“The fact that the governor signed this disastrous farm labor bill in New York City in the company of far-left politicians and special interest groups and not actual farmers tells you everything you need to know about this legislation. It is an unprecedented attack on farm families and our state's number one industry. It hammers them with hundreds of millions of dollars in skyrocketing labor costs and job-killing mandates at a time when they’re already struggling to stay afloat.

“Over the past five years, we’ve lost 20% of our dairy farms. According to a Farm Credit East study, net farm income has plummeted 50% statewide over the past few years. Nationally, labor costs account for 36% of net farm income. In New York state, it’s 63%. So New York farmers are already at a competitive disadvantage compared to those in neighboring states. The governor’s bill will make it much worse. Ninety-eight percent of the farms in New York state are family owned, and they have no control over the prices they can charge for their products. There is no way for them to generate the needed revenue to keep up with these increased costs and mandates.

“My opposition to this bill has been steadfast. I would like to remind Gov. Cuomo and my legislative colleagues of this very simple fact. No farms, no food. No farms, no farm labor. This bill is a disaster for our family farms, the entire agricultural industry and all New Yorkers,” said Palmesano.