OBSERVER Photos by Gregory Bacon Pictured from left are, Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, addressing the audience Tuesday during a Farm Bill Listening Session in Portland, N. Y.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, NY-23, and Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, PA-15, visited Cornell Cooperative Extension’s facility in Portland where they held a Farm Bill Listening Session to hear last-minute input on what citizens, including farmers and community leaders, want to see in the next Farm Bill.

Thompson noted that the Farm Bill is expiring this fall. The new one will be for five years.

In the House, they have started writing the next Farm Bill, but they’re still seeking input. So far they’ve had around 70 listening sessions in 34 states, plus Puerto Rico.

Thompson said Tuesday he was there to listen. “My priorities are your priorities,” he said.

It was a full crowd at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tuesday in Portland at the Farm Bill Listening Session. Around 30 people spoke during the public portion, while others submitted their comments in writing.

Langworthy thanked Thompson as well as the organizers of Tuesday’s event. He said when it comes to farming, Democrats and Republicans have historically worked together. “We understand that this bill needs to represent all of America. Agriculture does not need to be a partisan issue,” he said.

Langworthy, who represents the largest concord grape growing region in the United States, said one of his priorities is to make sure the specialty crop industry is well represented. “Just our grape industry alone contributes 9,597 jobs to our economy. That includes tourism and similar jobs created by all the vineyards,” he said.

Some of the struggles he’s heard form area farmers include burdensome regulations, high labor costs, and increasing energy prices.

That’s why Langworthy said the Farm Bill is important to America. “Food security is national security,” he said.

About 30 people spoke during Tuesday’s listening session. Speakers included farmers, representatives from the insurance industry, manufacturers, and food bank organizations.

OBSERVER Photos by Gregory Bacon New York FFA President Ella Underberg of Springville speaks at the NY 23 Farm Bill Listening Session Tuesday at the Cornell Cooperative Extension facility. Pictured with her from right are FFA District 9 President Tristan Hammer of Springville, FFA District 8 President Ryan Dann of Penn Yan and Farm Bureau member Richard Kimball who moderated the discussion.

Sara Beaver, a loan officer with Farm Credit East, was the first person to speak. She said maintaining a strong effective and flexible crop insurance program should be a top priority.

She also said they want to support young farmers, but they need assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture for loan tools. “Given inflation and the high asset values in the northeast, the current guarantee value of just over $2 million can be a limiting factor. We ask Congress to consider raising that,” she said.

Kevin Ellis of Upstate Niagara Cooperative, called on Congress to restore the higher level of Class One pricing for dairy. He said farmers lost $230 million in 2022, due to the lower levels being used now.

Nathan Pistner, the president of the New York State Cheese Manufacturers Association, said he wants to see whole milk, cheese and yogurt added to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Other speakers addressed the issue of minerals needed for fertilizer which come from China and Russia, how energy companies are buying up farmland, the growing issue of food insecurity in America, and how climate change is impacting farmers.

Pictured is Sara Beaver with Farm Credit East speaking during the Farm Bill Listening Session Tuesday in Portland.

Langworthy thanked everyone who was in attendance. He called the listening session “incredibly educational” as they prepare to finalize the legislation. “This is going to help us build text for the Farm Bill and I’m so grateful that Chairman Thompson was able to share some of his time with us, to hear from our farmers and our growers in Western New York,” he said.

Thompson said when it comes to agriculture, America is in a good place. “We are way ahead of any other country in the world. There are others that are spending more money in research to try and catch us, but they’re a long ways from reaching us of where we are with our science and technology. Let’s not lose that lead role,” he said.

Fred Johnson with Johnson Estate Winery in Westfield is pictured speaking at the Tuesday's event.