COMING UP TONIGHT, DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITIES A NEW HOSPITAL CAN BRING TO UTICA WE VISIT A SYRACUSE ZOO TO SEE A STATE-OF-THE-ART ANIMAL HEALTH CENTER AND LOWERING THE THRESHOLD FOR FARM WORKERS IN NEW YORK, OUR SPOTLIGHT EXAMINES HOW THE NEW RULE COULD IMPACT THE FARM INDUSTRY AND THOSE WHO WORK THE FIELDS.

STRONG VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE AND ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW.

R GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK I'M DANIEL PLUFF.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND SOMETIMES LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO UTICA.

WORK ON MOHAWK VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM'S WYNN HOSPITAL CONTINUES, WITH AN EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE OF THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2023 10 STORY 700,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WILL COMBINE THE AREA'S TWO AGING ACUTE-CARE HOSPITALS WHEN THE HOSPITAL IS FINISHED, THE MOHAWK VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM EXPECTS TO EMPLOY UP TO 3,500 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

TODAY IN UTICA, WE ARE BUILDING A NEW WYNN HOSPITAL, 672,000 SQUARE FOOT, 373 BED INPATIENT FACILITY THAT WILL REPLACE OUR EXISTING FACILITIES AT THE ST. LUKE'S CAMPUS AND ST. ELIZABETH.

IN 2014, WYNNE CAME TO BE.

IT WAS THE FALL OF 2014, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WAS RELEASING FUND AVAILABLE FOR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE.

IT WAS AT THAT POINT, THE THEN C.E.O.

REACHED OUT TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT DOLLARS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR TWO EXISTING CAMPUSES.

WE WERE MET WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF INTEREST.

LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN ADDITION TO STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND PERSONNEL AND IT WAS PROBABLY NOVEMBER 2020 TO THE END OF 2015 THAT THE PROJECT STARTED TO EVOLVE INTO WHAT WE SEE HERE TODAY.

THE ENTIRE FUNDING FOR THE WYNN HOSPITAL CAME FROM $300 MILLION FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND ENTIRETY OF THE REST IS FROM M.D.H.S.

THROUGH BONDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE OR THROUGH DONATIONS.

NO LOCAL FUNDS WERE USED FOR THE COST.

IT WAS AFTER CONSTRUCTION STARTED, Mr. WYNN OFFERED HIS ASSISTANCE AND RESULTED IN HIS VERY GENEROUS DONATION OF $50 MILLION, WHICH, QUITE FRANKLY, IS NOT BEING USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOSPITAL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, USED TO ENHANCE THE WORK LIFE WITHIN THE BUILDING WHETHER IT'S THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF, PHYSICIANS, RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

SO HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUSTAINED THIS HEALTHCARE IN THIS BUILDING FOR YEARS TO COME AND NOT JUST PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.

WE WOULD ANTICIPATE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS IN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITHIN THE FACILITY.

WE STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL COLLEGES THAT WERE INTEREST IN HAVING AN AFFILIATION WITH THE MOHAWK VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM.

AS A RESULT, WE'VE ADDED FIVE NEW RESIDENCY PROGRAMS TO OUR SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

AT THE TIME WE OPEN, WE WILL HAVE OVER 200 PHYSICIAN LEARNERS ON STAFF HERE AT THE WYNN HOSPITAL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CHALLENGED THE LOCATION OF THE HOSPITAL.

WHY IN DOWNTOWN UTICA?

THERE IS A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT WE COULD HAVE BUILT A REPLACEMENT HOSPITAL IN ONEIDA COUNTY, AND MANY OF THEM WOULD HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY WELL.

BUT WE RECOGNIZED THE FACT THAT A REPLACEMENT HOSPITAL IN DOWNTOWN UTICA BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT IN DOWNTOWN UTICA IN A CITY THAT IS STARTING TO SEE A RESURGENCE ON ITS OWN, THE NEW HOSPITAL HELPS ACCENTUATE THAT RESURGENCE.

WE SEE THAT THERE IS APARTMENTS AND BUSINESSES OPENING UP ALONG GENESEE STEET STREET, ALL THAT IS DIRECT RELATION TO THE GROWTH OF OUR PROJECT AND PEOPLE WANTING TO COME BACK DOWNTOWN TO BE PART OF THE RESURGENCE.

>> YOU KNOW, THROUGH SEASON 1 AND INTO SEASON 2 OF ON THE MONEY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE MARKET VOLATILITY WON'T STOP.

EARLIER IN THE MONTH OF ACT, WE HAD SOME BIG SWINGS AND TO THE UPSIDE, NOT JUST TO THE DOWNSIDE, SO PROBABLY NEED TO REVISIT THIS WHOLE TOPIC OF MARKET VOLATILITY.

TO DO THAT, JOHN BUSS RETURNS AND GOOD FRIEND OF OURS AND OF THE SHOW FROM THE PINNACLE OFFICES IN EAST SYRACUSE.

UPS, DOWNS AND BIG SWINGS LATELY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE VOLUME AT THIS TIMER WE ARE SEEING, TO YOUR POINT, THE UPS AND DOWNS, TALKING TO CLIENTS ABOUT IT AND TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS.

TALKING ABOUT WHY, AND WHAT TO DO.

SO IF WE START WITH THE WHY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR CONFLUENCE OF FORCES DRIVING THE UNCERTAINTY AND VOLATILITY BUT THE OVERARCHING DRIVER IS THE MONETARY UNCERTAINTY.

I EXPLAINED IN THE LAST VISIT, PLAN PLANNING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

ON TOP OF THAT WE HAVE INFLATION THAT AGGRESSIVELY HIKED RATES.

40 YEAR HIGHS MORE PERSISTENT THAN ANTICIPATED.

POST PANDEMIC REVALUATIONS WITH CERTAIN SECTORS.

YOU HAVE SELLOFFS, CONTINUED SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION, AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN A POLICY IN CHINA THAT ADDED ADDITIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS AND MANUFACTURERS.

UKRAINE, ENERGY CRISIS IN EUROPE.

WHEN YOU PUT ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THEM FROM A 30,000 FOOT VIEW, YOU CAN SEE WHY WE ARE SEEING THE VOLATILITY.

THAT'S THE WHY.

WHEN WE GO TO THE WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE DON'T ABANDON OUR PLAN.

VOLATILITY CAN CAUSE ANXIETY, SPARK UNCERTAINTY AND CAUSE EMOTIONAL DECISION MAKING EVEN FOR THE MOST SEASON THE INVESTOR, BUT WE ALWAYS BRING IT BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL, THEIR SITUATION AND WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPLICATIONS MAY BE, RIGHT?

HAVE A PLAN, STICK TO IT.

NEXT, IF WE ARE INVESTED.

WE STAY INVESTED.

IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN WE SEE SHORT-TERM LOSSES ON OUR STATEMENTS BUT ALLOWING EMOTION TO DRIVE INVESTMENT IS COSTLY.

THE OVERALL PLAN, AND ATHE DAILY BUMPS ALONG THE WAY, YOU DON'T FOCUS ON THOSE.

>> JOHN, I'M WITH YOU.

IT'S JUST YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT CLIENTS JUST ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT TIRED, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A LONG RUN OF A BEAR MARKET SO I HOPE WHEN YOU COME BACK ON, WE'LL START TO SEE SOME UPSWINGS PERHAPS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT MORE SUSTAINED UPSWINGS I SHOULD SAY THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST BUT FOR NOW, JOHN, AS ALWAYS, GREAT ADVICE, JOHN BUSS FROM THE SYRACUSE OFFICES OF PINNACLE INVESTMENTS.

NEXT IS OUR TECH BYTES SEGMENT WHERE WE BRING YOU SOME NEW AND INTERESTING TECHNOLOGIES FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK LAST APRIL, ONONDAGA COUNTY OFFICIALLY OPENED UP THE NEW ANIMAL HEALTH CENTER AT THE ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO THE SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY WILL PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE FOR ALL ZOO ANIMALS AND WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE ZOO'S ROLE AS A TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR CORNELL UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE BEYOND THAT, THE NEW FACILITY WILL MEET AND EXCEED THE EVER-HIGHER STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS & AQUARIUMS TO MEET THIS STANDARD, THE FACILITY MUST DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO ANIMAL CARE, GUEST EDUCATION, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVING THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.

>> THE ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO IS ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS OF ONONDAGA COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

THERE ARE ABOUT 5,000 ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY.

THOSE 5,000, THERE ARE 240 THAT ARE ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS, A.Z.A.

AND WE HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THOSE.

THAT TELLS OUR VISITORS AND EVERYONE THAT WORKS HERE THAT WE HAVE THE GOLD STANDARD IN TERMS OF ANIMAL WELFARE, ANIMAL CARE, GUEST EXPERIENCE, EVERYTHING THAT WE OFFER BECAUSE OF OUR ACCREDITATION WITH A.Z.A., THE NEW HELP CENTER WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, COMPARED TO THE NORMAL VETERINARY HOSPITAL WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR DOMESTIC PETS, CATS AND DOGS, IT HAS TO BE DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE AN MA'AMS COMING IN ON A DAILY BASIS AND JUST LIKE THE DOMESTIC PETS AT HOME, THEY NEED WELLNESS CHECKS, CHECKUPS.

NO DAY IS THE SAME AT THIS INSTITUTION.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.

>> IN THE EARLY 80s WHEN THE COUNTY TOOK OVER THE ZOO OPERATION FROM THE CITY, IT WAS STATE-OF-THE-ART, THE NEW BUILDING THAT WE HAD, BUT IT WAS ALL VERY SMALL.

IT WAS CONDENSED.

AT THAT TIME WE HAD ONE VETERINARIAN AND ONE VET TECH.

>> WITH US BEING A TEACHING FACILITY, TOO, WE TEND TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE IN THE TREATMENT ROOMS AND SO FORTH BECAUSE WE ARE AFFILIATED WITH CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND A TEACHING INSTITUTION FOR THEM, TEACHING THE VETERINARIANS OF THE FUTURE IN ZOOLOGICAL AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.

>> WE QUICKLY OUTGREW THE 1500 SQUARE FOOT CLINIC AND QUARANTINE CENTER THAT WE HAD.

THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS AND THE DESIGN PROCESS AND ALL THE IDEAS AND VIFLTING OTHER ZOOS THAT A TEAM OF US DID TO GET HAVE HADS WHAT WE COULD DO, THIS FACILITY CAME TO FRUITION, LIKE ANY PROJECT THAT HAPPENS HERE AT THE ZOO, ESPECIALLY THE LARGER PROJECTS, THE HEALTH CENTER, THE BRICKS AND MORTAR DESIGN ENGINEERING SITE WORK, EVERYTHING TO BUILD THE STRUCTURE WAS COUNTY DONE THEN THE FRIENDS OF THE ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO HAD A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN OF 1.1 MILLION THAT THEY BOUGHT THE EQUIPMENT TO POPULATE THESE ROOMS THAT YOU SEE.

>> BOTH ENTITIES COMBINED HELP US RAISE MONEY TO BUY THE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT WE FEED TO SERVE THE ANIMALS THE BEST.

>> BEE TRIED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERY SINGLE SPECIES THAT WE COULD HAVE HERE AND I WOULD SAY THE OTHER BIGGEST THING IS THE TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.

YOU CAN SEE INTO THE OPERATING ROOM.

YOU CAN SEE THE STERILE ENVIRONMENT LIKE A HUMAN HOSPITAL.

YOU CAN SEE INTO THE TREATMENT ROOM AND THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WHERE WE HATCH ALL OF OUR EGGS AND FINALLY OUR LABORATORY WHERE ALL OF THE RESEARCH, ANOTHER VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT ACCREDITED ZOOS ARE INVOLVED WITH IS KEEPING THESE POPULATIONS AND NOT ONLY THE ONES IN OUR CARE, THAT LIVE IN THE ZOOS BUT THE WILD COUNTERPARTS, HOW DO BETTER TAKE CARE OF THE ELEPHANTS IN THE WILD ICING THE ONCE WE HAVE HERE TO GET BASELINE INFORMATION AND DATA TO HEALTHY ANIMALS AND DISEASES AND SO FORTH.

ON THE VISITORS COMING TO THE ZOO, CAN SEE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THINGS IS THE JUNIOR VET CLINIC WHERE CHILDREN CAN COME IN AND PUT ON A LAB COAT AND STETHOSCOPE AND PRETEND TO BE A VETERINARIAN AND WORK STUFFED ANIMALS OR FLUSH ANIMALS PLUSH ANIMALS AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW.

THEY'RE SO EXPOSED AND SO MUCH EXPOSURE TO DOCUMENTARIES AND INFORMATION AND, YOU KNOW, THE INTERNET AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS RELATED TO ANIMALS IN CONSERVATION AND ALL THAT.

WE ARE REALLY CLICKED ON AND THAT'S WHY THE EVOLUTION OF THE ZOOS AND BEING MORE TRANSPARENT AND TELLING BEHIND THE SCENES STORIES AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO WHAT WE DO, IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND PEOPLE EXPECT THAT NOW.

AND THEY WANT IT AND WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

SO IT'S AN AMAZING EVOLUTION THAT THE ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS HAVE TAKEN ON.

>> COMING UP NEXT, OUR BY THE NUMBERS PIECE.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO OUR COMMON CENTS GUEST CAME ON TO TALK ABOUT RETIREMENT PLANNING AND HOW NERVOUS PEOPLE WERE GIVEN THE VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET AND HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED THEIR VIEWS ON RETIREMENT, INCOME, ET CETERA.

RECENT SURVEY CAME OUT FROM SINGLE-LOADERS AND THEY-- SLOWEDDERS AND THEY HAD SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS THAT MIGHT CATCH YOUR EYE.

IN THE 45-75 AGE GROUP, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A FULL THIRD OF THOSE PEOPLE DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS "TERRIFIED ABOUT GIVING UP THEIR REGULAR PAYCHECK FROM WORK.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

NOT JUST NERVOUS, TERRIFIED.

ANOTHER 53% INDICATED THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO COPE WITH NO PAYCHECK IN A POST RETIREMENT WORLD.

AND HERE'S-- I GUESS THE NUMBER THAT BOTHERED ME THE MOST, OVER HALF DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN REPLACE EVEN UP TO 75% OF THE PAYCHECK THEY RECEIVE FROM WORK.

THAT'S QUITE A BIT.

AND A LITTLE ALARMING ON MY PART.

A COUPLE OF OTHER NUMBERS TO LOOK AT.

THE NUMBER OF 49% SAID THAT NO STRATEGIES WERE IN PLACE TO GENERATE RETIREMENT INCOME.

IN OTHER WORDS, PROBABLY NOT MUCH OF A PLAN WAS PUT IN PLACE AND THEN FINALLY, A THIRD SAID THEY WILL NOT DELAY SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS.

NOW REMEMBER, WHEN YOU DELAY PAYMENTS, YOU GET MORE MONEY.

BUT IN THIS CROWD, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT.

SOME INTERESTING NUMBERS TONIGHT FOR SURE.

AS WE DO EACH WEEK, WE FINISH UP WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN OUR AREA.

FOLLOWING A RECENT TWO TO THREE VOTE FROM THE FARM LABORERS WAGE BOARD, ALONG WITH ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL BY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMMISSIONER REARDON, NEW YORK STATE IS READY TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE HOW OVERTIME IS PAID TO THE STATE'S FIFTY SIX THOUSAND FARM WORKERS CURRENTLY, WORKERS DON'T GET OVERTIME PAY UNTIL THEY REACH A SIXTY HOUR WORK WEEK ADVOCATES FOR THIS NEW RULE SAY FARM WORKERS SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO OVERTIME HOURS IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER WORKERS, AND THEY ADD A SIXTY HOUR WORK WEEK WITHOUT OVERTIME IS JUST HARSH NOT SURPRISINGLY, THERE ARE OTHER VIEWPOINTS PROPONENTS ARGUE FARMING IS A MUCH DIFFERENT INDUSTRY - WEATHER CAN CAUSE LONG DELAYS AND DOWNTIMES WHILE EXTRA HOURS ARE NEEDED DURING CRUCIAL TIMES SUCH AS HARVESTING AND FARMERS INSIST THE ADDED COSTS OF OVERTIME PAY CAN'T FULLY BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS THEY HAVE CONCERNS THEY MAY LOSE SOME OF THEIR MIGRANT WORKERS UNDER THIS RULE, THAT THE ECONOMIES OF FARMING WOULD BE FURTHER PRESSURED AND THAT SOME FARMS WOULD BE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN ON THE MONEY CONSIDERED BOTH SIDES OF THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH DALE HEMMINGER OF HEMDALE FARMS IN ONTARIO COUNTY AND DAVID KALLICK, AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CHANGE IN NEW YORK CITY AS YOU'LL SEE, IT'S NOT SO CUT AND DRIED - BUT WE'LL LET YOU DECIDE >> WE'RE FARMING JUST OVER 3,000 ACRES AND THEN HAVE A DAIRY AND THEN WE ALSO GROW SOME PRODUCE.

WE ARE HARVESTING OUR CORN FOR SIELAGE FOR THE DAIRY AND IT'S A VERY CRITICAL PERIOD OF TIME.

WE PUT UP 12 MONTHS OF FEED IN A TWO TO THREE WEEK PERIOD.

>> THIS IS WHAT WILL SUSTAIN THE COWS.

>> YES, THIS IS THE MAIN PART OF THEIR DIET FOR THE NEXT FOR 12 MONTHS WORTH OF FEED.

>> YOU TAKE THE ALTITUDE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY NOT SO GOOD FOR FARMERS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE DEVASTATING.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, OUR CHALLENGE IS WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND THE WEATHER AND MOTHER NATURE AND SEASONALITY.

AND WE WORK LONG HOURS WHEN THINGS ARE PERFECT.

THIS WEEK IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.

THAT'S THE REASON THE SILO CREW WORKED ALL WEEKEND.

DURING PLANTING SEASON, WE ARE RAINED OUT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME HERE IN THE NORTHEAST.

WE ARE BLESSED WITH ALL THIS RAIN.

AT THE SAME TIME THE WESTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY IS DRYING UP, WE ARE BEING IDENTIFIED AS THE FUTURE OF SUPPLY OF MORE AND MORE FOOD FOR THE WORLD.

AND WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO WORK THE HOURS WHEN MOTHER NATURE GIVES US THE WINDOW.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF A 60 HOUR WORK WEEK IS A LOT OF HOURS.

IT'S NOT THE NORM IN A TRADITIONAL WORKFORCE.

AND YOU SEE THE PUSH BACK.

>> I RESPECT THAT.

AND I KNOW THE INTENTIONS ARE GENERALLY GOOD.

AGRICULTURE, WE HAVE ALWAYS WORKED MORE HOURS.

WE LIVE RIGHT NEAR THE FARM.

WE DON'T FEED TO BE DRESSED UP.

WORKING MORE HOURS IS THE NORM AND WITH THAT, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY.

AND IF WE HOLD PEOPLE BACK TO 40 HOURS, A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO GET A SECOND JOB.

>> THERE ARE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE HERE.

YEAR ROUND WORKERS AND THEN SEASONAL H. 2A WORKER.

>> HAD2A IS OUR FEDERALLY VISAED WORKERS.

WE USE THEM IN OUR GREENHOUSES AND CABBAGE OPERATION AND THEY COME AND ARE HERE FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS.

I HAVE A WHOLE GREW OF GUYS THAT THIS HAS BECOME THEIR CAREER.

THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES AT HOME.

>> BY THE WAY, WHERE IS HOME FOR THESE FOLKS?

>> ALL OF MY FOLKS ARE FROM MEXICO.

A FEW FROM GUATEMALA.

>> AND THEY'RE HERE SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS.

>> YEP.

>> WORKING THE HOURS AND THEN BACK HOME.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

(SPEAKING SPANISH) ON AVERAGE, HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK DO YOU PUT IN?

>> 50.

SOMETIMES MORE.

>> THERE IS THIS TALK OF CHAWPGING-- CHANGING THINGS THAT SO THAT ANYTHING OVER 40 HOURS WOULD BE OVERTIME FOR YOU.

BUT THE CONCERN IS THAT THEN MAYBE THE FARMERS WOULD CUT BACK ON THE HOURS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> FOR ME, IT NO, SIR GOOD.

I NEED MORE HOURS.

WORKING MORE.

BECAUSE IT GOES DOWN 40 NO GOOD.

>> IF YOU ONLY ASK ME, I SAY FABULOUS.

40 HOURS I GO HOME BUT THE TRUTH IS I HAVE FOUR KIDS MY DREAM IS TO BUY A HOUSE.

AND 40 HOURS I CAN'T COMPLETE MY DREAM.

IF I WANT MORE MONEY, I NEED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB.

SO SECOND JOB IS NO OPTION FOR ME.

THERE IS NO WORK FOR NOBODY.

>> BUT THE LESS HOURS WORK, THAT WOULD HURT YOU?

>> I WANT TO WORK TO 60.

>> TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.

TELL ME WHY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR FARM WORKERS IN YOUR VIEW?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GET PAID A FAIR WAGE AND I THINK FARM WORKERS ARE BEING ASKED TO WORK EXTREMELY LONG WORK HOURS AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE IN SOME CASES BUT WHEN THEY DO, THEY SHOULD BE PAID OVERTIME AND JUST LIKE OTHER WORKERS IN NEW YORK.

BUT I ALSO THINK, YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING WE CARE ABOUT THE FARMS.

WE WANT TO HAVE AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY IN NEW YORK.

HAVE FARMS IN THE COUNTRY SIDE AS WE GO AROUND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED OVER THE LONG RUN.

BUT IN THE SHORT RUN, THERE ARE SOME TAX CREDITS, SUBSIDIES THAT MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR FARMERS AND IN THE LONG RUN, A GRADUAL PHASE IN TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ADAPT AND MAKE THEIR FARMS MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES FOR JUST A SECOND.

THE FARM WORKERS.

I INTERVIEWED A COUPLE OF THEM.

THE PEOPLE THAT WE TALKED TO SAID WE DON'T WANT THIS EITHER BECAUSE WE ARE WORRIED THAT THE FARM OWNER WILL THEN SUBSEQUENTLY BRING IN MORE EMPLOYEES AND WE WILL ALL BE WORKING 40 HOUR WORK WEEKS.

THEY'RE HERE FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, AS YOU KNOW.

FROM WHAT THEY TOLD ME, THEY WANT TO MAKE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND THEN HEAD BACK TO THEIR HOME.

THIS MAY NOT BE BEP BENEFICIAL TO THEM IN THE LONG RUN.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF CAN'T SEE IT BOTH WAYS.

IN THE FARM OWNERS NEED TO BE FIGURE OUT HOW TO PICK THE RASPBERRIES WHEN THEY'RE RIPE, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO BECAUSE THE RASPBERRIES WILL ROT ON THE VINE.

OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO BE WORKING OVERTIME.

I THINK THEY WILL BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY IF THEY CAN.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT THE IDEA, WHAT FARM WORKERS WANT, IT SEEMS TO ME, IS GOING TO BE TO MAKE MORE AT THE END OF THE WEEK THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE TO TAKE HOME.

YOU KNOW, WE MODELED AT BETWEEN 35 AND 95 A WEEK EXTRA EVEN INCORPORATING THE IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME REDUCTION IN THE HOURS WORKED.

>> YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE FORCED TO CHANGE OUR BUSINESS MODEL.

RIGHT NOW I'M SHIPPING A LOT OF CABBAGE TO SALAD COMPANIES OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY.

IF I HAVE TO PAY MY PEOPLE THAT ARE 1566 MANDATED WAGE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TIME AND A HALF OVER 40, THOSE WEEKS THAT WE WORK ALL THE HOURS TO STAY CAUGHT UP AND WORK AROUND THE WEATHER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE COULD AFFORD TO GROW THE CABBAGE ANYMORE.

>> THEY MENTIONED CHANGING THE TYPES OF CROPS THEY GROW, LESS LABOR INTENSIVE CROPS.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY WORLD WOULD GET SIMPLER.

I MIGHT BECOME MORE OF A GRAIN FARMER AND OWN A BIG COMBINE WHERE I ONLY HAVE ONE OPERATOR.

>> THAT'S NOT IN YOUR HEART.

>> NOT IN MY HEART.

>> IF THAT'S THE CASE AND YOUR COSTS GO UP, WHY NOT THEN PASS IT ON TO ME?

WHY AM I NOT GOING TO PAY MORE FOR CORN OR CABBAGE OR WHATEVER YOU ARE GROWING?

WHY NOT PASS THE COSTS ON?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T, PARTICULARLY IN THE COMMODITY BUSINESS THAT I'M IN HERE.

WE ARE PRICE TAKERS.

THE PRICE OF OUR MILK IS SET BY FORMULAS AND WHAT NOT.

>> I DID READ THAT.

YOU CAN'T CHARGE BEYOND WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU YOU CAN CHARGE.

>> THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

THE PRICE OF CABBAGE THAT WE WORK HARD TO MARKET, OHIO HAS ALREADY GOT CHEAPER CABBAGE PRICES THAN WE V. OUR BUYERS ARE COMING TO US TODAY BECAUSE OF QUALITY AND SERVICE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ME AGAIN EVEN MORE BECAUSE MY COSTS ARE HIGHER.

THEY WILL JUST LEAVE NEW YORK STATE AND BUY THIS PRODUCT ELSEWHERE.

>> THIS IS A 10-YEAR PHASE IN SO HAVE YOU PLENTY OF TIME TO ADJUST.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE IS GOING TO PICK UP 100% OF THE OVERTIME COSTS FOR FARMERS OVER THAT, YOU KNOW, INDEFINITELY.

SO THERE IS NOT REALLY-- IT'S NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO SUDDENLY PAY A WHOLE LOT MORE.

THE FARM OWNERS ARE, IN SOME WAYS, SELLING THEMSELVES SHORT IF THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY CAN FIGURE OUT IF THE PRICE OF LABOR GOES UP, HOW DO YOU ADJUST TO THAT?

>> WHAT DO WE HAVE TO BE SURE WE DON'T MESS UP OVER THE NEXT DECADE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE SMART TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN FIGURING OUT HOW DO YOU HELP FARMERS TO GET ON THIS BETTER FOOTING?

I THINK IT WOULD BE-- THERE ARE AGRICULTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FROM THE UNIVERSITIES, HELPING PEOPLE TO IN THE MILKING INDUSTRY INVEST GRADUALLY IN THE KIND OF STATE-OF-THE-ART, YOU KNOW, APPARATUS THAT MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT TO DO THE MILKING.

I THINK YOU CAN SUPPORT FARMERS IN LOTS OF WAYS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION.

AND IF YOU TRY TO LOOK NOT JUST AT NEXT YEAR, BUT AT LIKE 30 YEARS, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT NEW YORK FARMING TO BE AND HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

AND I THINK MAKING THAT BRIDGE IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

>> I BELIEVE IT WILL DRIVE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE OUT OF NEW YORK.

I REALLY DO.

WE ALREADY ARE FACING TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES WITH ALL THE INFLATION AND LABOR IS HARDER TO GET TO BEGIN WITH AND THERE IS A LOT OF FAMILY FARMS THAT ARE STILL ADJUSTING TO WHAT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE COME IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT WILL DRIVE BUSINESS OUT OF HERE.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME HONESTLY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE YOU BRING IN MEXICO IN MANY CASES THAT THEY WOULD PREFER THE 60 HOUR WORK WEEK OPPOSED TO CUTTING DOWN HOURS AND MAYBE HAVING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IF YOU WILL?

>> THEY WANT TO MAKE THE MONEY WHEN THEY'RE HERE.

I HOLD THEM BACK TO 40 HOURS, I GUARANTEE YOU THEY WILL GO TO ANOTHER STATE WHERE THIS ELK GET 50 TO 60 HOURS.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO DALE, DAVID AND THE FARM WORKERS AT HEMDALE FARMS.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH THEM.

I SUSPECT WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH THIS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT - NEXT WEEK, WE EXPLORE THE NEW HOME OF THE UTICA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM SEE HOW THE TOWN OF DEWITT'S SOLAR ARRAY IS PROJECTED TO SAVE MILLIONS ON THEIR MUNICIPAL ENERGY COSTS AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES BRINGS US BACK TO UTICA FOR AN UPBEAT CONVERSATION WITH ONEIDA COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICENTE - THE COUNTY APPEARS TO BE ON A ROLL AND HE'LL TELL US ALL ABOUT IT BUT WE'RE ON A ROLL TOO, AND THERE'S MUCH MORE COMING THIS SEASON SO IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, LET US KNOW - CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY DOT ORG TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT OUR VISIT OUR WEB SET AT WCNY.ORG/ON THE MONEY.

YOU CAN ALSO VIEW OUR PREVIOUS EPISODES THERE TOO AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AS WELL I'M DANIEL PLUFF, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.