ALBANY — Members from Jefferson County Farm Bureau recently spent time at the State Capitol meeting with lawmakers from across the state to discuss public policy priorities that reinvest in our family farms. Members kicked off the two-day trip with the New York Farm Bureau annual Taste of New York reception, a popular event attended by elected officials and decision makers. Jefferson County’s booth proudly served cheese curds from Great Lakes Cheese in Adams, NY. “This event highlights the diversity and importance of our industry,” said Devon Shelmidine, Jefferson County Farm Bureau Vice-President. “It also gives us an opportunity to talk with lawmakers in a relaxed casual setting, allowing us to grow important relationships.”
Advocates spent a full day attending meetings with Senators and Members of the Assembly, not only with their own elected officials, but also with New York City legislators. “Meeting with our “adopted” legislators whose districts tend to be vastly different from rural New York have been of great value. It gives them a better understanding of what we do and why we do it and they are likely to remember our interactions when voting on legislation pertaining to agriculture,” said Shelmidine.
They gave each lawmaker an honest assessment of the additional economic pressures family farms have been facing recently, including low commodity and milk prices and rising labor costs. They discussed the need for critical funding and legislation to help protect and strengthen agriculture that includes a state budget that makes necessary investments in research, marketing and promotion.
“Our priorities stem from Farm Bureau’s annual grassroots process that brings farmers together from across the state who offer thoughtful solutions to many public policy issues that impact our farms. We will continue to work hard to keep the focus on agriculture,” said Shelmidine.
–Jefferson County Farm Bureau
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