New York farms are faced with a serious threat to the 60-hour overtime threshold. Even though 60 hours per week was set in law in 2019, a wage board has the authority to tell the NYS Labor Commissioner to lower that threshold. This threatened action promises to change the face of agriculture as we know it. The Wage Board will be making their recommendation later this year, and NEAFA, along with the NY farm community, is launching a campaign to convince the wage board to keep 60 at 60. NEAFA recognizes the damage that changes to this threshold can have for New York Farms, and the dangerous precedent that it could set for other Northeastern states to follow in the future.
This 60-hour standard was a major compromise for the NY farm community, and farmers know that anything less than 60 hours per week will irreparably alter the face of NY agriculture. If we are to remain competitive in national and world markets, NY farm labor costs cannot be significantly higher than our cohorts or other regions.
“The agricultural workforce is vital & essential to all our farms and agricultural industry throughout NY State,” said NEAFA President Danielle Penney-Stroop. “We have intense labor needs for most of our agricultural operations, such as nurseries, fruit & vegetables farms, dairying, viticulture, etc., especially in comparison to the other agricultural regions throughout the country. To implement new innovated technologies or increase mechanization on many operations would require such a large investment of capital, that in many cases it becomes a barrier of entry. As an industry, we need to demonstrate & emphasize how the overtime threshold has impacted New York farms, employees, and their families, and that a 60-hour overtime threshold is the absolute line in the sand for New York agriculture. New York’s dairy farmers will face some tough choices and, regardless of the choice, farmworkers come out on the short end of the stick with potentially fewer jobs, shorter hours, and less take-home pay.”
The Grow NY Farms Coalition, formed in 2019, includes leading farmers and farm organizations in New York State. Coalition leaders are requesting your support for another successful farm labor campaign this year. A public relations/ communications firm (The Martin Group) has been retained to help with the fight and the coalition is reaching out to all potential supporters for financial support. Organizations including Northeast Dairy Producers Association, New York Farm Bureau, dairy cooperatives, and individual dairy farms, stepped up to the plate with significant contributions. NEAFA pledged $5000 to the cause and we challenge you to support the effort as well.
“Agriculture contributes greater than $5 Billion to the state economy, and has a significantly greater impact on the rural/local economies throughout the state,” said Penney-Stroop. “Therefore, it is imperative to advocate and support all our farm operations in becoming more competitive in attracting & retaining employees thus ensuring their viability and sustainability in our local & global markets. Producers will not remain competitive with the latest recommended OT threshold; we must keep it at 60 hours. In 2019, Farm Credit East published that farm income could decrease 23% due to combined minimum wage and overtime rules. That impact on overall farm income, combined with many other variables of increased costs will be the demise of many agricultural operations throughout our state, forever changing the landscape.”
“As we often say, without a healthy, growing production sector, the agribusiness community does not exist,” said NEAFA Executive Director Rick Zimmerman. “This issue threatens to dramatically change the face of New York’s agriculture industry and warrants our direct engagement. Please consider a significant contribution. You may send your pledge directly to the address below or NEAFA can forward your contribution through paypal by clicking here.
Grow NY Farms
8351 Lewiston Rd #3-304
Batavia, NY 14020
Thank you for supporting this important cause.
Danielle Penney-Stroop, NEAFA President