Agriculture
Where I stand on Agriculture issues.
The diversity of agriculture in our district is truly unique. Commodities range from grapes, apples and vegetables to and dairy, grains and livestock. We have countless small family farms and large production agribusinesses. This mix of agriculture makes advocacy for Western New York and Finger Lakes agriculture particularly important. It is a priority of mine that our farmers have a voice in Washington D.C. Through my membership in the Northeast Agriculture Caucus and the Dairy Caucus I work with members across the aisle to ensure that our district is included in discussions on guest worker programs, prices, trade, taxes and agriculture programs.
Preserving and improving the H2A program for seasonal workers is one issue I regularly hear about from farmers in the 29th district. We have to ensure that our farms have access to a seasonal workforce within the bounds of the law. Not only preservation but improvement is a huge issue with H2A. The levels of bureaucracy which must be navigated are making it more and more difficult for farmers to maintain a stable and legal workforce.
The Estate Tax is another issue – we were able to act late last year to keep the rate at 35% (as opposed to 55%) and exempt the first $5 million when the tax automatically returned in 2011. I’d like to see the estate tax eliminated completely.
The growth of agriculture is not only a necessity to the farmers in our district, but to the municipalities and suburbs as well – agriculture forms the backbone of our local economy. I will work with our farmers, as to know the issues they face every day, and use their input to help me make decisions for our district.
One of the best kept secrets of the Finger Lakes Region is the plethora of wineries surrounding the lakes. Nutrients in the soil give Catawba and other varieties of grapes a distinctive flavor which local vintners turn into award-winning wines. It is a pleasure for me to be involved with the Congressional Wine Caucus to be sure these small businesses get the recognition and response to their unique concerns. These winery jobs are critical to our local economy and tourism.