NFIB in New York joined with business community allies and the New York State Association of Counties to call on Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Roberta Reardon to reject the farm labor wage board’s recommendation to lower the farmworker overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours.
Small farms and the agricultural community, like all small businesses, are battling out-of-control inflation, record-high gas prices, severe labor shortages, and problematic supply chain disruptions. These challenges are unsustainable and are pushing farms to the brink.
Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s New York state director said, “New York’s family farms are already facing the highest costs this industry has ever seen. Farms are reeling from inflation, diesel prices, and other input costs that continue to rise. They’re grappling with unemployment insurance taxes and a volatile global economy. Any overtime threshold lower than 60 hours will have severe negative consequences on the state’s agriculture industry and our local food supply. Gov. Hochul, now is not the time to increase costs for family farms. The overtime threshold needs to stay at 60 hours.”
