annual Meeting. More than 100 delegates representing 52 county Farm Bureau organizations across the state came together online to not only cast their ballots in the election but also to establish public policy positions for the coming year. 

“New York agriculture has faced unique challenges this past year, and New York Farm Bureau has led the way in advocating for our members for the betterment of the state’s agricultural and food systems. I am grateful that members have put their trust in me for another two years," Fisher said who also serves on the American Farm Bureau Federation's Board of Director. "We will work hard together to create opportunities for our farm families.”

In addition the delegates approved public policy positions added at this year's State Annual Meeting including:

• Due to the impact of COVID-19, for agricultural assessment eligibility for farms of less than seven acres, annual gross sales requirements should be reduced from $50,000 to $25,000 for a trial of two years;

• Supporting wineries, craft beverage producers and on- and off-premises license the ability to do curbside pickup;

• Support the expansion of NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets' definition of tree syrups, beyond maple, so as to include syrups made with sap from other species of trees.

• Supporting prioritizing placing solar on non-agricultural lands, such as brownfields and previously disturbed industrial sites.

We support the collaboration of farm organization leaders, solar developers, and solar development associations to develop a “Best Management Solar Siting Practices Guide” for large-scale solar projects greater than 10 acres and/or 25 Mega Watts, on agricultural lands.

• Supporting the creation and maintenance of meat cutting education or certificate programs at various educational levels and institutions to increase the labor pool for meat processors and on-farm processing knowledge;

• Opposing the high application and license fees that the New York State Department of Health requires in the Hemp Extract regulation; and the restrictions placed on hemp farmers that limit the sale of their hemp biomass/flower to processors, distributors and/or retailers.

For a full list of policy issues visit the bureau's website at www.nyfb.org/advocacy.

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