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Legislators push new investments to bolster New York agriculture, flag federal funding losses
Summary
Senate and Assembly negotiators emphasized agricultural investments in the one-house budgets, seeking more meat-processing grants, hemp processing support, farmworker housing and protections for Farm-to-School and Nourish New York after federal cuts.
State lawmakers from both houses opened three-way budget negotiations by highlighting new and continued investments in agriculture while warning of recent federal cuts that could hinder state programs.
Assembly Chair Deborah Glick and Senate Chair Pete Harcum led a joint session where members from agriculture, housing and environmental panels outlined priorities for the upcoming budget. The Assembly’s one-house plan increased the Environmental Protection Fund and clean water infrastructure funding by $100 million each, Glick said, and the houses will negotiate details with the governor and each other.
Senator Michelle Hinchey, a lead Senate negotiator on ag issues, said this year marks “the fifth year that we are significantly investing in agriculture in our budget,” and highlighted efforts to expand Farm-to-School and universal school meals so more New York-grown food reaches students. She urged continued support for meat-processing grants originally oversubscribed in earlier rounds and said the Senate and Assembly are prioritizing expanded hemp processing to grow new markets and sustainable materials.
Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, raised the loss of recent federal funding that has supported state programs. “We’ve already been notified of a loss of $60,000,000 to a program called Climate Smart Commodities. And of that $24,000,000 went to our soil health program,” Lupardo said, adding that the Assembly has sought EPF dollars to help backfill the shortfall. She also said the state will absorb an identified $36,000,000 reduction to the Farm-to-School and Food Bank program that had complemented New York’s NOURISH New York effort during the COVID period.
On farm labor and workforce issues, a representative of the Assembly minority (Chris Hague) and others raised concerns about a Farm Labor Wage Board decision lowering overtime thresholds to 40 hours, which the minority argues could increase operating costs for farms. Hague also voiced support for A.3623 (New York food insecurity, farm resiliency and rural poverty act of 2025), saying the Assembly minority “fully supports” that bill and the expansion of Nourish New York.
Lawmakers also stressed capital investments that support farmers directly: meat-processing grants to expand regional processing capacity, infrastructure for local farmers markets, and measures to make farmworker housing easier to access.
The negotiators did not vote on any measures during the session. Members said negotiations will continue with the governor’s office and staff to reconcile the houses’ one-house budgets and the executive proposal that includes a $1 billion "sustainable future" program and additions to the State Superfund (hazardous waste) account.
Looking ahead, participants said they will aim to finalize allocations and program language in the coming weeks during formal three-way budget negotiations.
