“New Yorkers – not just farmers – will feel the ramifications of the Wage Board’s decision to lower the overtime threshold for farmworkers from 60 to 40 hours. Considering the current supply chain issues, the cost of fuel, and inflation, this decision will negatively impact access and affordability of fresh food and products from New York State farms. New York is one of the only states with this low of a threshold which is causing farmworkers to choose to work in other states, putting farmers at an unfair disadvantage in finding workers amidst a labor shortage. After working on a dairy farm for decades, I know the nature of farm work and it doesn’t follow a 40-hour work week- the seasons and the weather determine how much work needs to be done- and lowering the overtime threshold will continue to hurt the already suffering agriculture industry.”