Maloney (back of table, right): “We need to help young farmers …”
NEW WINDSOR – Area farmers presented a laundry list of concerns to Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney on Monday as lawmakers consider a new farm bill.
Meeting at the Orange County Land Trust offices in New Windsor, the farmers told Maloney they need better federal insurance to cover crop losses along with other issues.
“We need better research into improving yields on smaller farms because that is what we deal with here,” Maloney said. “We need to support efforts to fight invasive species. We need to focus on the special needs of muck soil regions like we have in Orange County. We need to help young farmers get on the farmland.”
The last farm bill was passed in 2014 and Maloney said he wants to make sure Washington takes into account smaller, family-owned farms like those in the Hudson Valley. He said federal policy tends to focus on big farms in the Midwest.
