FABIUS, N.Y. (NCC News) – Local Farmer Bret Bossard gets into his tractor every day to check around his farm in Fabius, making sure his product is up to standard. In this case, the farm produces dairy goods. Bossard and his team face different challenges day in and day out and he wants more people to know that it is not easy to be a farmer.
“It’s hard, it’s a struggle every day,” Bossard said. “We face the same challenges as every other industry…labor shortages, inflation, rising costs.”
Governor Hochul, who grew up in a farming family, knows that change is needed. The legislation that is simply known as the Farm Bill is set to expire next year and the governor wants to hear directly from the people the bill affects most.
“People from elsewhere think of New York, they don’t always think agriculture. But, that’s what we live and breathe in our state,” Gov. Hochul said.
The state will be hosting a series of roundtables inviting the farming community to give their thoughts on where the future of farming is heading.
For an industry that accounts for nearly $7 million acres of land in New York or a quarter of the state, Bossard said he wants local farmers to have a seat at the table.
“As long as those that are making the laws are, you know, can hear the voices and hopefully we can have an equal say,” Bossard said.
The dairy farmer has 75 people employees. They all depend on the farm to put the product they help produce on their own tables. Bossard said the upcoming changes are important to get right.