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Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee (Joint)

2025-01-27 Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2025-2026 Executive Budget on Agriculture & Markets/Parks & Recreation Chair: Sen. Liz Krueger View full transcript → Archive

Wire Brief

New York's 2025-2026 budget hearing on agriculture and parks revealed significant investments in both sectors but also highlighted critical funding gaps and federal policy uncertainties. The hearing, held January 27 at the Legislative Office Building, featured testimony from state agency officials and advocacy groups seeking to shape the Governor's proposed budget. The Department of Agriculture and Markets proposed a $364 million budget, representing continued commitment to the sector with 60 percent increases over the Governor's first two budgets. Commissioner Richard Ball detailed initiatives including $10 million for dairy modernization, $5 million for farmworker housing, and $51 million for State Fair improvements. However, Ball acknowledged significant concerns about federal funding changes, workforce shortages due to immigration enforcement, and the pause of a $60 million Climate-Smart Commodities Program. The most contentious issue was the Farm Employer Overtime Tax Credit. The Legislature unanimously passed legislation last year to fix the credit's structure, but the Governor vetoed it, directing agencies to resolve the issue in the budget. Ball indicated ongoing negotiations with the Department of Tax and Finance, but no solution appeared in the Executive Budget. The Northeast Dairy Producers Association and New York Farm Bureau both urged the Legislature to advance legislation in their one-house budgets to provide a retroactive fix. State Parks reported record visitation of 88 million in 2024, the 12th consecutive year of growth. Commissioner Randy Simons highlighted the NY SWIMS program, which awarded $150 million in swimming infrastructure grants and generated a 36 percent increase in pool attendance after fee waivers. The agency also expanded veterans' Lifetime Liberty Passes by 900 percent to over 12,000 annually. The Governor proposed $200 million in capital funding for parks, but advocacy groups called for increasing the Environmental Protection Fund from $400 million to $500 million to address a $2 billion backlog. Farmland protection emerged as a critical concern. American Farmland Trust reported that New York lost 364,000 acres of farmland from 2017 to 2022 and risks losing another 452,000 acres by 2040 at the current rate. Multiple witnesses urged increased funding for farmland preservation programs, with some requesting $25 million within an expanded EPF. Agrivoltaics—combining solar development with agricultural use—was discussed as a potential solution, though concerns remained about protecting prime farmland. Animal welfare advocates requested $10 million total for the Companion Animal Capital Fund ($5 million from the Governor, $5 million from the Legislature) and a new $2.5 million Animal Crimes Fund to reimburse shelters for costs of holding live evidence in criminal cases. Libby Post of the New York State Animal Protection Federation cited cases where shelters spent hundreds of thousands of dollars caring for seized animals but recouped only a fraction of costs. Senators and Assembly members signaled support for most proposals but questioned specific funding levels and implementation. Chair Michelle Hinchey emphasized the importance of protecting farmland while supporting renewable energy, and multiple legislators expressed concern about federal funding cuts affecting state programs. The hearing set the stage for budget negotiations, with advocates and legislators already positioning priorities for the 30-day amendments and final budget passage.

Topic Summary

This joint hearing examined Governor Hochul's proposed 2025-2026 budget allocations for the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Testimony covered agricultural support programs, farmland preservation, dairy modernization, state parks capital funding, and various environmental and recreational initiatives. Key issues included workforce housing for farmworkers, climate-resilient farming, solar development on farmland, and park infrastructure needs.

Testimony (12)

Richard A. Ball agency_official informational

Commissioner, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Commissioner Ball presented the Executive Budget proposal of $364 million for Agriculture & Markets, highlighting continued commitment to New York agriculture with 60% funding increases over the Governor's first two budgets. He detailed initiatives including $10 million for Dairy Modernization Grants, $4 million for FreshConnect, $5 million increase for Nourish New York, $5 million for Farmworker Housing, and $51 million for State Fair capital improvements. He addressed concerns about federal funding changes, workforce shortages, avian flu, and solar development impacts on farmland.

New York has nearly 32,000 farms and is among the nation's top producers of more than 30 different commodities verifiable

Dairy farming makes up half of New York's agricultural economy verifiable

Governor's first two budgets increased funding for agriculture by 60 percent verifiable

About $103 million flows from federal government to Department of Agriculture and Markets, mostly from USDA verifiable

Between 40 and 50 percent of New York farmworkers do not have proper documentation verifiable

In the prior administration, there was a 270 percent increase in ICE activity and border patrol raids on New York farms verifiable

Over 100,000 acres of farmland were preserved last year verifiable

Climate-Smart Commodities Program is a $60 million project for New York State that has been paused by the federal government verifiable

Randy Simons agency_official informational

Commissioner Pro Tem and Chief of Staff, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Commissioner Simons presented the Parks budget highlighting record visitation of 88 million visitors in 2024 (4.5% increase, 12th consecutive year of growth). He detailed major initiatives including NY SWIMS ($150 million in grants for swimming infrastructure), Get Offline Get Outside (free pool entry generating 36% attendance increase and 400% increase in swim lessons), and Unplug and Play ($200 million investment). He discussed capital improvements, the Ryder Cup 2025 at Bethpage, veterans' Lifetime Liberty Pass expansion (900% increase to 12,000 passes), and safety investments of $53 million.

88 million visitors came to state parks in 2024, a 4.5 percent increase over prior year verifiable

This marks 12 consecutive record years of visitation at state parks verifiable

NY SWIMS awarded $150 million in grants to municipalities for 37 projects statewide verifiable

542,000 people used state park pools during summer 2024 after fee waiver verifiable

Free swimming lessons increased by 400 percent to more than 2,000 children verifiable

Veterans' Lifetime Liberty Passes increased by 900 percent from approximately 1,200 annually to over 12,000 verifiable

$53 million was dedicated to improving safety technology infrastructure, staff training, and public awareness verifiable

Nearly 50 new Park Police officers were recruited since last year verifiable

Current Park Police force size is 243, expected to drop to 235 by October due to attrition verifiable

Parks generate approximately $136 million in annual revenue from fees and sales verifiable

Katie Baildon advocate supportive

Policy Coordinator, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)

Baildon testified on behalf of NOFA-NY, requesting $250,000 in funding including $40,000 to expand access for underserved producers, $50,000 to supplement USDA funding for events, and $160,000 to expand technical assistance capacity. She highlighted that New York ranks third nationally in organic farms and noted uncertainty around federal USDA grants due to administration changes. She also requested state funding to address an $800,000 federal funding gap for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program affecting approximately 2,000 farms and food businesses.

Kyle Wallach advocate supportive

Associate Director of Public Policy, New York Farm Bureau

Wallach testified on behalf of New York Farm Bureau, the state's largest general agricultural advocacy organization. He highlighted the struggling farm economy with razor-thin margins due to increasing input and labor costs. He praised several budget proposals but identified funding gaps, emphasizing the importance of Cornell CALS programs, research and promotion programs, and the refundable investment tax credit. He requested adding farm housing construction and rehabilitation to eligible expenses, increasing the Farmworker Housing Revolving Loan Fund cap from $200,000 to $400,000, and extending the Farm Workforce Retention Tax Credit.

Allyson Jones-Brimmer advocate supportive

VP of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, Northeast Dairy Producers Association

Jones-Brimmer testified for NEDPA, expressing excitement about several budget proposals including workforce and employee housing, transportation, and climate initiatives. However, she highlighted a 'glaring omission': the lack of a proposal to fix the Farm Employer Overtime Tax Credit, which the Legislature unanimously passed last session but the Governor vetoed. She requested the Senate and Assembly advance legislation in their one-house budgets for a retroactive fix. She also requested increasing the Farmworker Housing Program to $15 million total, raising the per-project cap to $400,000, and increasing support for PRO-DAIRY programs.

Josh Stephani advocate supportive

Manager, Adirondack Food System Network

Stephani testified on behalf of the Adirondack Food System Network regarding North Country farming challenges. He highlighted the disappearance of farms and aging farmer population, noting Hamilton County has lost nearly all its farms. He emphasized the need for programs addressing extreme weather, farmland protection, farmworker housing, and the Environmental Protection Fund. He called for raising Nourish New York and HPNAP budgets to $75 million each and supporting Farm-to-School programs, noting these connect local food economies with communities and farmers.

Bill Ketzer advocate supportive

Senior Legislative Director, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Ketzer testified in support of the Companion Animal Capital Fund, noting New York's progress from being behind other northeastern states on animal sheltering to becoming a national leader. He highlighted the 2017 creation of a registry for animal rescue organizations and the 2017 establishment of the first Companion Animal Capital Fund in the nation, which has provided $33 million to support capital projects for over 70 animal shelters. He requested the Legislature renew commitment with a legacy allocation of $5 million in addition to the Governor's $5 million proposal, bringing the total to $10 million, noting outstanding capital needs exceed $77 million.

Brian Shapiro advocate supportive

New York State Director, Humane Society of the United States

Shapiro testified in support of the Companion Animal Capital Fund and requested $5 million from the Legislature to match the Governor's proposal for a total of $10 million. He highlighted the essential services shelters provide beyond adoptions, including surrenders, pet retention programs, food pantries, humane law enforcement, and low-cost spay and neuter services. He also requested support for an Animal Crimes Fund to reimburse shelters for costs of holding live evidence in criminal cases, noting shelters are often the only entities responsible for this without reimbursement.

Libby Post advocate supportive

Executive Director, New York State Animal Protection Federation

Post testified in support of the Companion Animal Capital Fund, requesting $5 million from the Legislature to match the Governor's $5 million proposal. She noted approximately 50 applicants for the current RFP and explained that reappropriations should not discourage additional funding due to delays in contract execution. She highlighted problems with the State Financial System (SFS) that delayed the RFP deadline by 25 days. She also requested a $2.5 million Animal Crimes Fund as a reimbursement program, citing a rolling survey showing 28 cases with $604,000 in costs where shelters only recouped $109,000 (18%).

Will Coté advocate supportive

Senior Director, Public Lands Parks & Trails, Parks & Trails New York

Coté testified in support of the Governor's proposal of $200 million in capital funding for State Parks, noting record visitation of 88 million and a $2 billion backlog in the parks system. He called for increasing the Environmental Protection Fund to $500 million, noting the real estate transfer tax collected over $1 billion in 2024. He requested increasing the Park and Trail Partnership Grant program from $2.5 million to $4 million and expanding the Connect Kids to Parks program to $5 million. He also requested an additional $10 million in DEC capital funding to expand accessibility to public lands.

Carli Fraccarolli advocate supportive

Government Relations Manager, Scenic Hudson

Fraccarolli testified on behalf of Scenic Hudson, a land trust and environmental advocacy organization that has created over 45 parks and protected almost 23,000 acres of farmland on 150 family farms since 1992. She requested increasing the Climate Resilient Farming program allocation within the Environmental Protection Fund from the Governor's proposed $15.25 million to $33 million. She noted that last year the program received $33 million in USDA Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities funding but still could not fulfill all funding requests totaling approximately $49 million.

Julian Mangano advocate supportive

New York Policy Manager, American Farmland Trust

Mangano testified on behalf of American Farmland Trust, the nation's leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland. He highlighted that New York's farm and food economy is worth $85.8 billion and supports nearly 300,000 jobs across 6 million acres and over 30,000 farms. However, from 2017 to 2022, New York lost nearly 364,000 acres of farmland, and at this rate risks losing another 452,000 acres by 2040, jeopardizing 2,500 farms and 7,000 jobs. He requested raising the Farmland Protection budget to $25 million within a $500 million EPF, funding Farmland for a New Generation at $1 million, including breakfast in the 30 percent Farm-to-School initiative, and deploying the $150 million from the Environmental Bond Act for farmland protection.

New York's farm and food economy is worth $85.8 billion and supports nearly 300,000 jobs verifiable

New York has over 6 million acres in farms and over 30,000 farms verifiable

From 2017 to 2022, New York lost nearly 364,000 acres of farmland verifiable

At current rate, New York risks losing another 452,000 acres by 2040 verifiable

This would jeopardize 2,500 farms and 7,000 jobs verifiable

60 percent of New York producers are over age 55 verifiable

90 percent of New York farmers lack transition plans verifiable

At 19 cents reimbursement, 2023-2024 Farm-to-School purchasing was $3.1 million verifiable

At 25 cents reimbursement, Farm-to-School purchasing would reach $4.1 million verifiable

Senator Engagement (11)

Senator	Engagement	Stance	Focus Areas	Summary
Sen. Chris Ryan	low	supportive	State Fair capital improvements Fair as economic driver	New Senator Ryan asked about State Fair capital projects and their role as an economic development driver for his district.
Sen. George M. Borrello	moderate	skeptical	Wetland regulations and farmland productivity Solar development on farmland Agrivoltaics implementation Milk processing funding	Ranker Borrello questioned regulatory impacts on farmers and expressed concerns about solar development consuming productive farmland. He asked about guardrails for milk processing funding to ensure small farms benefit.
Sen. Jim Tedisco	moderate	supportive	Affordability as budget priority Parks and agriculture as economic drivers Accessibility to parks and recreation	Ranker Tedisco framed questions around affordability as a state priority and asked how parks and agriculture can help address this goal. He signaled support for both sectors as economic drivers.
Sen. José M. Serrano	high	supportive	Parks accessibility and community connections NY BRICKS, NY PLAYS, NY SWIMS programs Capital improvements at flagship parks Lake algal blooms and water quality Park stewardship and volunteer engagement	Chair Serrano asked about expanding park access to underserved communities and connecting people to parks. He expressed concern about infrastructure needs and algal bloom management, signaling support for parks investment.
Sen. Liz Krueger	high	supportive	Federal parks funding and state responsibility Agricultural emissions and climate goals NYC farmers market system and Hunts Point food hub Wine sales in supermarkets Food safety and USDA inspections Avian flu crisis and duck farm impacts	Chair Krueger asked substantive questions about federal policy impacts, climate change, food systems, and wine sales. She signaled support for agricultural initiatives and expressed concern about federal funding cuts affecting state responsibilities.
Sen. Michelle Hinchey	high	supportive	School food programs and local farm purchasing Hemp processing infrastructure Farm Overtime Tax Credit Farmland preservation Federal funding changes and USDA programs Agrivoltaics and solar development Farmland protection and conservation easements	Chair Hinchey asked detailed questions about agricultural programs, expressing strong support for local food systems, farmland protection, and addressing federal funding uncertainties. She advocated for expanding breakfast in school food programs and increasing farmland preservation funding.
Sen. Nathalia Fernandez	low	supportive	Black and socially disadvantaged farmers funding Beginning farmers programs	Sen. Fernandez asked about the status of programs for Black and socially disadvantaged farmers that were discontinued in the current budget proposal.
Sen. Pamela Helming	none	unclear		Sen. Helming was listed as present but did not ask questions during the hearing.
Sen. Patricia Fahy	moderate	supportive	Conservation easements and farmland protection Smart-growth planning Veterans' park access programs Public transportation to parks	Sen. Fahy asked about conservation easements and smart-growth planning to balance farmland protection with development. She commended veterans' programs and asked about accessibility for those without cars.
Sen. Peter Oberacker	moderate	supportive	Park accessibility and boat launches Park safety and security	Sen. Oberacker asked about accessibility improvements at parks in his district and expressed concern about park safety following recent incidents.
Sen. Thomas F. O'Mara	high	skeptical	Apple Growers Association funding cuts Farm Viability Institute funding ORDA ski resort funding and private sector competition Industrial hemp support	Ranker O'Mara questioned significant line-item cuts to agricultural programs and raised concerns about fairness of state funding to ORDA ski facilities versus private ski operations. He expressed support for hemp industry development.