Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Family farmers are speaking out against a labor bill they say could put many of them out of business. Passage of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act (S.2837/A.2750) that has been introduced in the Senate and Assembly Labor Committees would increase labor costs on New York farms by 17 percent, or […]
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, D-Brooklyn, and state Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci, R-South Huntington, are calling for the federal government to increase protections for the craft beer industry. Schumer has been urging the Department of Agriculture to give New York State the “Malt Barley Endorsement” (M.B.E.), a special federal insurance option, available […]
The state Senate on Wednesday is expecting to take up a package of 15 bills aimed at strengthening and preserving agriculture as one of the state’s leading industries. More than 36,000 farms in New York generate about $4.7 billion in statewide economic activity each year. The bipartisan bills unveiled Wednesday […]