By Brianna Wagner, Hinman Straub, Special to NEAFA
The New York State budget negotiation process is underway with the Assembly and Senate releasing their Legislative budget proposals on March 10, 2025. As negotiations continue, there is a consensus among advocates that the final budget is unlikely to be finalized by the April 1 deadline as Legislative session is scheduled to continue during the first two weeks of April, followed by a two-week break (over the Passover and Easter holidays).
What Was Added
The Assembly matched the Executive proposal by allocating $1.463 million for Pro-Dairy to enhance support for dairy farmers, while the Senate increased this amount to $2 million. The Senate proposal also included an additional $126,000 for dairy profit teams, which was not included in the Executive or Assembly proposals. Unlike the Executive and Assembly proposals, the Senate included $250,000 for Pro-Livestock positions at Cornell to assist farms in silvopasture practices and carbon sequestration efforts.
While the Assembly accepted the Executive’s proposed $9.56 million for the Occupational Health Clinic Network (OHCN), the Senate significantly increased the funding to $20 million. The Senate also raised funding for Future Farmers of America (FFA) to $1.375 million, which is slightly higher than the Executive’s proposed $1 million.
Both the Senate and Assembly increased funding for farm-to-school initiatives to $1.508 million, doubling the Executive’s proposed $750,000. The Senate allocated $3 million to the New York Farm Viability Institute—$2 million more than the Assembly and Executive proposals—to support research and innovation in farm profitability and sustainability. Additionally, both the Senate and Assembly included $1 million for grants to support beginning farmers and another $1 million for grants to assist disadvantaged farmers, neither of which was included in the Executive proposal.
The Senate’s proposal included major initiatives such as the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition (HEAT) Act, the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Prevention Program, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, the Safe Water and Infrastructure Action Program, and the Floating Solar Incentive and Education Program.
Additionally, the Senate proposed increasing the maximum loan amount given to a single agricultural producer for farmworker housing projects from $200,000 to $400,000 annually. Both the Senate and Assembly recommended amending the tax law to allow professional employer organizations in contractual relationships with farm employers to qualify for a tax credit. The Senate proposed extending the Farm Workforce Retention Credit by five years, while the Assembly proposed a three-year extension.
Lastly, the Senate aims to expand the tax credit for farmers to cover standard construction materials and labor costs for farmworker housing.
Advocacy
As budget negotiations progress, NEAFA remains engaged with New York policymakers to ensure that agriculture remains a priority in the final budget.