Senate proclaims Agriculture Week; lawmakers debate federal cuts, solar on farmland and farmworker housing

The New York State Senate on March 18 adopted a resolution proclaiming March 2025 Agriculture Week, and several senators used the floor remarks to press competing policy priorities for New York's farms, from federal funding cuts to state incentives and farmland preservation.

Senator Michelle Hinchey, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee and sponsor of the resolution, opened the discussion by describing the scale of the state's farm economy, saying New York produces a broad range of agricultural products and generates an $85,800,000,000 economic impact from more than 30,000 farms. Hinchey said state initiatives such as Nourish New York — which she said was codified into state law — have helped create local markets for farmers since the pandemic.

The debate moved quickly from praise to policy. Hinchey, and several colleagues, warned that federal actions — including a reported $1 billion cut to USDA programs and a proposed $12 billion reduction in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) — could jeopardize access to fresh food and school meals. Hinchey said the CEP proposal “could jeopardize school meals for over 900,000 New York students,” framing state action as a response to shrinking federal support.

Not all senators agreed on the best state role. Senator Robert Ortt Borrello (spoken during the debate) and others said some New York policies and incentives have unintentionally harmed farms. Borrello criticized state incentives that, he said, encourage converting farmland to solar arrays and impose regulatory or seed-use requirements that increase costs for farmers. Senator James L. Tedisco highlighted a tax-credit measure inserted into the budget he said was designed to spur housing development for farmworkers and help farmers recruit labor; Tedisco and other supporters said the credit is in both houses' budgets.

Senator Shelley Mayer, Senator Sean Ryan and others emphasized investments in research and extension programs. Senator Michelle Mayes described state support for agricultural research and Cornell Cooperative Extension, saying research into new seed varieties, pest resistance and agrivoltaics (combining energy generation with farming) helps farmers adapt to climate and market pressures.

Several lawmakers stressed the need to protect small and family farms. Senator Hinchey and others said farmers are “price takers” who face market pressures, supply-chain disruptions and rising costs that threaten their viability. Multiple senators praised Nourish New York for helping farmers find markets during the pandemic and called for continued state support.

The resolution passed by voice vote on March 18. Sponsors then opened the resolution for cosponsorship on the floor.

The senators' floor remarks combined celebration with policy warnings: they framed the resolution as an occasion to spotlight state programs that support farmers while calling out federal cuts and urging attention to the effect of state regulatory and incentive choices on farmland preservation and farm economics.