Senator Helming, NYFB and Cornell AgriTech Lead State Legislators on Farm Tour of the Finger Lakes

Jul 11, 2023

Senator Pam Helming, the New York Farm Bureau and Cornell AgriTech partnered to bring state legislators together for a tour of Ontario County farms, businesses, and research institutions to showcase how local talent and innovation is helping protect and grow New York's agriculture industry. Stops included Delong Grain, Cornell AgriTech, Big aLICe Brewing, Finger Lakes Institute, J. Minns Farms, and Hemdale Farms.

The tour highlighted how farmers and agribusinesses are promoting environmental stewardship, advancing responsible farming practices, and protecting the region's natural resources. Legislators saw how artificial intelligence and robotics are used to mitigate crop disease and how research is helping to combat invasive species and harmful algal blooms. There are 32,000 family farms in New York State and about 20 percent of the state’s land area is farmland.

Source : nysenate.gov

Video: Agriculture Secretary Rollins Speaks at American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim

One of the highlights at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California, was an address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. During her remarks, she thanked America’s farmers and ranchers and said the Trump Administration is fully aware that food security is national security.

She also acknowledged the challenging times in Farm Country with low commodity prices and high input costs and said that’s why the President stepped in to help with the recent Bridge Assistance Program.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck says that Farm Bureau members are appreciative of the help and looks forward to working with the American Farm Bureau Federation and its presence in Washington, DC to keep farmers and ranchers in business.

Secretary Rollins said the Trump Administration is also committed to helping ranchers build back America’s cattle herd while also providing more high-quality U.S. beef at the meat case for consumers.

And she also announced more assistance for specialty crop producers who only received a fraction of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA).

It’s important to note that producers who qualify for Farmer Bridge Assistance can expect the Farm Service Agency to start issuing payments in late February. For more information, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.