Local state legislators among NY Farm Bureau ‘friends’

Photo by Tom Rivers – An apple orchard on Route 98, just south of Route 104 in Albion, is pictured on Friday.

ALBANY – New York Farm Bureau has announced its annual list of state legislators who have been supportive of legislation that helps agriculture and who also worked against bills that would hurt the industry.

State Assembly Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, and State Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, R-Clarence, were both named to the annual Farm Bureau “Circle of Friends.” Hawley and Corwin both represent districts that include portions of Orleans County.

There are 150 members of the State Assembly, and 112 were named “friends” by Farm Bureau for 2015.

State Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, represents all of Orleans County in the Senate. He was named to the “Circle of Friends” in his first year as a state legislator.

The list of Farm Bureau friends in the State Senate includes 46 of the 63 state senators.

“The selected lawmakers from both the Assembly and Senate were chosen for their commitment to the hard-working farm families in New York,” said Dean Norton, NYFB president. “Each friend has demonstrated that they understand the importance of agriculture to the people of their legislative district, and how farming significantly impacts the economy of this great state.”

The “Circle of Friends” is not an endorsement from Farm Bureau, and this distinction only recognizes the 2015 legislative session.