agriculture

Orleans County begins 8-year review of agricultural district that includes 118K acres

Posted 12 February 2024 at 10:37 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: These apples are in a bin at Kirby Farms in Brockport last fall.

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

ALBION – The Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1 is Orleans County’s only Agricultural District that covers over 118,000 acres or approximately 48% of the land mass of the county.

Orleans County is currently undergoing an eight-year review of the Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1. During this process, landowners must affirm in writing their intent to be included in the agricultural district.

All currently included landowners will receive notification of the review and the forms should be returned by March 31.

Agricultural Districts are established by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law to provide for the protection of agricultural lands. The law was enacted to allow for the creation of a local mechanism to ensure agricultural land remains a viable segment of the local and state economies as well as an environmental resource.

Agriculture is the dominant industry in Orleans County and as such, the Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1 is important to maintaining our economic base.

Agricultural districts do not have to be made up completely of farmland. However, they must contain a predominance of viable farmland. At the same time, the rural nature of an area is protected when viable farmland is included in the agricultural district.

The County Agricultural Farmland Protection Board, formed by the Legislature, is given the job of making recommendations concerning the effect of new water lines on land in an Agricultural District. Undeveloped land that is included in an agricultural district is not able to connect to new water lines for non-agricultural use because of the potential adverse effects on agriculture. Existing homes, residences, and farms within an agricultural district are not prohibited from connecting to new water lines.

For more information about agricultural districts or the ongoing review of the Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1, please contact Corey Winters (Planner, Orleans County Department of Planning & Development) at (585) 589-3197.

Farmers urged to register for refundable overtime tax credit

Posted 31 January 2024 at 9:24 am

Gradual phase-in to lower overtime threshold in agriculture starts in 2024

File photo by Tom Rivers: A farmer plants seeds on May 23, 2019 in Carlton on Waterport-Carlton Road.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul

Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the launch of the State’s new Farm Employer Overtime Credit advance portal, which is now open for farmers to register and begin preparing the documents they will need to apply for reimbursement.

Later this year, eligible farm employers may apply to the Department of Agriculture and Markets for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid to their employees between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2024. As tax season opens, this opportunity is part of Governor Hochul’s plan to support New York’s farmers through a series of new and increased tax credits and other initiatives.

“Our farmers and farm workers are essential, and I want to do everything in my power to ensure that they can thrive in their work to bring fresh, local products to the tables of New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a big part of that, reducing the tax burden for our farm businesses while allowing them to continue supporting their hardworking staff. I encourage all eligible farmers to learn more about this program, get registered and talk to their tax preparer so they can be prepared to apply later this year.”

The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a refundable tax credit available for eligible farm employers who pay overtime wages after January 1, 2024, based on the gradual phase-in of the overtime threshold in New York State. Farmers can apply for this refundable credit if they or their business:

are an eligible farmer; and
employ eligible farm employees that were paid eligible overtime.

Farm employers are encouraged to prepare to apply this year by taking the following steps:

Ensuring that they are registered for a NY.gov ID through My.NY.gov.
Taking the farm employer eligibility assessment to establish if they (the farm employer) expect to meet the eligible farmer income requirements for their tax filing type at the end of the tax year.
Discussing the program with their tax and payroll advisors to ensure they are keeping necessary records during the January 1 – July 31 period this year.
Registering their farm in the online portal now if they plan to apply for the advance payment in 2024. The application portal can be accessed by visiting taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov.
Optionally, choosing to delegate authority to a representative (e.g., a tax preparer), who may complete and submit the application on the farm employer’s behalf later in the year.

A user guide to assist farmers with these preparatory steps is available at agriculture.ny.gov/user-guide-farm-employer-overtime-credit-advance.

After July 31, farm employers may upload supporting payroll documentation to the portal and submit to the Department of Agriculture and Markets AGM for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid between Jan. 1 and July 31. Applications must be submitted to AGM by Sept. 30.

After eligibility review, AGM will issue a certificate of advance payment to each approved farm employer. With a certificate of advance payment, the approved farmer or business owners (for example, partners or shareholders) can then request their share of the advance payment from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance (DTF). This request must be made no later than November 1, using the online services account at DTF’s website.

Additional information and resources, including important dates and a chart where upcoming educational events will be available when scheduled, can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Markets’ website at agriculture.ny.gov/farming/farm-employer-overtime-credit-advance and the DTF website at tax.ny.gov/pit/credits/farm-employer-overtime-credit.htm. Questions may be directed to farmOTadvance@agriculture.ny.gov or (518) 457-7076.

“Farm labor is a critical issue, and we at the State are working hard to ensure that farmers have the resources they need to support their workforce and while meeting their food production goals,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “I encourage farmers to take a look at the resources we have available, learn more about the Farm Employer Overtime Credit program, and talk to their tax and payroll advisors to ensure they can take part in this great opportunity.”

Ag commissioner, in Orleans County stop, sees farm sector as important economic driver

Photos by Tom Rivers: Richard Ball, the state’s agriculture commissioner, spoke at the Legislative Luncheon on Friday for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. About 75 people attended the event at the White Birch Golf Course. Agriculture is a $155 million industry in Orleans County, according to the 2017 federal ag census.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2024 at 12:10 pm

LYNDONVILLE – Richard Ball, the state’s agricultural commissioner, sees brighter days ahead for the New York’s farm economy, which totals nearly $6 billion in total revenue.

In Orleans County, the total farm receipts are $155 million annually. Those figures are according to the 2017 ag census. The census is done every five years and data from 2022 will be released on Feb. 13.

Ball said Gov. Kathy Hochul sees the agricultural sector as critical to the state’s economy. Hochul kept Ball as the ag commissioner after she took over on Aug. 24, 2021 following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.

“Whenever she calls me or whenever I see her we talk ag,” said Ball, who spoke at Friday’s Legislative Luncheon organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. “When she started, she told me she wanted me to stay and asked what do I need. We have a governor who gets agriculture.”

Ball, a farmer from Schoharie County, has been the state’s agricultural commissioner for nearly a decade.

He highlighted the governor’s executive budget, including these new investments for agriculture:

$34 million in capital grants for on-farm milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure to improve supply chain efficiency.
$21 million to a new Alternative Waste Management and Enhanced Precision Feed Program to further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
$10 million to continue a multi-year investment in support of kitchen facilities that prepare meals for K-12 schools from New York State farm products.
$10 million to reinvigorate New York’s aquaculture industry through the Blue Food Transformation and to grow New York’s bioeconomy.

Ball said the agriculture economy also can play a role in helping the state meet its climate change and resiliency goals by sequestering carbon. The state Department of Agriculture and markets supports renewable energy projects, Ball said in response to a question at the luncheon, but those projects shouldn’t be at the expense of good farmland. The state is working on a plan to have solar projects be pushed to land that isn’t being farmed or isn’t considered good for growing crops, Ball said.

Richard Ball said agriculture remains a critical industry in the state, especially in rural communities like Orleans County.

Agriculture does face challenges, including a shortage of workers. He said Congress needs to overhaul the immigration system, which hasn’t been updated in about three decades. He isn’t optimistic Congress will pass meaningful legislation about the issue.

That leaves farmers to try to work with a federal guest-worker program that is cumbersome, costly and doesn’t fill the employment needs for farmers, Ball said told.

Ball said some farms are turning to technology and robotics to get some farm work done. The state is also stepping up workforce recruitment for local residents to learn skills and work in the ag industry, Ball said.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, said the industry is particularly challenged in New York due to high taxes, high costs for equipment and escalating expenses for workers, especially now that an overtime threshold has dropped from 60 hours a week to 56 hours, part of a phase in to get agriculture’s OT standard down to 40 hours .

Ball said the state is working to strengthen the food supply chains, including a stronger relationship between upstate farmers and the big market of New York City.

He sees an industry that will remain strong in the long-term future.

“New York has good land and access to water, the best land-grant system and some of best farmers in the world,” he said. “I like our chances.”

During his presentation, Ball also commended Amy Machamer of Holley for serving on the state’s agriculture task force. She is the owner of Hurd Orchards.

Albion dairy farmer, 2 sons take 2nd in national ag innovation competition

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2024 at 9:28 pm

Provided photo: Jody Neal and his sons Zachary, left, and Jayden, formed Udder Ways LLC.

An Albion dairy farmer and his two sons finished second today in an agricultural innovation challenge at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jody Neal and sons Jayden and Zachary have formed Udder Ways LLC, a startup business with their new system to sanitize and prepare udders for milking.

The Neals won a $20,000 prize for second place. In September, American Farm Bureau announced Udder Ways was one of 10 finalists for the ag innovation competition. On Saturday, they made it to the final four.

Jody Neal is a partner a Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, a dairy farm on East County House Road. His sons were active in the Orleans County 4-H Robotics program, where they learned programming and tech skills as part of a team that competed in the Rochester region.

The Neals worked on their udder cleaning system the past eight years. The device is used just before a cow is milked. Their invention uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats, the family states on their website.

“With our patented vortex-style application, you can achieve consistent stimulation and promote milk letdown effortlessly,” they said.

The $50,000 first prize went to Barn Owl Precision Agriculture from Colorado which utilizes small robots (micro-tractors) for planting crops, precision weeding and collecting soil samples.

Roy-Hart doing farm boot drive in community to support ag program

Posted 17 January 2024 at 3:06 pm

Provided photos: Businesses and organizations in the Roy-Hart community are displaying posters and boots in a fundraiser for the Roy-Hart Agriculture Foundation.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Agriculture Foundation

MIDDLEPORT – At the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference, author Lisl H. Detlefsen shared her book, “Farm Boots” with educators from across the country. This joyful verse text that takes readers through the seasons and many types of boots that are needed to get all the jobs at the farm done.

The book is published by Feeding Minds Press – a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture whose mission is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education.

“Farm Boots” especially touched the heart of Roy-Hart Elementary teacher Shelly Budziszewski because farm boots were always part of the back room decor at her grandparents farm.

“I was inspired with the idea to host a boot drive, much like the firefighters do, to collect donations for our Ag program at RH,” Budziszewski said.

The story was shared with the Green Team, Roy-Hart Elementary’s afterschool ag club, and members were asked to write about how they currently use their farm boots for work or play and how they will plan to use farm boots in future.

Green Team members’ boots are now on display at local businesses in Middleport, Gasport, Lockport, and Medina for the Roy-Hart Agriculture Foundation Farm Boot Drive. If you see a pair around town, please drop your spare change or a few dollars in to help the RHES Green Team and all PreK-12th grade Ag programs at Royalton-Hartland.

The boot drive concludes on Friday, January 19th, when RHAF will also be hosting a Movie Fundraiser showing “The Biggest Little Farm.” Farm-themed concessions open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins 6:30 p.m. at Roy-Hart High School. This event is open to all community members.

The boot drive locations include:

• Gasport – Chop’s Shop, Ports Pizza & Subs, Harland Abattoir, US Post Office, Stockham Lumber, Schwab’s Farm Market, Drum Oil & Propane, Olear’s and Hartland Town Hall.

• Middleport – Village Pizzeria, RH Community Library, US Post Office, Middleport Family Health Center, Darrell’s Place, T+S Crop Services, Alternative Grounds, Amy Hansen Training Center and Royalton Town Hall.

• Lockport – Ace Hardware, Scapelliti’s, Half Baked Cookies and Howell Motors Ford.

• Medina – Car Quest and Tractor Supply.