Advertisement. Advertise with us

Letter: Farms can’t afford threshold

The future of agriculture locally may be in the hands of a three-member board. The decision they make will impact our farms immediately.

The decision to be made — should the overtime threshold for farm labor move from 60 hours to 40 hours? The answer — no. According to a study from Cornell’s Dyson School and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (commissioned by New York State) 72 percent of workers stated they would not remain in their current job; 70 percent of guest workers stated they would seek work in other states. Owners of one-half of fruit and vegetable farms and two-thirds of dairy farms would redirect their operations.

We cannot afford to lose more farms in New York. We cannot afford to lose those family businesses that have been a part of our communities for generations. The economic impact of the threshold change starts with the farms, but the effect is far reaching, long-lasting, and likely irreparable to our communities.

The answer is simple — do not change the threshold. This decision is supported by the New York Farm Bureau, the Grow NY Farms Coalition, and chairs of the Agriculture Committees in the Assembly and Senate.

This is a moment for responsive government leadership. We need the wage board to get this decision right, and support the needs of our farmers and the voices of its workers.

Dan Butterman
Oneonta

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO: 05-24-23

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 Otsego County Chamber Awards Dinner AWARDS DINNER—5:30 p.m. The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate this year’s award winners: Geoffrey Doyle, Eugene Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen of the Year; Casella Waste Systems, Business of the Year Award; Creekside Industries, Breakthrough Award; Connie Herzig, Volunteer of the Year; and Dan Buttermann, Leadership Otsego Distinguished Alumnus. Held at the Alumni Field House, SUNY Oneonta. (607) 432-4500 or visit members.otsegocc.com/events/details/2023-annual-spring-awards-dinner-blooming-with-brilliance-1079 BLOOD DRIVE—9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown.…

Dan Buttermann Makes It Official

HE’LL CHALLENGE ASSEMBLYMAN SALKA Dan Buttermann Makes It Official Democrat Primary Possible In 121st ONEONTA – Dan Buttermann made it official today:  The Oneonta Democrat plans to challenge Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, for the 121st Assembly District seat, although he first may face a Democratic primary next June. The 121st includes the bulk of Otsego County, including Oneonta and Cooperstown, all of Madison County and part of Oneida.  The 2020 election will be Nov. 3. “I am deeply concerned about the future of our district, state and country,” Buttermann said in a press release.  “I fear that failure to invest…

Bail reform letter to the editor

On bail reform To the Editor: The 2019 Bail Reform Bill is probably better called a Criminal Justice Reform Bill. It did much more than just make changes to the bail laws in New York. We have all heard numerous outcries that many of those changes were too much, and that a new reform bill is required.  I agree that parts of the 2019 bill are not improving the system. However, I would not vote to repeal the bill, as many Republicans have called for. Instead, I would act as the governor is doing – introduce changes that will make the bill work…