Small Farm Revival for New York State
One issue that is deeply concerning to us is the prevalence of suicides among farmers in Upstate New York. Our local small farmers have been victimized by excessive government regulation. This comes in the form of an expensive and lengthy food processor market, unfair tax treatment, and regulations that benefit extremely large corporate farms at the expense of small farmers whether they’re incorporated or not. Our policies must be changed immediately to save the lives and livelihoods of our small farmers. To fix this, Tom will:
Establish a Farmer Freedom Policy which consists of:
- Establishing a state food safety certification, called New York Fresh, which allows for produce, dairy, meat, and other food products grown, produced, or processed solely in New York State to be sold within New York State without requiring FDA or USDA certification. This food safety certification program will be simpler and cheaper to comply with than the current regulatory regimes of the FDA and USDA. These New York Fresh products will be allowed to be sold in any establishment within New York State that is legally permitted to sell food products.
- Allowing local produce to be sold without needing state, NY Fresh, or federal certification as long as it has an identification label indicating the lack of certification on the product. This uncertified produce will be permitted for sale in any establishment within New York State that is legally permitted to sell food products.
- Allowing all forms of livestock to be butchered at any facility, and sold anywhere, provided the facility meets NY Fresh standards and is labeled as such. Make these state standards easier to meet so that small farmers are able to legally butcher and sell their own animals without going to a middle man.
- Allowing farmers to process, store, and transport meat and other products all from the same location, provided it is certified within NY Fresh.
- Excusing farmers and their customers from federal price controls if they participate in NY Fresh.
Tom will also…
- Allow farmers to sell raw dairy products, including dairy products that have been sterilized with light waves, anywhere in New York. Allow this to be done without a permit.
- Price gags in contracts should not be enforceable outside of negotiations. This will ensure that everyone knows what prices are and markets can properly function the way they are supposed to.
- Fully decriminalize the growth and processing of recreational marijuana and hemp without licensure so that farmers are able to diversify with a new cash crop. Eliminate the restrictions on hemp-processing and sales, including those on hemp-infused food and drink, so a market for hemp can develop. Testing for THC and CBD levels should only need to be done on things that people eat, drink, smoke, etc.
- Property value assessments should be changed to non-local assessors, rotated year-to-year.
- Reduce the current sales requirement for a property tax exemption from $10,000 for two consecutive years to $1,000 for one year and pursue paths to automate this process.
- Give small farms a grace period of two years to pay their property taxes penalty free, and slash the current penalties on unpaid property taxes to the lower of $100 or 1% per month late.