Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and his Assembly Minority colleagues sent a letter to President Trump, Sen. Schumer and top administration officials urging them to push Congress to authorize a new relief package to help the state’s agricultural industry.

They’re also pushing the officials to ensure that farmers are eligible for benefits previously appropriated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“Particularly here in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Region, our family farms power our economy. Generation after generation, they feed their neighbors. They sell their products all over the world. It’s a tradition that defines us. 98% of all farms in New York state are family farms. They’re hurting right now, and we need to step in with the relief they need to continue operating,” said Palmesano.

Palmesano and his colleagues want the federal government to ensure that farmers are eligible for disaster loan funding and are seeking federal reimbursement for any actions the state must take to support farm families. They are also seeking a larger state share of the aggregate CARES Act Funding.

Most importantly, the lawmakers are urging both houses of Congress to pass a new stimulus package that also provides critical assistance for our state's agricultural industry, an investment that will produce ripple effects across the economy.

“New York state is the global epicenter of this crisis, we’re one of the nation’s leading agricultural producers and our country isn’t going to have any sort of economic resurgence without thriving, fully-operational family farms. Agriculture is our state’s number one industry. That’s why we’re asking the administration and Sen. Schumer to make this a priority in Washington on both sides of the aisle,” said Palmesano.

“Bad policies in this state made our farm families vulnerable to any crisis. Increasing their labor costs, crushing them with mandates and stifling them with regulations created a bad situation. Now, they’re in crisis. We need to do the right thing and provide them with the help they deserve before it’s too late.” said Palmesano.

“Remember, no farms, no food.”

The letter may be read here.