$139,852 more than doubles last year’s record of $64,128

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville has the grand champion steer in the ring during Saturday’s Market Auction. Lane raised the 1,465-pound beef animal, one of 12 beef cattle in the auction, up from four last year. Todd Jantzi, auctioneer with Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service in Batavia, gets the bids going up for Lane’s steer. Western New York Energy paid $7 per pound, well above the market price. Jantzi is owner and president of Bontrager and serves as auctioneer at four market auctions at county fairs.

KNOWLESVILLE – Saturday’s Market Auction to cap the Orleans County 4-H Fair was a record-breaker.

4-Hers sold animals, fiber and even cookies that brought in $139,852. That obliterated the previous record high set last year at $64,128. The auction typically was bringing in $20,000 to $28,000 until the recent jump.

There were many more 4-Hers they entered animals and their fiber creations for the auction, and those kids brought more energy and bidders to the event, committee members said.

The big crowd of budders was a relief to the 4-Hers and their parents. Some of the them were worried that so many more animals in the auction could lead to smaller prices. But the 4-Hers were able to recruit more bidders, and many of the mainstays in recent years were back with open wallets.

Carissa Klossner of Holley made this shawl out of 100 percent alpaca yarn. Matt Hughson of the Redtail Cattle Company paid $260 for it. The fiber products where introduced to the auction for the first time last year.

“I 100 percent support 4-H,” Hughson said. “Every 4-Her is important and they all deserve it.”

Zack Welker, one of the callers, maintained high energy during the 2 ½-hour auction. Here he signals the bids are going up for a pig by Jacob Forte, 18, of Hamlin. There were 27 pigs in the auction, up from 19 last year.

Hugh Gabalski, 18, of Byron leads the grand champion lamb in the ring. It was bought by Joe Sidonio for $570. Hugh said he was happy to see the high bids for the animals at the auction. He said in some years, especially the online auction during Covid in 2020, he lost money or barely broke even.

“In 2020, the prices were dirt cheap,” Gabalski said.

Hugh said he has used the profits to buy and raise other animals over the years, and has been able to save some of the money for college.

Natalie Miller, 11, of Lyndonville keeps her 1,300-pound steer steady in the show ring.

It was purchased by Jed Torrey of Torrey at $6.75 a pound. Torrey said Natalie visited Torrey Farms in Elba, asking Torrey’s to consider bidding on her steer. Torrey said the personal visit made a big difference.

“It’s good to support the kids because they really do work hard,” Torrey said.

Travis Walton, owner of Walton Manure Management based in Linwood, holds up his number after being the winning bidder, paying $13 per pound for a pig raised by Natalie Miller.

Walton does manure work for Chaffee Farms, where Natalie’s dad is a partner. Natalie met Walton at the farm and asked him to come to the market auction.

Walton was a 4-Her as a kid in Genesee County. Saturday was his first time at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

He said Natalie’s personal request to attend the fair made the difference in him going and spending over $3,000 for her pig.

“She reached out,” he said. “It’s hard to say no to a young kid.”

There were eight lots of rabbits up for bid, plus four lots of turkeys, and five lots of chickens.

Dana Watson of Watson Enterprises smiles after paying over $6,000 for a pig raised by Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville. Watson paid $24.50 per pound for the pig, the biggest bid of the night among the pigs in the auction.

Watson Enterprises has built buildings for Chaffee Farms in Barker, where Lane’s dad Corey Miller is a co-owner.

Ruth Kuipers, 15, of Byron has her pig in the arena while Andy Beach and Zack Welker call out the bids. The Market Auction culminates several months of work with the animals by 4-Hers.

Madeleine Farrell of Holley holds a sign for a pen of two chickens that were auctioned off for $250. Auctioneer Todd Jantzi is in back with Janie (Schutz) Ledbetter, left, and Nicole Mrzywka. Andy Beach, in front, served as one of the ring men to track bids from the crowd.

Jantzi said the hard work by kids over many months paid off. They need to do a good job raising the animals and making their products for the auction. But they also need salesmanship – as well as showmanship.

“It’s how the kids get out and knock on doors,” Jantzi said. “That’s what makes the difference.”

Susan Hanson, right, paid $150 for a loom knit hat made by 4-Her Ginny Schofield.

Lena Grillo, 13, of Albion had a blue-ribbon lamb that was the top seller in the auction, getting over $8 per pound.

Kate Bennett of Brockport had two pigs in the auction and both were purchased by her grandfather, Tony Piedimonte of Piedimonte Farms in Holley. The ring men eyeing the crowd for bids include Chris Flansburg in front, and Zack Welker and Andy Beach in back.

Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville leads her beef animal into the barn for the market auction.

Megan Hartway made a successful bid at $3.75 per pound for a 1,120-pound beef steer raised by Isabel Nesbitt of Lyndonville. Hartway bid for her husband Nate, who is a crop consultant with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Fancher.

Mrs. Hartway said her kids weighed in on which animal to buy at the auction. They liked Isabel’s steer, a white animal she named Marvin.

“We want to support 4-H, and our kids thought it was just the prettiest white cow,” Mrs. Hartway said.

Helen Schofield of Holley holds up a wreath she made with a festive fall theme. The wreath sold for $110 at the auction.

Press Release, Orleans County Office for the Aging

ALBION – The Orleans County Office for the Aging (OFA) today announced that Farmers Market coupons are now available at their office, located at the Orleans County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31W in Albion.

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, provided by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, provides these coupons to all who meet age and income requirements to buy fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets throughout New York State.

To qualify for coupons, seniors must be 60 years of age and be within monthly income guidelines of $2,413 for a one-person household; $3,261 for a two-person household and $4,109 for a three-person household.

For households with more than three people, information is available by calling 589-3191. Also if you meet the age requirement, and are living in subsidized housing, you are eligible with no income guidelines.

Books are available at OFA between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For those with mobility issues, park in the front row of the parking lot near the stop sign and call 589-3191 when you arrive, and OFA will come out to you.

Each person in the household is eligible to receive a booklet if they meet the age and income requirements. Only one coupon booklet per eligible senior in each house will be distributed while supplies last. The eligible older adult (or a Power of Attorney with proper paperwork) must sign for the coupon booklet in person.

Photos courtesy of NYS Department of Ag & Markets: The adults are about 1-inch long and half-inch wide with wings folded. Adults can hop several feet if startled. SLF feeding can stress plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. SLF also excretes large amounts of sticky “honeydew,” which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants, negatively impacting agriculture and forest health.

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Joe Morelle on Wednesday introduced legislation to stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive species that poses a significant threat to the American agricultural economy in places like New York State.

“It’s hard to visit the Finger Lakes without enjoying our amazing vineyards and orchards, but sadly, they’re under serious threat from the Spotted Lanternfly,” Morelle said. “My legislation would provide additional support for both local and national organizations committed to fighting back against this invasive, destructive pest. I’m grateful to my colleagues—on both sides of the aisle—for joining together to support this critical bill, and I hope to see it passed and signed into law soon.”

Morelle’s bipartisan legislation, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, designates the Spotted Lanternfly as a high-priority research and extension initiative under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

This designation authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants available for research projects related to the mitigation of this invasive species so we can find creative solutions to stop the spread before New York’s cash crops are further decimated.

This is the latest in a series of actions Congressman Morelle has taken to combat the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, including advocating for this legislation in previous legislative sessions and securing funding from federal agencies to support eradication efforts.

“Congressman Morelle’s decisive action through this legislation demonstrates his profound understanding of the challenges facing New York’s agricultural sector,” said Benjamin Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “As New York’s Land-Grant institution, we are committed to developing science-based solutions to combat the spotted lanternfly threat. His leadership in securing crucial funding will strengthen our research and extension efforts, providing both our agricultural and residential communities with essential resources to protect New York’s rich agricultural heritage.”

How you can help stop the spread:

Learn how to identify the Spotted Lanternfly. Inspect outdoor items such as firewood, vehicles, and furniture for egg masses. If you visit other states with Spotted Lanternfly, be sure to check all equipment and gear before leaving and scrape off any egg masses.

Report sightings by completing this form (click here). If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, kill it immediately by stepping on it or crushing it.

Joining Morelle in supporting this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives are Representatives Mike Kelly (R, PA-16), Chrissy Houlahan (D, PA-06), and Nick Langworthy (R, NY-23).

“The invasive spotted lanternfly continues to pose great risk to New York’s vineyards, fruit orchards, hops production and forestry,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President. “As with all invasive and harmful species, research and education are essential to mitigating the spread of the insect and to helping reduce its impact on crops and forestland. New York Farm Bureau thanks Rep. Morelle for sponsoring the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which prioritizes funding in the Farm Bill and expedites the grants necessary to combat this serious problem.”

Photos from Roy-Hart Central School: Roy-Hart Middle School students learn about agriculture in multiple ways, including hands-on learning and agriculturally themed literature.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

MIDDLEPORT – Royalton-Hartland Middle School is thriving—thanks in large part to the support of Cornell University’s New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC).

With the help of this statewide initiative, students are not only learning about agriculture—they’re living it.

This year, science teacher and Middle School Green Team Club Advisor Susan McLaughlin was selected to present her student-led project – “We Need Farms: You Get an Acre!” – at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minnesota. While McLaughlin is not an agriculture teacher by title, she has become a powerful advocate for agricultural literacy through the many programs and resources NYAITC offers.

“NYAITC has transformed how we teach agriculture at our school,” McLaughlin said. “It’s not just an add-on. It’s part of our curriculum, our cafeteria, and our community.”

Among the school’s achievements this year:

• Second place in the statewide Schoolyard Sugaring Maple Contest in the Middle School Division, where students collected over 45 gallons of sap from their backyard and boiled it into a gallon of maple syrup for the cafeteria. NYAITC provided the supplies at no cost.
• Participation in classroom competitions like the Mac and Cheese Challenge and Ice Cream Challenge, with creative student-made entries including: “What Up Mac?” — a carrot-based macaroni and cheese; “Maple Swirl” — made with maple sugar, RH maple syrup, and RH maple caramel; and “Deep Dirt” — chocolate custard ice cream with brownie chunks, green sprinkles, and a gummy worm on top.

In addition to contests, Royalton-Hartland Middle School secured two NYAITC grants and a scholarship:

• The Grow with Us Grant funded the cultivation of Swiss chard and romaine lettuce, harvested for school lunches via three aeroponic grow towers. It also provided supplies for the Trout in the Classroom project, where students raised and released 100 brook trout while learning about ecosystems and the fish industry.
• The Agricultural Literacy Grant supported a place-based learning experience tied to agriculturally themed literature. Students visited Season of Alpacas, a hobby farm in Lockport, and participated in a reading of Lincoln Clears a Path by local children’s author Peggy Thomas—held in a real Lincoln Log Cabin. Each student received a signed hardcover copy of Thomas’s book.

McLaughlin also received a scholarship to attend and present at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, inspired by lesson plans from the National Agriculture Literacy Curriculum Matrix, a free online resource filled with ready-to-use agricultural lessons.

“These opportunities are available to every school in New York State,” McLaughlin emphasized. “All you need is a plan and a willingness to try.”

With global food needs expected to rise dramatically by 2050, agricultural education is more important than ever. Thanks to NYAITC, Royalton-Hartland Middle School is not just preparing students for the future—they’re helping them grow it.

Photo provided by Assemblyman Hawley’s Office: This photo was displayed at the podium of a news conference today.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) stood in support with his colleagues today at the state Capitol to denounce a new proposal from the Majority that would place a ceiling on the number of cows allowed on New York dairy farms (A.6928).

This initiative would prevent the Department of Environmental Conservation from giving any permits for new or expanding dairy operations that exceed 700 cows. While the Majority claims this policy will help improve environmental conditions, Hawley believes this bill will put an unnecessary burden on local farms and hurt our state’s agriculture industry.

Over the last 25 years, New York has seen a dramatic decline in the number of dairy farms across the state. From 1997 to 2022, the number of dairy operations decreased from 9,300 to roughly 3,000. This decline has picked up substantially in recent years as the dairy industry has struggled to turn a profit and keep up with operating costs. Hawley is adamant that this proposal will only accelerate this trend a push more dairy farmers out of business.

“While small-scale dairy farms are struggling to make ends meet, members of the Majority who have never stepped foot on a farming operation are trying to regulate them out of business,” said Hawley. “As a former farmer myself, the assertion that our local farms are destroying our environment is completely ridiculous.

“Working families across our state rely on our dairy farms for their basic necessities, and this proposal will only bring up costs and reduce availability. We cannot allow this out-of-touch proposal to hurt our rural communities, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues in the state Assembly to ensure this initiative is shut down once and for all.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: These apple trees are shown on Sunday evening in the Carlton countryside.

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in its existing, certified agricultural district during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law.

The annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property that consists of predominantly viable agricultural land.  During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No.1.

This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during a more comprehensive review process held once every eight years. In 2024, the County Agricultural District No. 1 went through its major eight-year review.

The next eight-year anniversary review – the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed – will not occur until 2032.  Presently, there are over 120,150 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.

Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 will be evaluated, in order, by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

To enroll, owners must complete and sign a Letter of Intent for Annual Enrollment form. These are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development. Click here to access the form online.

Completed forms should be sent by July 1 to:

Corey Winters, Director

Orleans County Department of Planning & Development

14016 Route 31 West

Albion, NY  14411-9382

Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that an owner’s property will be added to Agricultural District No 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your land for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment.

For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor.  Any qualifying lot must be included entirely rather than partially.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The blossoms are out in Orleans County, one of the top fruit-producing counties in the state. These blossoms are at peach trees at Watt Farms on Route 98 in Albion.

Most of the fruit trees in the county are apple trees, which have white blossoms.

Farmers say the rainy weather has made it more difficult for pollination and to spray trees so far this spring.

‘We stand firmly with family farms impacted by recent events, as they have long-standing records of responsible, community-focused, and employee-first practices.’ – Grow NY Farms

An agricultural advocacy group says farmers and their workers are being mischaracterized after 14 farmworkers were detained on Friday in Albion.

The workers are employees with Lynn-Ette & Sons, based in Kent. The workers were on a bus and stopped at about 7 a.m. Friday on Route 98 in Albion, just north of the Erie Canal near Crosby’s. They are year-round employees and not in the federal H2A program for seasonal workers.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued this statement: “During a targeted enforcement operation on May 2, in Albion, New York, ICE Buffalo arrested 14 aliens from Mexico and Guatemala who are all in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, three of which are immigration fugitives who have been ordered removed from the United States. All 14 aliens are detained in ICE custody pending their removal proceedings.”

Grow NY Farms, a coalition of agricultural businesses, represents family farms, farmworkers and New Yorkers, seeking to build a viable and vibrant ag industry for future generations, while ensuring fair labor practices and support for the agricultural workforce.

Grow NY Farms issued this statement today:

“New York’s agriculture community stands in solidarity with the farmworkers and families impacted by recent immigration enforcement actions in Orleans County and other areas across New York State.

“These individuals are more than employees – they are neighbors, parents, and long-standing members of our communities, many of whom have been living and working here for years, and in some cases, decades.

“Their children attend local schools, they are passionate about agriculture, and their talent and contributions to our local food system, economy, and community cannot be overstated. Family farms strive every day to a provide a safe, stable, and rewarding working environment while complying with all local, state and federal regulations. That commitment includes protecting workers’ rights and supporting pathways for their voices to be heard.

“We stand firmly with family farms impacted by recent events, as they have long-standing records of responsible, community-focused, and employee-first practices. Any baseless accusations made about farms, or their employees, are irresponsible attempts to deteriorate progress that’s been made to ensure fairness for farmworkers. We are extremely disappointed in the actions and words by some to sow division at a time when unity and compassion are needed most.

“We call for a full and fair review of recent events, and for swift action to support the affected families. At the same time, we renew our commitment to protecting the voice, rights and dignity of all farmworkers, and building a stronger future for New York’s agriculture community.”

Armando Elenes, Secretary Treasurer of the United Farm Workers, has issued a statement in response to the statement on Monday from Lynn-Ette & Sons after 14 of the farm’s workers were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday. They were on a bus headed to work when they were stopped on Route 98 in Albion at about 7:30 a.m. near Crosby’s, north of the Erie Canal.

Statement from the United Farm Workers:

“There is in fact a bargaining unit at Lynn-Ette farm which covers seasonal workers — as Lynn-Ette is aware, an arbitrator has already been appointed by the State of New York following Lynn-Ette’s failure to negotiate a union contract for them in good faith and we are waiting for the arbitrator to issue their decision.

It is true that the workers who were detained last Friday are not part of the current bargaining unit. This is because Lynn-Ette itself successfully argued that its year-round workers should be excluded from the unit. At the time, we argued strongly that year-round workers should be included in the same bargaining unit as their seasonal coworkers.

Given that exclusion, several year-round workers were continuing to organize to file a petition for a separate bargaining unit that would negotiate a contract for the year-round workers. Several of the workers who were leading that effort have now been detained by ICE.

We do now know that ICE came to target the bus as a result of a tip. We demand that ICE be fully transparent about how and why and based on what information these arrests were made, including to the members of Congress who are inquiring about this very issue.

If workers at any company were to be targeted for immigration enforcement for union organizing, that would be a violation of our Constitution’s First Amendment; the right to freedom of association including with your union. Everyone should be concerned about that.”

Farm disputes claims made by United Farm Workers that raid was in response to union activity

Statement from Lynn-Ette & Sons in Kent

KENT – Lynn-Ette & Sons is heartbroken by the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action that resulted in the detention of 14 long-standing farm employees.

These individuals are not only vital contributors to our operations but valued members of our extended farm family—many of whom have worked alongside us for years with commitment and integrity.

We are deeply troubled by the manner in which this enforcement action was carried out and the impact it has had on our team and their families. Lynn-Ette & Sons had no prior knowledge of the raid and had no contact with ICE beforehand.

We strongly reject the United Farm Workers’ (UFW) irresponsible and self-serving public claims suggesting that these workers were targeted in retaliation for union activity. These claims are categorically false.

None of the individuals detained were part of the bargaining unit involved in the ongoing union activity on our farm. To insinuate otherwise is not only misleading but irresponsibly politicizes a painful and personal situation for the workers and their loved ones.

Lynn-Ette & Sons remains committed to the fair and respectful treatment of all our employees. We are cooperating fully with legal counsel to better understand the circumstances and to assist the affected individuals and their families where possible.

We call on elected officials and community leaders to ensure that all enforcement actions are conducted with transparency, due process, and human dignity.

Photos and article courtesy of Howard Owens/The Batavian

BATAVIA – Protesters came with signs and bullhorns to the Buffalo Detention Facility in Batavia on Friday evening in a hastily organized demonstration to raise their voices against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The protest was called, said Gabrilla Szpunt, an organization coordinator for the United Farm Workers, after 14 migrant workers the union claims to represent were picked up en masse early Friday morning in Albion by agents of ICE.

All 14 were on a bus owned by Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms in Kent, where they worked, Szpunt said. They were stopped on Route 98 in the Village of Albion.

“They were on their way to work,” said Szpunt. “These are workers we’ve been organizing with for at least a year. An entire family was picked up in this raid, and other workers have been here for decades, some for several years. We’re here to support them and let them know they’re not alone in this process.”

She said the union doesn’t inquire about the legal status of migrants they organize with, but given the longevity of several of the workers, they likely had visas to work in the U.S., though she couldn’t say with certainty that they all were documented.

Szpunt said the UFW is in the process of securing legal counsel for the farm workers.

The protesters chanted a revolving set of messages, many of them demanding an end to deportation and for the protection of workers, but a few of them were laced with profanity, such as “eff ICE” and “eff Fasicist America.”

When asked about the tone of some of the chants, Szpunt said she understood the concern, but she wasn’t there to censor what the people who participated wanted to chant.

Asked what message the UFW wanted to send, she said, “Our message is that we believe these workers have been here for decades. They deserve to a process if they’re going to be facing these kinds of immigration proceedings. That hasn’t been the case under the Trump administration. People with green cards have been picked up, citizens have been picked up and detained, and disappeared.”

At one point during the protest, a stream of cars exited the detention facility. A passenger in one car held a mobile phone in one hand, apparently shooting video as the car drove past, while simultaneously extending the middle finger on his other hand.

According to the UFW website, the UFW has been involved in disputes with Lynn-Ette farms. The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the farm for allegedly requiring a UFW representative to leave the farm while meeting with workers.

The Public Employees Relations Board in October required Lynn-Ette Farms and two other farms to engage in binding arbitration with the union, according to the UFW website.

Provided photo

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Bill Eick (left), a retired dairy farmer, presents a proclamation on Tuesday declaring March as “Agriculture Month” in Orleans County. Eick hands the proclamation from the County Legislature to Chad Kirby, president of the Orleans County Farm Bureau.

Kirby, a fruit and vegetable grower, thanked the legislators and said farmers will soon be extra busy with the planting season.

The 2022 Agricultural Census put Orleans County’s ag revenue at $233.6 million, which was a 50.4 percent jump from the $155.3 million in 2017, a growth of $78.3 million.

Orleans County ranks 15th among the state’s 62 counties for ag revenue. Cayuga is first at $461.9 million. The GLOW counties are all big ag producers. Wyoming is second in the state at $421.0 million, with Genesee at fifth with $359.7 million and Livingston at 8th with $288.1 million.

“Whereas, March signifies a national celebration of the importance of food and agriculture in the United States as it provides almost everything we eat and use each day,” the Legislature said in the proclamation. “This month we recognize and celebrate the diversity and abundance provided by New York’s farms and our growing food and agricultural sector and the contributions of Orleans County’s family farmers.”

State-wide there are 33,400 farms working 6.9 million acres of farmland. The ag economy contributes $5.4 billion to the state economy.

‘Adding even more costs and reducing markets for American agricultural goods could create an economic burden some farmers may not be able to bear.’

Photo by Tom Rivers: These apples are in a bin at a local farm from the fall 2023.

The leader of the American Farm Bureau Federation is concerned tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China will hurt agriculture in the United States.

The Trump Administration is imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on China. All three countries will be imposing retaliatory tariffs on American goods, including many farm products.

Zippy Duvall, the Farm Bureau president, on Tuesday issued this statement on the tariffs.

“Farmers support the goals of ensuring security and fair trade with other nations, but additional tariffs, along with expected retaliatory tariffs, will take a toll on rural America.

“Farmers and ranchers are concerned with the decision to impose increased tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China – our top trading partners. Last year, the U.S. exported more than $83 billion in agricultural products to the three countries.

“Approximately 85% of our total potash supply – a key ingredient in fertilizer – is imported from Canada. For the third straight year, farmers are losing money on almost every major crop planted. Adding even more costs and reducing markets for American agricultural goods could create an economic burden some farmers may not be able to bear.

“We ask the president to continue working with our international partners to find ways to resolve disagreements quickly, so farmers can focus on feeding families in America and abroad.”

NY urges farmers to notify state about potential impacts from tariffs with Canada, Mexico and China

Gov. Kathy Hochul convened a roundtable in Albany on Tuesday with agricultural leaders in the state. She said the tariffs are projected to increase costs by as much as $1,200 a year for the average New Yorker, while hurting many businesses that send products to China, Mexico and Canada.

Hochul encourages businesses, including New York’s farms, to report the effects of these tariffs on their work to TariffImpact@esd.ny.gov.

“From the North Country to the Southern Tier, farmers are the backbone of New York State,” Hochul said. “Many of our farmers rely on export sales of their products, and I’ll continue to do everything in my power to fight against this misguided tariff policy and ensure the government is doing what it is supposed to do, which is help, not hurt, New York farmers.”

Hochul said agriculture is a cornerstone of New York’s economy. The state’s investments in agricultural priorities are up 60 percent since 2022, she said.

“We appreciate Governor Hochul’s willingness to invite our members to the table to discuss the issues most important to New York agriculture, including how tariffs will directly affect farmers’ bottom line,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher. “By telling our stories and sharing our real, everyday challenges, we make our voices heard so that we can continue to provide healthy, accessible food for all New Yorkers – and keep farming sustainable and successful.”