♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF CONNECT-NEW YORK, WE EXPLORE AGRICULTURE IN THE EMPIRE STATE, INCLUDING THE RAPIDLY CHANGING COST OF FARMING, PERSISTENT STAFFING CHALLENGES, AND A SHIFTING REGULATORY LANDSCAPE.

ALL THAT, AND MUCH MORE, COMING UP NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON TODAY'S SHOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING FARMERS AND FARMWORKERS IN NEW YORK, WITH A PANEL OF INDUSTRY VOICES, BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW OVERTIME REGULATIONS AND TAX CREDITS FOR THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.

OUR PRODUCER, SUSAN BITTER, HAS THAT STORY.

>> THE FARM LABOR FAIR PRACTICES ACT WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 2020 AND THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING, TO INCLUDE TYPICAL WORKERS RIGHTS, SUCH AS RIGHT TO A DAY OF REST, RIGHT TO WORKMANS COMPENSATION, AND RIGHT TO OVERTIME PAY.

DURING 2020 AND 2021, THERE WERE HEARINGS THAT WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO DISCUSS THE OVERTIME PAY PROVISION.

(SPEAKING SPANISH).

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS LETICIA.

I AM AN AGRICULTURAL WORKER AND I PICK THE APPLES ON A RANCH.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR 12 YEARS IN THE FIELD AND I LIVE IN NEW YORK AND I HAVE FOUR KIDS AND MY HUSBAND WORKS AS WELL IN AN ORCHARD.

I AM A NEW YORKAN AND WE REPORT TAXES LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN.

WE WANT EQUITY AND RESPECT LIKE OTHER WORKERS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES.

WE ARE ESSENTIAL IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO THE MAN REDUCED TO 40 HOURS SO WE CAN BE WITH OUR FAMILY AND SO THAT WE DON'T RUN INTO HEALTH PROBLEMS LONG-TERM.

BECAUSE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T DO THE WORK THAT WE DO AS HISPANIC.

>> AS A RESULT OF THE INPUTS THAT THEY RECEIVED, THEY PUT INTO PLACE A SCHEDULE IN WHICH OVERTIME PAY WOULD BE LOWERED FROM 60 HOURS A WEEK TO A THRESHOLD OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD WHICH WOULD REACH A THRESHOLD OF 40 HOURS PER WEEK.

THIS WOULD PUT FARM WORKERS ON THE SAME GROUNDING AS ALL OTHER WORKERS IN NEW YORK STATE.

ALL WORKERS IN NEW YORK STATE DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION AND PROTECTIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE KIND OF WORK THEY DO.

>> OUR FARM IS A DAIRY FARM.

WE MILK 40 DAIRY COWS AND WE HAVE ANOTHER FARM TO THE EAST WHERE WE MILK 600 COWS.

35 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND 20 PART TIME SO THIS SIDE OF THE ROAD IS PROBABLY MORE OF LIKE 12-HOUR WORK DAYS.

THE CROP AND SHOP CREW PROBABLY WORK 7-5 DURING THE NOT BUSY SEASON AND MORE LIKE 7-7, DEPENDING ON THE DAY DURING THE BUSY SEASON.

>> LET'S SAY MAYBE TWO WEEKS IN A MONTH I WORK LIKE AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO HOURS AFTER 60 HOURS.

BUT MANY TIMES TWO WEEKS IN A MONTH MAYBE UNDER 56.

ALWAYS WORKING LIKE 50 HOURS 50 TO 60.

ME AND MY TEAM, I THINK WE ARE HAPPY WORKING 60 OR PLUS BECAUSE THAT WAY WE BRING ENOUGH MONEY TO OUR FAMILIES.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN IT FIRST STARTED IN 2020, WE TRIED TO REDUCE OUR SUM TO MINIMIZE OVERTIME.

WE RAN INTO SOME RESISTANCE AFTER A FEW MONTHS AND WE COMPROMISED.

I THINK THIS WILL RATCHET THE PRESSURE BACK UP AGAIN TO REDUCE HOURS AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT MORE OPENLY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE GOT RESISTANCE FROM THE WORKERS WHO, YOU KNOW, SAW THEIR INCOME GO DOWN BECAUSE OF THOSE REDUCED HOURS.

I TRIED TO PROMOTE THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MORE FAMILY TIME AND LEISURE TIME BUT THEY WERE-- THE NATURE OF A LOT OF THEM IS THEY COME TO WORK AND SEND MONEY BACK HOME SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FOREIGN BORN WORKERS.

THEIR MAIN GOAL IS EARNING MONEY, NOT AS MUCH PERSONAL TIME AS MANY AMERICANS WOULD BE.

>> YOU WILL BE GOOD IF YOU CAN LEAVE THE HOURS THE WAY IT IS OR LOWER THE HOURS AND PAY US MORE.

BUT WE NEED MONEY.

MY PARENTS AND MY SISTERS DEPEND ON ME.

IT WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU LEAVE THE HOURS LIKE THEY ARE OR INCREASE THE WAGES IF YOU ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE HOURS.

>> IN MY CASE, MY WIFE AND I BOTH WORKING KIND OF LIKE THE SAME TIME GO OUT TO WORK AND SAME TIME COME BACK.

AND OUR KIDS, THEY ARE IN THE HOME AND IN THE SCHOOL.

SO I'M HAPPY WITH THE HOURS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND PAY OVERTIME, THAT'S WHY WE WORK UNDER 60 HOURS.

SOMETIMES ONE OR TWO HOURS OVERTIME, BUT NOT REALLY MUCH.

>> THE DOWNSIDE OF LIMITING HOURS ARE, TO ME, WILL EMPLOYEES WANT TO LEAVE AND FIND A JOB ELSEWHERE?

>> ONE OF THE REALITIES OF THE FARM WORKER POPULATION IN NEW YORK STATE IS MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY HAVE U.S.-BORN CHILDREN, AND THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD LEAVE WITHOUT A GOOD REASON, DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THEIR TRUE MOTIVATIONS ARE WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

WHEN WE INTERVIEW H2A WORKERS, THE DISCUSSION WOULD THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT STATE IN LIGHT OF THE FARM LABOR FAIR LABOR PRACTICESS ACT AND NONE OF THEM WOULD CHOOSE, OF THOSE WE INTERVIEWED, NONE WOULD CHOOSE TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE.

IN FACT, THEY APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS THAT INCLUDE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO WORKER'S COMPENSATION, PAID SICK LEAVE, PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND A DAY OF REST, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL FOR THOSE WHO ARE LABORING IN THESE PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS.

>> I HAVE NEVER HAD A RAISE IN PAY.

I FEEL THAT THE MILK INDUSTRY REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK PHYSICAL AND MENTAL.

MANY PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT THE JOB IS EASY.

BUT IT ISN'T.

IF THE HOURS ARE REDUCED TO 40, WE, AS THE BREAD WINNER, TO BE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.

AND AT THE SAME TIME BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND SERVE MY COMMUNITY.

>> NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY FOR ANY OVERTIME PLUS 18% BETWEEN THE THRESHOLD OF 56 UP TO 60 FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

IT DOES HELP OFFSET THE COST.

THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE ARE WILL IT LAST?

ALSO THAT TAX CREDIT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF THE BUSINESS.

IT DOESN'T GO BACK DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESS.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE IF THE TAX CREDIT DOESN'T STAY IN PLACE, THEN THE COST WILL REALLY BE ON US.

HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER STATES WHO HAVE LOWER COSTS OF PRODUCTION, LOWER COSTS OF LABOR.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE NEEDS TO KEEP FOOD PRODUCTION COMPETITIVE AND INEXPENSIVE IN THE UNITED STATES AS IT'S BEEN FOR CENTURIES.

>>AND NOW TO OUR PANEL OF INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS.

WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY JEFF WILLIAMS, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW YORK FARM BUREAU, BRET BOSSARD, PARTNER AT BARBLAND DAIRY - HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK - RICHARD STUP, DIRECTOR OF CORNELL AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND JESSICA MAXWELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WORKERS' CENTER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

SO, BRETT, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN SO FAR WITH THE OVERTIME THRESHOLD THAT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED SO FAR OF 60 HOURS A WEEK AND WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING WITH THE DECREASE IN THE THRESHOLD THAT'S PROJECTED TO START IN 2024 RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER?

>> CERTAINLY DAVID, GLAD TO BE HERE THIS MORNING FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

ON OUR FARMS SPECIFICALLY, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WE ARE ABOUT A HALF HOUR OUT OF SYRACUSE.

FOURTH GENERATION DAIRY FARMER ON BOTH MY MOM AND DAD'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY.

AND WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A TEAM OF OVER 80 EMPLOYEES ON ALL OF OUR FARMS.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT OUR EMPLOYEES.

TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE OVERTIME THRESHOLD WAS IMPLEMENTED, IT CERTAINLY, LOOKING BACK AT OUR PAYROLL, IT INCREASED ABOUT 9.5% FROM 20 TO 21 AND OUR PAYROLL INCREASED ANOTHER 6% FROM 21 TO 22 AND FORECASTED THE INCREASE ANOTHER 7 TO 8% THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S CERTAINLY LABOR IS THE NUMBER TWO EXPENSE ON THE DAIRY FARM JUST BEHIND OUR FEED COSTS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALWAYS TRACKING.

IT'S LIKE ANY BUSINESS, RIGHT?

WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES MORE.

I WOULD LOVE TO DRIVE A NEW TRUCK BUT I DON'T, YOU KNOW.

THERE IS WINS AND LOSSES ON EVERYTHING.

AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY REDUCED HOURS MUCH AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES.

ABOUT 50% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE AMERICAN BORN.

50% ARE FOREIGN BORN.

AS OUR BUSINESS HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS, IT'S PRETTY MUCH STAYED IN CHECK.

FOR US, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE WIDE SCALE OF OUR EMPLOYEE STAFF.

AND WE HAVE-- WE REALLY DON'T LIMIT THE HOURS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY ON THE FOREIGN BORN SIDE, LIKE IN THE VIDEO CLIP MENTIONED, THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THAT 65 HOURS, 65-72 HOURS IS WHERE A LOT OF THEM LIKE TO BE.

WE HAVE SOME THAT LIKE TO BE LESS AND WE ARE GLAD TO PAY THEM LESS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OVERTIME.

>> WHEN YOU SAY TOUGH, BUT TOUGH BUT MANAGEABLE SO FAR?

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> IT HAS BEEN.

LAST YEAR, AS DAIRY FARMERS, MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND PROBABLY, BUT WE DON'T SET THE PRICE.

SO WE HAVE NO CONTROL REALLY OVER OUR INCOME OF OUR BUSINESS.

WHAT WE GET PAID FOR MILK IS SET ON A VERY COMPLICATED FEDERAL FORMULA THAT WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET INTO TODAY.

BUT SO LAST YEAR IN 2022 WAS RECORD HIGH PRICES.

SO OUR INCOME WAS GOOD.

THIS YEAR, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, OUR INCOME HAS DROPPED 25%, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, SO OBVIOUSLY AS THINGS TIGHTEN-- AND THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS.

IT'S VERY CYCLICAL.

WE WILL LOSE MONEY IN A YEAR AND MAKE MONEY IN A YEAR AND BREAK EVEN.

IT'S A THREE YEAR TREND WITHIN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY HISTORICALLY.

WE TRY TO SAVE UP ENOUGH IN THE GOOD YEARS TO COVER THE BAD YEARS.

LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, FARM WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL.

WE HAVE BASICALLY FOR A DAIRY FARM WE HAVE THREE THINGS.

WE HAVE OUR PEOPLE, OUR ANIMALS AND OUR LAND AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THREE OF THEM EQUALLY AND SUPPORT ALL THREE OF THEM FOR OUR BUSINESS TO SAY SUSTAINABLE.

>> THINKING STATEWIDE AND ACROSS INDUSTRIES BEYOND JUST WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK YOU ARE GETTING FROM FARMERS IN NEW YORK?

IS BRETT'S EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVE OF FARMERS MORE BROADLY?

>> IT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF DAIRY FARMERS.

WE HAVE A PRETTY BIG FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY IN THIS STATE AND THOSE ARE VERY LABOR INTENSIVE CROPS TO GROW.

A LOT OF HAND PICKING, HAND WEEDING.

THERE IS A LOT MORE HOURS, AND THOSE PRODUCTS ARE MORE PERISHABLE AS WELL.

SO WHEN YOU NEED TO HARVEST, YOU HAVE TO HARVEST OR ELSE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE THE CROP OR LOSE THE MARKETABILITY.

SO THOSE KINDS OF FARMS NEED WORKERS TO WORK MORE HOURS, ESPECIALLY CERTAIN-- DURING PLANTING AND HARVEST.

SO IT'S-- DAIRY INDUSTRY IS NOT MORE STABLE, YOU KNOW, HOURS WISE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY MORE STABLE THAN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

>> BUT WHAT HAS BEEN THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE OVERTIME THRESHOLD, SAY FOR THE APPLE INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK.

HAVE FARMERS BEEN ABLE TO AGENCY TO ABSORB THIS AND CONTINUE AS P BUSINESS AS USUAL.

>> THEY HAVE HAD TO MAKE EFFICIENCY DECISIONS ON HOURS OR EQUIPMENT, BUT AS WE RAMP DOWN OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, DOWN TO 40 HOURS, THAT'S WHERE THE PAIN IS GOING TO COME FOR BOTH WORKERS AND FOR EMPLOYERS.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTIONS MOVING FORWARD.

BUT JESSICA, FROM THE FARM WORKERS EXPERIENCE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY LIVING THESE NEW OVERTIME RULES?

ARE THEY ENCOURAGED BY THE WAY THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW?

HAS IT MADE ANY CHANGES IN THEIR LIFE IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY, FOR EXAMPLE?

>> SURE.

OBVIOUSLY AS WE SAW WITH THE INTERVIEWS, THE CLIPS IN THE VIDEO, THERE IS A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCES.

WE DO SEE A TREND TOWARDS MORE FAMILIES AND MORE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE AND NOT JUST SINGLE MENACE IS OFTEN THE STEREOTYPE AND I THINK THAT HAS CHANGED SOMEWHAT PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES ON WANT WANTING THAT FAMILY TIME AND EXTRA FREE TIME.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE A BIT OF A COMPROMISE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON FARMS; THAT THERE ARE WORKERS WHERE THE OVERTIME HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL OR WHERE IT HAS BEEN LOWERED A LITTLE BIT AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN SOME ADDITIONAL WORKERS.

MAYBE THERE IS SOME NEW EQUIPMENT, SOME NEW MACHINERY AND THINGS HAVE BEEN MANAGED AND SO WE HAVE HEARD FROM QUITE A FEW WORKERS WHO ARE PRETTY SATISFIED.

THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE-- OUR BOTTOM LINE HAS NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE A FEW EXTRA HOURS OFF AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT.

AND WE DO HEAR A LOT FROM WORKERS WHO ARE CONCERNED.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE FRAME IT, IT OFTEN GETS FRAMED AS PEOPLE JUST WANT TO WORK.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE AREN'T LIKE NATIONALITIES OF PEOPLE WHO ALL THEY WANT TO DO IN THEIR WORK LIFE WHO WANT TO JUST WORK.

EVERYBODY WANTS FREE TIME AND SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

EVERYBODY HAS OTHER DESIRES AND NEEDS AS HUMAN BEINGS.

THAT'S JUST A GIVEN.

WHAT PEOPLE HAVE, WE HAVE IMMIGRANT WORKERS COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE FLEEING SITUATIONS OF EXTREME POVERTY AND HAVE A HUGE ECONOMIC PRESSURE FOR LOVED ONES AND FAMILY AT HOME.

THEY NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INCOME BUT WHAT THEY WANT IS TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOVED ONES AND EARN AN INCOME THAT PROVIDES FOR THAT.

TO FRAME THAT AS THAT'S WAS WORKERS WANT IS TO WORK IS A LITTLE BIT OF A FALSE FRAMING OF THE ISSUE.

SHE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HADN'T BEEN AT LEAST INUNDATED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT ACTUALLY GETTING OVER TIME THAT THEY WERE DO.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IN SOME CASES CAN EXIST ACHED FUNCTION OFF THE RADAR TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

ARE PEOPLE NOT GETTING MA THEY'RE OWED?

>> WELL, I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HESITATION TO REPORT TO REGULATORY AGENCIES WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES IF THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION.

IN THE WORK WE DO, WE COVER A DOZEN DIFFERENT COUNTIES AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK SO WE TRAVEL AROUND AND SEE A LOT OF FARMS AND AS A TRUSTED ALLY, WE HEAR A LOT OF STORIES.

MY PERSPECTIVE IS SLANTED TO THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET A CALL-- I DON'T GET A CALL FROM THE WORKER WHERE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL.

I'M GETTING A CALL FROM THE WORKERS WHO GNT GET THEIR LAST PAYCHECK OR GETTING LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE OR FOUND OUT THAT WORKERS AT ANOTHER FARM ARE GETTING OVERTIME, RIGHT?

SO THOSE ARE THE STORIES THAT I TEND TO SEE.

AND, YEAH, IT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

THE FARMS ALL AROUND THE COUNTY WHERE WE KNOW WORKERS WHERE THAT HAS HAPPENED BUT THERE IS A GREAT REPORT THAT JUST CAME OUT THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LABOR CENTER AT UMASS/AMHERST AND AUTHORED BY MARGARET GRAY HERE IN NEW YORK, THAT INTERVIEWED OVER 500 WORKERS AT 100 DIFFERENT FARMS AND WHAT THE STATISTICS SHOW, SO THAT WE ARE NOT RELYING ON ANECDOTAL DATA, IS THAT ABOUT HALF OF WORKERS DO CONTINUE TO WORK OVER THAT 60 HOUR THRESHOLD AND 75% OF THEM REPORT THAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID THE OVERTIME.

SO WE STILL HAVE A WAGE THEFT ISSUE, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEM NOT GETTING THE OVERTIME PAY.

THIS IS A PRETTY NEW LAW.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S SURPRISING THAT IT'S NOT BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

THIS WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 20 TWEND AND WE HAD A MASSIVE LIFE CHANGING PANDEMIC THAT HIT IN MARCH, RIGHT IN NEW YORK, REALLY HEAVILY.

SO THE FACT THAT IT'S A LITTLE SLOW ON IMPLEMENTATION AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WORKERS WHO WERE ALREADY VULNERABLE TO WAGE THEFT, I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN A PRETTY GOOD DIRECTION WITH THAT IMPLEMENTATION.

>> THE BIG FOCUS OF THE WORK YOU DO IS MAKING SURE THE STATE HAS AN ADEQUATE LABOR SUPPLY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AND RAMIFICATIONS, DOES IT SEEM LIKE IT'S IMPACTED ACCESS TO LABOR IN NEW YORK?

ARE FARMERS STRUGGLING TO FIND AND FILL JOBS BECAUSE OF THIS OVERTIME THRESHOLD OR HAS IT NOT HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING MAYBE THE LABOR ACCESS ISSUES?

>> SO I THINK I'LL GO BACK TO ONE THING JEFF SAID.

THAT 60 HOURS WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IT HASN'T YET HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LABOR SUPPLY OR THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES.

BUT IT COULD, AS WE DECLINE BELOW THE 60 HOURS, THAT'S WHEN IT WILL BECOME MORE CHALLENGING.

AT THIS STAGE, THE 60 HOURS WAS NOT-- THAT WASN'T JUST PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR.

IT REALLY WAS A COMPROMISE THAT WAS MADE AND THE REASON THAT THAT 60 HOURS WAS CHOSEN IS THAT HISTORICALLY AND I'M GOING BECOME 50 YEARS PRIOR EVEN TO WHEN THERE WAS THE WORKFORCE, 55 TO 60 HOURS WAS VERY, VERY COMMON IN TERMS OF HOURS, AVERAGE HOURS WORKED ON FARMS, VERY, VERY COMMON.

ACTUALLY THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN STABLE ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH TODAY.

A LOT OF RESEARCH AROUND THAT AS TO HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND IT'S VERY COMMON TO BE IN THE 55-60 HOUR RANGE.

THAT ITSELF WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN VERY MUCH DISLOCATION IN THE WORKFORCE YET.

IT'S WHEN IT DROPS BELOW THAT WHEN IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

CAN I JUST BUILD ON SOMETHING THAT JESSICA JUST SAID SO THERE ARE LOTS OF LOCAL NEW YORKERS THAT WORK IN AGRICULTURE.

AND THERE ARE ALSO TEMPORARY GUEST WORKERS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE INDUSTRY WITHOUT A LOT OF OUR FOREIGN BORN WORKERS HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

IN FACT, SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 30 AND EVEN 40 YEARS NOW, BUT ON AVERAGE, IT'S ABOUT 15 YEARS.

SO THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S VERY RECENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME ACROSS THE BORDER.

NO, A LOT OF TIMES THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE A VERY LONG TIME AND THEY HAVE VERY MUCH INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITIES WHICH IS A GREAT THING BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITIES, STABLE JOBS IN MANY CASES ON FARMS.

AND REALLY INTEGRATED AND IT IS IMPORTANT AND GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

>> IS WE MOVE BELOW THE 60-HOUR THRESHOLD, THE STATE HAS CREATED A TAX CREDIT TO COVER THE COST AND SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERTIME THAT YOU NEED TO PAY UP TO 60 HOURS A WEEK, SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU DON'T EXPECT ANY ISSUES WITH PAYING BELOW THAT THRESHOLD AND IF SO, WHY WOULD THAT BE A PROBLEM?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY LIKE ANYTHING THAT MAY COME OUT OF ALBANY, IT COULD CHANGE TOMORROW.

SO TO HANG OUR HAT... >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT COULD CHANGE TOMORROW?

THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN INDICATION THAT LAWMAKERS WANT TO GET RID OF THE TAX CREDIT.

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE TAX CREDIT SO TO SAY THAT IT IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND STAY HERE INDEFINITELY... >> IT'S WRITTEN WITHOUT A SUNSET CLAUSE.

>> BUT LIKE ANYTHING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IMPLEMENTATION, THE MAGNITUDE OF THAT, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED?

CERTAINLY IT HELPS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL TAKE IT.

AS A DAIRY FARMER, WE ARE NOT-- WE WOULD MUCH RATHER BE SELF SUFFICIENT ON OUR OWN AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR WORKERS INTERNALLY AAND NOT HAVE TO RELY ON SOMETHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THERE IN THE FUTURE.

WILL CERTAINLY HELP TO LESSEN THAT BLOW AS A THRESHOLD IS LOWERED.

SO IT'S STILL UNKNOWN REALLY HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT.

I HONESTLY DON'T-- HAVEN'T DOVE INTO THE WEEDS OF HOW IT'S WRITTEN AND WHAT THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT, YOU KNOW, US ON DAY ONE WHEN IT COMES TO FRUITION.

BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES AND CERTAINLY WELCOME IT TO HELP THAT.

IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, A COMPROMISE THAT WAS PUT IN.

IT CERTAINLY WELCOMED ON OUR SIDE AS THE BUSINESS OWNER SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO INCREASE, OBVIOUSLY GOING TO INCREASE THE COST OF LABOR ON A DAIRY FARM.

>> WHY?

>> AS THE THRESHOLD IS LOWERED.

>> WHY WILL IT INCREASE THE COST IF THE TAX CREDIT?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS GOING TO BE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR AND TO GO TO THE SPECIFICS, I THINK THERE IS A CAP ONCE YOU GET OVER 60 HOURS THAT THOSE CREDITS ARE NOT APPLIED SO IT'S JUST THAT RANGE.

SO WE STILL HAVE EMPLOYEES THERE WILL BE TIMES IN THE SPRING-- AND WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING FOREIGN BORN WORKERS.

ALSO AMERICAN BORN WORKERS WHEN WE ARE PLANTING, HARVESTING, THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE FOR THAT TIME OF YEAR, THEY LIVE TO BE SITTING IN THE CORN PLANTER.

THEY LIKE PUTTING IN 80 OR 90 HOURS A WEEK.

THEY DON'T DO IT YEAR ROUND BUT A WEEK OR TWO A YEAR.

WE DON'T FORCE THEM TO BUT WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IF SOMEBODY COMES TO ME AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ENJOY DOING AND HOW THEY PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY, THEY MAY ONLY WORK 30 OR 40 HOURS FOR A COUPLE WEEKS IN JANUARY WHEN WE ARE NOT HARVESTING, SO TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DO THAT WHEN THEY WANT TO, THEY LOVE SITTING IN THE TRACTOR.

TRACTORS ARE AIR CONDITIONED THESE DAYS, GPS AND MORE COMPUTER SCREENS IN THERE THAN I HAVE IN MY HOUSE.

SO IT'S DIFFERENT.

YOU HEAR THAT WORD AND YOU THINK 90 HOURS, OH MY GOD, HOW COULD SOMEBODY POSSIBLY WORK 90 HOURS.

IT IS DOABLE.

WE DO IT.

WE DON'T DO IT-- WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE IT, YOU KNOW.

AGRICULTURE IS A PASSION.

WE DON'T DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE THE SMARTEST.

WE DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY ONES FOOLISH ENOUGH TO DO IT PROBABLY.

>> JEFF, WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TAX CREDIT.

>> YOU CAN SORT OF SENSE THE DISTRUST THAT PEOPLE FURTHER AWAY FROM ALBANY HAVE FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN ALBANY.

AND SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ANTICIPATION THAT THE TAX CREDIT IS GOING TO GO AWAY BUT WE ARE ENTERING A PRETTY DARK FISCAL FUTURE HERE FOR THE STATE BUDGET OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SAVINGS SOMEWHERE.

FAMPLEERS-- FARMERS HAVE PRETTY MUCH FELT UNDER THE GUN FOR A WHILE.

THEY'RE GOING SAY HERE WE GO AGAIN ITS UNDERSTANDABLE BUT I DON'T EXPECT IT TO DISAPPEAR.

IT'S NOT A PANACEA THOUGH, EITHER, THIS PROGRAM.

WE ASK FOR QUARTERLY PAYMENTS OR A QUARTERLY REFUNDS WHICH TAX AND FINANCE CAN'T DO BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM IS 60 YEARS OLD SO THEY CAN'T REPROGRAM IT.

AND SO A FARMER LIKE BRETT WILL HAVE TO CASH FLOW OR TAKE A LOAN OUT FOR SIX MONTHS IF NOT MORE, TO CASH FLOW THAT OVERTIME EXPENSE WAITING TO GET REIMBURSED BY THE STATE.

>> IS THERE A MECHANISM FOR GETTING A PERSPECTIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE?

WE TALKED WITH THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION AND THEY MADE THE CASE THAT YOU CAN DO THAT AND JESSICA IS NODDING AT ME SO I GUESS THAT IS POSSIBLE.

CAN YOU PROJECT THEORETICALLY WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO SPEND GOING FORWARD?

>> IT'S NOT A PROJECTION.

IT'S THAT IN JULY, YOU CAN FILE EARLY TO GET SOME OF THE REIMBURSED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT AN ENTIRE YEAR TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT ON THE TAXES.

>> PUT OUT SOME OF THE MONEY AT LEAST... >> YOU YOU HAVE THE TO PUT OUT THE MONEY FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AND POTENTIALLY GET THE REIMBURSEMENT AND THE REST OF THE YEAR YOU GET YOUR REIMBURSEMENT AT THE REGULAR TAX TIME.

THAT'S WHAT I'M PRESUMING.

THE DETAILS OF THIS NO ONE KNOWS AT THIS POINT.

ALBANY HABIT PUT OUT THE DETAILS YET SO WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETING GOING TO BE HANDLING THE FIRST MID YEAR REFUND.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING APPLICATIONS IN, CERTIFYING THEM IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CERTIFY AND SEND THEM TO TAX AND FINANCE FOR A REFUND.

YOU KNOW, FARMERS WANT THIS TO HAPPEN FAST.

NEW YORK OR ANY STATE ENTITY ISN'T KNOWN FOR DOING THINGS QUICKLY SO WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR-- FIGURE OUT HOW THAT TIME TIMEFRAME IS GOING TO WORK.

>> DOES AG AND MARKETS HAVE EXPERIENCE ADMINISTERING TAX CREDITS.

>> THEY'RE THE MOST NIMBLE AGENCY I HAVE EVER SEEN.

NO, BUT THEY WILL.

>> SIMILAR TO RICH BALL IS CLAPPING AND APPLAUDING YOU FOR THAT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TAX CREDIT, JESSICA, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON IT?

>> I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S FINE-- I THINK IN THE SHORT-TERM, CHANGE IS NEVER EASY.

EVEN WHEN CHANGE IS RIGHT, NOBODY SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE EASY.

WE ARE NOT HERE TO SAY THIS IS EASY YOU SHOULD ALL DO IT.

THIS IS NOT EASY BUT WE SHOULD DO IT NONETHELESS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO FARM.

I GREW UP ON A FAMILY FARM.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING FOR GENERATIONS.

I GREW UP ON A DAIRY FARM, NOW A BEEF FARM.

I STILL GO HOMOINDICATIONALLY IF THE SUMMERS TO HELP ON THE FARM BECAUSE LABOR IS TIGHT, LABOR IS HARD AND I DO LOVE IT AND WHEN YOU SAY PEOPLE LOVE IT, IT CAN BE TRUE BUT IT'S VERY DIFFERENT WHEN IT IS YOUR FARM AND YOUR LAND AND A CONNECTION THERE SOME OF THE WORK IS HIGHLY REPETITIVE AND IN THE BARNS AND NOT ON THE TRACTORS THAT ARE AIR CONDITIONED MUCH THIS IS NOT EASY WORK.

THIS IS PHYSICALLY STRESSFUL WORK AND ONE OF THE REASONS, LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A LABOR CRISIS.

THERE IS NOT A RUSH OF PEOPLE CLAMORING AND BANGING DOWN THE DOORS OF FARMS TO DO THIS WORK, RIGHT?

AND THAT IS-- WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC, I THINK, AND HONEST ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF THE INDUSTRY AND THE TRENDS OF THE INDUSTRY, RIGHT?

WE HAVE AN AGING FARMING POPULATION.

WE DO HAVE LESS PEOPLE WANTING TO FARM.

WE ARE USING RELYING ON MORE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT LABOR.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WE DON'T SEE MORE ADVOCACY FOR AMNESTY FOR THOSE WORKERS, RIGHT, IF WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT FARM WORKERS WANT, IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS WANT.

WHAT IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS WANT IS AMNESTY AND PATHWAY TO LEGAL STATUS.

THAT'S HANDS DOWN WHAT FARM WORKERS WANT AND ANYBODY NOT CALLING FOR THAT IS NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS WANT.

IF WE ARE NOT CALLING FOR THAT NATIONALLY THEN WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A FEAR IF THOSE IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS HAD LEGAL STATUS AND COULD PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, MANY OF THEM WOULD LEAVE AGRICULTURE.

AND SO WE SEE LIKE WITH THE FARM WORK MODERNIZATION ACT PROPOSAL THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT OF CONTINUING TO WORK AT LEAST FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS IN AGRICULTURE.

AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THERE IS A FEAR THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THIS WORK.

AND SO, TO ME, I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS WE MAKE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PRODUCTION CHAIN AND WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THESE JOBS COMPARABLE TO OTHER JOBS.

AND I AGREE.

IT'S A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY.

WITH A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES.

BUT WE CAN'T PRETEND THEY DON'T EXIST.

WE HAVE TO TACKLE THEM HEAD ON AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THEM AND FIND SOLUTIONS AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME REALLY INTERESTING WORKER-LED SOLUTIONS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER STATES.

I THINK THE COALITION IN FLORIDA, TACKLED TOMATO PRICES.

THEY DIDN'T GO TO THE FARMERS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE FARMERS DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY.

THEY WENT TO TACO BELL, THEY WENT TO BURGER KING, THEY WENT TO THE PURCHASERS, THE LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO WERE PURCHASING THE PRODUCT AND THEY SAID YOU PAY MORE AND WRITE INTO THE AGREEMENT THAT THEN THE FARMER PAYS US MORE.

WE SEE THE SAME THING WITH MIGRANT JUSTICE IN VERMONT WITH DAIRY NARMS, RIGHT, WITH THE MILK WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM SAYING WE WANT CONTRACTS AND WE ARE GOING TO ASK WORKERS WHAT THEY NEED FROM THESE CONTRACTS AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE CORPORATIONS AND SAY YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE FARMER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, RIGHT?

WE HAVE TO HAVE A MORE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON THIS TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> TOTALLY AGREE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES I THINK WE HAVE WITH NEW YORK STEPPING OUT ON ITS OWN BECAUSE IF WE TRY TO DO THAT IN NEW YORK STATE AND GO TO WAL-MART AND SAY YOU NEED TO PAY MORE FOR LETTUCE OR TOMATOES, THEY'RE GOING SAY WELL, WE'LL BUY IT FROM MEXICO WHERE IT IS ALREADY CHEAPER SO WE HAVE-- OR OTHER STATES.

SO WE HAVE LOST THE LEVERAGE SINCE WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS ON A NATIONAL BASIS.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU WITH THE FARM WORKFORCE MODERNIZATION ACT.

WE HAVE LONG CALLED FOR A REFORM TO THE H2A AND LET WORKERS HAVE A PATHWAY TO LEGAL STATUS AND KEEP THEM HERE AND INCENTIVIZED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 20 YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY A HUGE, HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN OVER THE FINISH LINE SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.

THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT FARMERS, WHEN SOMEONE CALMS TO WORK, COMES TO APPLY ON THEIR FARM, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD THAT LOOKS COMPLETELY, OR DOESN'T LOOK-- BUT LOOKS NORMAL, THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.

YOU CAN'T QUESTION THEIR DOCUMENTATION.

SO THE FARMERS MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THOSE WORKERS ARE UNDOCUMENTED BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO ASK.

>> SO, RICHARD, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE PIPELINE OF FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS SPECIFICALLY, WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT HAPPENING IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE WHO WANT TO DO THIS WORK, WHETHER IT'S THE ACTUAL MANUAL LABOR OR WANT TO OR SHOULD BE IN THE FARMING BUSINESS ACTUALLY OPERATE FARMS.

>> YEAH, SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AGRICULTURE.

IT'S NOT ALL GRUNT WORK.

IT'S NOT ALL HARD PHYSICAL WORK.

MUCH OF IT IS AND IT REMAINS THAT WAY.

WE WILL SEE THAT DECLINE IN THE COMING YEARS.

TECHNOLOGY AUTOMATION WILL BE A BIG PART OF THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

ESPECIALLY AS THE COST OF LABOR INCREASES AND BECOMES MORE SCARCE, TECHNOLOGY AUTOMATION WILL COME.

IT ACTUALLY WORKS.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THERE ARE ROBOTIC MILKERS.

THEY DO WORK.

THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE AS WE WORK THROUGH THE ECONOMIC PIECES OF THAT, WHEN DOES THE COST OF LABOR BECOME HIGH ENOUGH THAT IT MAKES THE AUTOMATION BECOME MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE TO BRING THAT IN.

AND WE ARE SEEING ADVANCES IN AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMIN ALONG VERY QUICKLY.

ONE TREND, ONE REAL POSITIVE TREND FROM THAT IS THAT IT WILL MAKE THE JOBS THAT REMAIN-- IT WILL DISPLACE SOME WORKERS FROM AGRICULTURE, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE WILL SEE THOSE JOBS THAT REMAIN BE A LITTLE LESS PHYSICAL, A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE-BASED, REQUIRE A LITTLE HIGHER SKILL LEVEL THAN WAS WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD.

AND THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE, TO PAY PEOPLE MORE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

I DO WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS AROUND WAGES.

YOU KNOW, THE DATA IS THAT, SO IN THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY, THE WAGE IS OFTEN SET OR MAINLY SET BY THE H2A PROGRAM, THE FOREIGN GUEST PROGRAM.

MINIMUM WAGE FOR THAT IS 16.95.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, ABOVE WHAT MINIMUM WAGE IS IN NEW YORK OTHERWISE.

THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THAT PROGRAM.

I JUST LOOKED UP THE NUMBERS THIS MORNING AND SO OTHER FARM WORKERS IN THE NORTHEAST ARE AROUND 16.94, ALMOST $17 AN HOUR ON AVERAGE.

THAT'S JUST STRAIGHT WAGES, DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OTHER BENEFITS.

SO IT'S REALLY NOT AS LOW PAID-- WHEN YOU ASK THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY THINK OH THEY PAY FARM EMPLOYEES $10 AN HOUR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S ILLEGAL.

IT SHOULD BE REPORTED.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S $17 AN HOUR IS WHAT A LOT OF WORKERS ARE GETTING TODAY.

AND SO WITH THAT NUMBER OF HOURS THAT THEY'RE WORKING, IF THEY'RE WORKING 60 HOURS A WEEK RIGHT NOW, THAT COMES UP TO THE FRONT LINE FARM WORKERS MAKING ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR.

FRONT LINE SUPERVISORS ARE MAKING ALMOST $70,000 A YEAR.

THESE JOBS PAY PRETTY WELL AND I THINK WE CAN BEGIN TO ATTRACT SOME PEOPLE OUT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES INTO AGRICULTURE IF THEY ONLY KNEW HOW GOOD SOME OF THESE JOBS WERE BOTH IN THE COMPENSATION STANDPOINT AND ALSO THAT, YOU ARE NOT STUCK IN A CUBICLE.

YOU ARE NOT STUCK IN A CASH REGISTER DOING THE MOST BORING JOB EVER.

YOU GET TO HAVE SOME DIVERSITY, YOU GET TO DO SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.

GET TO OPERATE THAT BIG PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE THEY'D TO DO TO ATTRACT PEOPLE INTO WHAT THE REALITY OF MODERN AGRICULTURE IS.

>> GIVEN THE ENTICEMENTS THAT RICHARD JUST OUTLINED, IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE UPSTATE FARMERS WE TALKED TO IN RECENT YEARS IN LIGHT OF THE ACTUAL STRUGGLES TO ACCESS THE WORKFORCE THEY DO NORMALLY FROM OUTSIDE OF AMERICA OR GETTING THE TEMPORARY WORKERS TO GET BACK INTO AMERICA, I'M STRUCK BY THE THE PERCENT OF YOUR WORKFORCE YOU MENTIONED ARE AMERICAN BORN.

HOW DID YOU REACH THAT BALANCE OF I THINK ABOUT 50% AND IS THAT REPLICABLE IN OTHER FARMS?

SHOULD OTHER UPSTATE FARMS BE ABLE TO ATTRACT LOCAL KIDS TO WORK ON THEIR FARMS?

>> CERTAINLY EVERY FARM IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, OUR FARM SPECIFICALLY IS PRETTY DIVERSE SO WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT OTHER FARMS MIGHT OUTSOURCE.

SO WE DO ARE SOME HAULING, SO WOO WE HAVE OVER THE ROAD TRUCKERS WITH CDL LICENSES SO THAT MORE LOCALIZED HELP.

THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE BUT FOLLOWS THE NUMBERS RICHARD WAS MENTIONING.

I FIGURED IT UP LAST NIGHT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PART TIME HELP THAT I DIDN'T ALLUDE TO EARLIER, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GREW UP IN AGRICULTURE, THEY HAVE TIES TO FARMING WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER AND THEY GET OUT OF WORK, THEY MIGHT WORK FOR THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY AND HAVE FRIDAYS OFF DURING THE SUMMERTIME AND THEY LIKE THE FEEL OF THE FARM, LIKE COMING TO WORK FOR US AND WORKING.

SO WE RELY ON A LOT OF PART-TIME HELP AS WELL.

IF YOU BUNDLE ALL THOSE HOURS, FULL TIME AND PART TIME TOGETHER, OUR AVERAGE SALARY BASED ON A 58 HOUR WORK WEEK WAS JUST OVER $60,000 ONCE WE ADD IN THE HOUSING.

WE PROVIDE HOUSING.

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I FIGURED IT UP LAST NIGHT I SHOCKED MYSELF.

I THINK WE HOUSE, I THINK IT WAS 62 PEOPLE WE ARE HOUSING CURRENTLY.

SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT ALL WORKING-- IT'S BETWEEN CHILDREN AND SPOUSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT SO 47 EMPLOYEES WE PROVIDE HOUSING FOR OUT OF 80.

SO SOME DAYS I DO FEEL MORE LIKE A LANDLORD UNFORTUNATELY, WHICH I WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY GIVE UP.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PROVIDE.

IT IS ENTICING TO PEOPLE.

WHETHER FOREIGN BORN OR AMERICAN BORN, HOUSING IS A HUGE STRETCH NOWADAYS IN RURAL UPSTATE NEW YORK.

IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.

YOU CAN'T FIND A SINGLE BEDROOM OR TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR $1200 IN OUR AREA NOW.

SO YOU ARE GETTING UP TO A 4.50 AN HOUR VALUE FOR THE HOUSING.

LIKE RICHARD WAS SAYING, THEY'RE NOT LOW PAID WORKERS, YOU KNOW, AND WE TRY NOT TO.

LIKE I SAID, WE PRIDE THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE PART OF OUR FAMILY AND WE ARE PART OF THEIRS.

WE ATTEND BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WEDDINGS.

IT IS A FAMILY DYNAMIC.

OUR FARM IS LARGE, MOST PEOPLE THINKING, YOU KNOW, THEY HEAR WE HAVE 4500 CATTLE, RIGHT, WE FARM 10,000 ACRES.

THIS IS HUGE CONGLOMERATE INDUSTRIAL FARM BUT IT'S FOUR FAMILY OWNERS WITH THIS TEAM OF 80 EMPLOYEES THAT ALLOW US TO DO THIS.

SO WE ARE SUPPORTING 80 FAMILIES AND SOMETHING WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN AND IT'S SOMETHING, LIKE JESSICA MENTIONED, WE WANT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE IN THIS INDUSTRY TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I HOPE THAT MY DAUGHTERS CAN BE THE FIFTH GENERATION IN OUR FAMILY TO BE DAIRY FARMERS.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO POSITION OUR FARM TO BE THAT WAY AND THAT'S WHY FARMS ARE GROWING.

WE NEED TO OBVIOUSLY-- LABOR COST IS UNCREASING.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DILUTE THAT SO THAT'S WHY FARMS GET LARGER, CONSOLIDATE.

IT'S EFFICIENCIES IN SIZE AND SCALE AND GENERAL ECONOMICS.

NOT MUCH DIFFERENT OF WHY THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY MOM AND POP HARDWARE STORES.

EVERYBODY GOES TO A LOWE'S FOR HOME DEPOT.

IT'S NOT WRONG.

IT'S JUST THE WAY EVOLUTION HAS TAKEN A BUSINESS.

>> JESSICA, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN FARMING, SHOULD THERE BE A PIPELINE FOR FARM WORKERS TO GROW IN THE INDUSTRY?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT EXISTS CURRENTLY?

IS THERE A PATHWAY TO NOT JUST BEING A SEASONAL WORKER BUT A FARM OPERATOR.

>> I MEAN THERE ARE PROGRAMS, THEY'RE SMALL BUT I THINK THERE IS INTEREST.

I THINK THERE IS WIDE RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN SUCCESSION PLANNING AND AGRICULTURE.

NOBODY HAS GOT ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT THAT AND I THINK THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS WHO DO COME FROM RURAL BACKGROUNDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF THE LAND, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FARMING.

IT'S FAMILIAR TO THEM.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRIERS, CULTURAL, IT'S A NEW CLIMATE.

IT'S A NEW GEOGRAPHY.

ACCESSING FINANCE FINANCE AND CAPITAL.

IN REALITY THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE WHO GO INTO FARMING THAT ARE NOT BORN INTO IT OR REALLY PASSIONATE AND HAVE SOME KIND OF INHERITANCE TO SPEND BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY AND IT IS NO THE CHEAP TO GET INTO FARMING.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO BREAK INTO.

BUT THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS FEDERALLY FUNDED, GROUND SWELL INSTITUTE NEAR ITHACA THAT IS-- NOT EXCLUSIVELY BUT DOES HAVE A FOCUS ON IMMIGRANTS AND WOMEN FARMERS SO THERE ARE SMALL PROGRAMS THAT ARE LOOKING THAT DIRECTION.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE FARMING IS NOT THE ONLY INDUSTRY THAT'S PAYING ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE IN MANY CASES, RIGHT?

THE REALITY IS OUR MINIMUM WAGE HAS FALLEN BEHIND, RIGHT?

AND THE PACKAGE THAT THE STATE PASSED THIS YEAR IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE.

WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE EXTREME COST OF LIVING INFLATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE SEEN THE WORST INFLATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN 40 YEARS AND THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES ARE NOT KEEPING PACE SO WE DO SEE INDUSTRIES-- AMAZON IS PAYING $17.50 AN HOUR TO WORK AT AN ENTRY LEVEL JOB.

A LOT OF GRUBT LEVEL ENTRY LEVEL JOBS ARE NOW PAYING $17 OR $18 AN HOUR STARTING PAY JUST TO ATTRACT WORKERS.

SO THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO AGRICULTURE.

SO I'M NOT SURE IT MAKES AGRICULTURE STAND OUT.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY, RIGHT?

AGRICULTURE CONTINUES TO BE-- AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS ENOUGH.

WE HEAR THE ACCIDENTS ONCE IN A WHILE THAT COME UP IN THE PAPERS BUT IT'S DANGEROUS, RIGHT?

CONTINUOUSLY ONE OF THE TOP FIVE MOST DANGEROUS INDUSTRIES NATIONWIDE FOR WORKER FATALITIES, RIGHT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK AT MITIGATING BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES THAT DO MAKE IT HARD CHOICE FOR PEOPLE AND SHOULD WE FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE GROW WITH CAREER PATHS WITHIN IT?

YEAH, OF COURSE.

ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT WE SHOULD DO THAT IN ALL OUR INDUSTRIES.

WE SHOULD MAKE SURE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO GROW INTO, YOU KNOW, MORE CHALLENGING ROLES AND BETTER PAID ROLES.

>> CAN I ADD TO THAT?

IN TERMS OF PIPELINES COMING INTO AND GROWING IN AGRICULTURE, THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON.

I WILL SAY THAT THE STATE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN MAKING INVESTMENTS IN SEVERAL THINGS.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS POPPING UP AT SUNY COLLEGES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AROUND THE STATE.

THERE IS IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY THERE IS A DAIRY APPRENTICESHIP THAT IS AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED PRETTY HEAVILY TRYING TO PROMOTE THAT AND GET THAT STARTED SO THAT PEOPLE, WHILE THEY'RE WORKING, CAN EARN CREDENTIALS AND CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.

SPECIFIC TO ACTUALLY PEOPLE GETTING STARTED, THE SMALL FARMS PROGRAM AT CORNELL HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.

HELPING PEOPLE TO GET STARTED.

SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE AND GROW FROM THERE AND IN PARTICULAR, LAST FEW YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE HISPANIC WORKFORCE, SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE TO HELP THEM START INTO FARMING.

IN FACT, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LATINO CONFERENCE THIS YEAR SPECIFIC TO THAT SORT OF THING.

WE, AT CORNELL AND MY AG WORKFORCE PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE PRO-DAIRY AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WE HAVE BEEN OFFERING SPANISH LANGUAGE TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE, HELPING PEOPLE TO ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS.

AND IN FACT, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, PART OF WHAT OUR PROGRAM DOES, WHAT WE CALL SUPERVISORY LEADERSHIP, SO HELPING PEOPLE LEARN TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AS SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS, WE JUST HAD A KICKOFF OF OUR FIRST FULLY IN SPANISH SUPERVISORY LEADERSHIP COURSE.

IT WAS HELD OUT IN CANANDAIGUA.

WE HAD 19 PEOPLE.

SO MIDDLE MANAGERS FROM DAIRY FARMS, APPLE FARMS AND GRAPE ORCHARDS WHO ATTENDED AND ARE LEARNING FULLY IN SPANISH TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE AND GROW AS MANAGERS IN BUSINESSES.

SO OUR FARM WORKFORCE ARE NOT JUST FRONT LINE WORKERS BUT MANAGERS AND OPERATIONS.

IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.

>> LASTLY ON THE PIPELINE ISSUE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT STATE PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE OR SHOULD BE IN EXISTENCE, I THINK ABOUT ACCESS TO CAPITAL, WHETHER IT'S TO PURCHASE LAND OR TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY START A FARM AND HAVING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO DO THE ACTUAL FARMING.

WHAT IS THE STATE DOING THAT COULD BE HELPFUL AND WHAT SHOULD THEY BE DOING THAT COULD BE MORE HELP HELPFUL?

>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES IN THE EMPLOYEE PIPELINE.

IT'S NOT JUST UPSTATE NEW YORK WORKERS ANYMORE OR KIDS IN FARM FAMILIES.

THERE IS A HIGH SCHOOL IN QUEENS THAT HAS THE LARGEST FFA PROGRAM, FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM IN THE STATE.

THEY HAVE 600 KIDS IN A PROGRAM FOR LEARNING ABOUT FARMING AND LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN QUEENS HAS AN ANIMAL SCIENCE PROGRAM AND SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PROGRAM SO THEY HAVE A PIPELINE FROM THAT HIGH SCHOOL TO THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND NOW WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THOSE PIPELINES TO FOUR-YEAR AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SO WE CAN GET THE KIDS THAT COME FROM NEW YORK CITY WHO ARE INTENSELY INTERESTED IN AGRICULTURE, TO GET TRAINED AND LEARN ABOUT HOW TO START A FARM.

AND I THINK, FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS REALLY NOT A LOT OF HELP WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTMENT OR GETTING PEOPLE TO START THEIR OWN FARMS.

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT IS INSANELY EXPENSIVE TO START A FARM.

THE OLD JOKE IS HOW DO YOU LOSE A LARGE FORTUNE-- HOW DO YOU LOSE A SMALL FORTUNE?

START OUT WITH A LARGE FORTUNE AND BUY A FARM.

SO IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, YOU KNOW, HAS TALKED ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE THAT BUT AS FAR AS CASH IN THE BIRL HEAD, IT'S NOT REALLY HAPPENING.

>> STICKING WITH REGULATIONS OUT OF ALBANY BUT NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON FARMING.

WE'VE GOT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATE'S CLIMATE LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT, OUR EFFORT TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE ECONOMY WIDE IMPACTS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL OF THE REGULATIONS TAKE SHAPE RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT ARE YOU BRACING FOR ON THE GREEN FARMING FRONT?

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT OR DO YOU SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I GUESS THE BENEFITS OF COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE COULD THEORETICALLY HELP AGRICULTURE.

>> CERTAINLY.

AND IT'S A TIGHT ROPE WE ARE WALKING OF WHEN IT COMES TO THAT BUT IN MY EYES, I THINK AGRICULTURE IS THE DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY.

WE HAVE BEEN FARMING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, RIGHT?

SO FARMERS HAVE LEARNED TO ADAPT.

EVERY GENERATION LEARNS TO ADAPT.

I FARM MUCH DIFFERENT THAN MY GRANDFATHER OR MY GREAT GRANDFATHER DID.

MY KIDS WILL FARM DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO.

SO FOR A FARM OR ANY BUSINESS TO BE SUSTAINABLE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT.

THERE IS SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, THE SOCIAL LICENSE THAT WE HAVE AROUND THIS, AND CLIMATE IS A PART OF THIS.

AND YOU NEED TO-- EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE LIFTED AT ONCE.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE SPO TOTER GOING BACK TO THE PEOPLE, LAND AND ANIMALS ARE WAS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AND THE SUSTAINABILITY FRONT, THE MILL CO-OP THAT OUR FARM BELONGS IS TO THE LEADING FRONT OF THIS, A SMALL NIMBLE COUP THAT TALKS WITH THE LEADING DARE I COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD, TACKLING SOME OF THE ISSUES.

WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEVELOPING WITH CORNELL RIGHT NOW THE TOOLS THAT ACTUALLY ARE BEING ABLE TO QUANTIFY THOSE CARBON USES ON FARMS, SEEING THE REDUCTIONS SO TODAY THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE CARBON WORLD IS MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMING TO AGRICULTURE NOW BECAUSE AGRICULTURE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE CAN CHANGE OUR PRACTICES REDUCE OUR CARBON IMPACT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BUY THOSE CREDITS FROM AGRICULTURE TO MAKE MAYBE THEIR COMPANY LOOK BETTER SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO MAYBE MINIMIZE IT AS GREATLY AS WHAT WE DO.

WE CAN GO WITH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GENETICS OF SEEDS, TILLAGE PRACTICES, THINGS LIKE THAT WE CAN DO ON THE FARM TO REALLY REDUCE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THESE THINGS-- COVER CROPPING TODAY.

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM CORNELL A FEW YEARS AGO NOW, COVER CROPPING WASN'T EVEN A THING.

WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NORTHEAST.

NOW ALMOST ALL OF OUR CORN ACREAGE ARE COVER CROPPED.

THERE IS ALWAYS A PROGRESSION TO DO BETTER.

SECOND NATURE FOR FARMS, HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY FARM AND LEAVE MY LAND BETTER TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

ALL OF THESE THINGS, IT'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP THAT IS GOING TO HELP LIFT THE INDUSTRY.

AND IT IS MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES ARE COMING NOW TO AGRICULTURE AND LOOKING BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT VALUE, YOU KNOW, TURNING MANURE INTO RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE FOREFRONT WHETHER WORK CAN REPLICATE CALIFORNIA'S FUEL STANDARD TO BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE THE PRODUCTION OF THESE R & D FACILITIES ON DAIRY TO MAXIMIZE METHANE TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET INTO THEM AND NEED SOME HELP TO GET THOSE TECHNOLOGIES UP AND RUNNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT-- I SEE IT AS OPPORTUNITIES TO GO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MY GENERATION.

PROBABLY MORE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, EVEN MORE SO THAN MYSELF NOW.

BUT I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING, A LOT OF THINGS CHANGING BUT I THINK HOPEFULLY THE ONE GOOD THUNK THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WAS PEOPLE OF OUR GENERATION SEEING EMPTY STORE SHELVES.

THEY WEREN'T EMPTY.

THERE WAS PLENTY OF FOOD IN THE GROCERY STORES BUT OUR GENERATION IS VERY SPOILED.

WE DIDN'T LIVE THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

WE WANT AN AVOCADO OR A STRAWBERRY ON YOUR SHORTCAKE AT NIGHT, YOU GO TO WEGMAN'S AND PURCHASE THAT ON YOUR WAY HOME TONIGHT, RIGHT?

BUT YOU DON'T WANT THAT BLEMISHED ONE.

SO THERE IS SO MUCH FOOD THAT IS AROUND AND AVAILABLE THAT WE NEED TO STEP BACK AS JESSICA ALLUDED TO.

DO WE WANT TO IMPORT OUR FOOD OR DO WE WANT TO IMPORT OUR LABOR?

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THAT?

>> THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK THERE INCLUDING AVOCADO ON SHORTCAKE, BUT DO YOU FEEL AS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE FOSSIL FUELS AS BRETT SORT OF FRAMED IT?

ARE YOU SEEING COME ABOUT CONSUME BA KUMBAYA.

COST IS A BIG ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO COMPLIANCE WITH, YOU KNOW, PENDING PLANS.

MY HOPE IS THAT LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR ALSO TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH BECAUSE BRETT TALKED ABOUT COVER CROPPING, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, PROMOTES SOIL HEALTH AND PROMOTES LOSS OF EROSION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

COVER CROPPING MAKES GREAT SOIL BUT GREAT SOIL HAS TONS OF BUGS IN IT AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF HEALTHY, HEALTHY BUGS IN THERE THAT EAT OUR CROPS AND SO THERE IS A BILL BEFORE THE GOVERNOR NOW THAT WOULD RESTRICT PERT PESTICIDE, RIGHT-- >> I DARE YOU TO SAY... NEO-NICT OID.

>> YOU SAID IT FOR ME.

IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL, THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY AGAINST WHAT THEY'RE ASKING THE FARMERS TO DO WHICH IS COVER CROP AND MAKE HEALTHY SOIL SO HAVE YOU TO GIVE THE FARMERS THE TOOLS TO CONTROL THE PESTS IN THE SOIL IF THEY WANT FARMERS TO DO THOSE CLIMATE PRACTICES.

>> JESSICA, IS CLIMATE A WORKER ISSUE AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE AIR QUALITY LATELY?

THE HEAT STRESS?

OF COURSE IT'S A WORKER ISSUE, RIGHT?

IT HAS TO DO WITH SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.

AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR FARMS, PART OF THE PRESSURE AROUND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED ALL THESE HOURS NOW.

WE FEED OVERTIME TODAY, RIGHT, LOOK AT THE WEATHER WE ARE HAVING THIS SUMMER.

YOU CAN'T GO OUTSIDE FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE IT'S RAINING OUT AND IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD AND THAT PUTS PRESSURE ON THE LABOR FORCE OF COURSE WITH WORKERS.

SO WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CLIMATE STRATEGIES THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE, THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE, AND THAT ARE JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES DOING THE WORK AS WELL, RIGHT?

HEAT STRESS AND SOMEBODY CALLED AND ASKED ME WHEN WE HAD THE BAD AIR QUALITY WITH THE FIRES FROM CANADA, ARE FARMERS PUTTING THINGS ON PAUSE FOR FARM WORKERS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE OUT IN THE AIR AND I ALMOST STARTED LAUGHING.

LIKE...

NOTED BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA TO... OBVIOUSLY WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND THERE SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, AND WORKING-- OUR BASE IS PRIMARILY SPANISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE AND WE PUT NOTICES OUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS A CONCERN.

THERE WERE FARMS WHERE PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT READING THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING GOOD INFORMATION AND WE PUT ALERTS OUT, HEY, THIS IS-- HERE IS WHAT YOUR EMPLOYER SHOULD BE TELLING YOU OR PROVIDING TO YOU.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO WEAR A RESPIRATOR.

IT DOES IMPACT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY AND WHAT THEIR HEALTH IS, RIGHT?

BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT WE ARE LIVING IN UNPREDICTABLE TIMES.

THINGS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, RIGHT?

THE PANDEMIC, THE AIR QUALITY THIS SUMMER.

I HAVE NEVER WALKED OUT OF MY HOUSE AND SEEN AIR LIKE THAT.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE.

WE ARE IN TIMES WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR WAY OF THINKING OF THESE PROBLEMS A LITTLE BIT AND LIKE THE COVER CROPS, COVER CROPS WERE A THING BACK IN THE 70s.

SOMETIMES WE MOVE AWAY FROM THINGS BECAUSE WE THINK WE HAVE DISCOVERED THE NEXT BIG THING AND WE GO IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND I THINK WE ARE NOW AT A TIME WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF CHANGE AND WE HAVE SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T GO THE WRONG DIRECTION HERE BECAUSE WE COULD GET OURSELVES IN A LOT OF TROUBLE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> FINALLY WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

RICHARD, I'M CURIOUS RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING AND HAVE BEEN SEEING AN INFLUX OF ASYLUM SEEKERS INTO NEW YORK.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW TO CONVERT SOME OF THESE ASYLUM SEEKERS INTO PART OF THE AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW AND IF SO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO SEE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> SO DEFINITELY THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES BOTH ON FARMS AND PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE AND IN PROCESSING AND NEW YORK IS A BIG FOOD PROCESSORS LOTS OF MANUFACTURERS AND LOTS OF JOBS IN DAIRY AND THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES.

AND YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES.

IT WILL BE RELATIVELY EASY TO INTEGRATE SOME OF THOSE THAT SPEAK SPANISH INTO OUR POPULATION.

OTHERS WILL BE A LITTLE HARDER BECAUSE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS, WE ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO SOME OF THE LANGUAGES AND NAVIGATING SOME OF THAT.

THE CHALLENGE IS AUTHORIZATION TO WORK.

SO THEY WILL, ATHE SOME POINT, ASYLUM SEEKERS, WILL GET AN EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENT.

BUT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THAT YET AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THAT POPULATION.

THERE IS A PROJECT WITH COLLABORATION OF THE STATE AND CORNELL, AND WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS AND FOLKS IN NEW YORK CITY, AS THE HEADLINES HAVE SHOWN, ARE VERY EAGER TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE UPSTATE AND TO FIND JOBS.

THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE AND THE FOIX UPSTATE WOULD LIKE TO CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE WORK AUTHORIZATION.

>> CAN WE DO A WINK, WINK AND JUST PAY UNDER THE TABLE?

COULD THAT HAPPEN?

>> NO.

WE CAN'T DO A WINK, WINK.

>> MAYBE OFF THE AIR?

[LAUGHTER] >> WORKERS TAKE THE RISK ON THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

>> NO, ACTUALLY, IN AT THAT TIME CASE, THE RISK WOULD STILL BE WITH THE EMPLOYER.

FROM THE EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE NOT UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.

THAT'S A MISNOMER.

THERE ARE WORKERS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED AND THOSE THAT ARE UNAUTHORIZED AND OFTEN THE UNAUTHORIZED HAVE DOCUMENTS THAT WEREN'T ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> GOTCHA.

>> SO AN EMPLOYER SEES THOSE DOCUMENTS, USES THAT TO CONFIRM IDENTITY AND AUTHORIZATION TO WORK AND HIRES THAT PERSON.

>> GOTCHA.

>> SO IF THEY DON'T HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN WE CAN'T HIRE THEM EITHER IN PROCESSING OR IN TO WORK ON FARMS.

>> BUT IT PUTS THE FOLKS IN A REALLY PRESSING HARD POSITION TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

I HAVE TO SUSTAIN MYSELF WHILE I'M HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THANKS TO JEFF WILLIAMS, OF THE NEW YORK FARM BUREAU, BRETT BOSSARD, OF BARBLAND DAIRY, RICHARD STUP, OF THE CORNELL AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND JESSICA MAXWELL, OF THE WORKERS' CENTER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT NEW YORK.

AND FOR MORE STATE GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, CHECK OUT THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM DOT ORG, OR WHEREVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.