NEW YORK – Representatives from the New York State Farm Bureau traveled to the nation’s capital last week and discussed several challenges facing farming communities.

“Milk prices are in their fourth year of a low-price cycle, net farm income continues to fall, and it is a struggle for most farms in this farm economy,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher during a press conference Tuesday.

Fisher said the bureau would like to see programs relating to Dairy Revenue Protection, Whole Farm Revenue Protection, and cost-sharing conservation make their way into new legislature––especially the upcoming Farm Bill renewal.

He explained that a Dairy Revenue Protection program would allow farmers to buy a commodity insurance, which would let individuals choose the value of milk that would be protected as well as the amount of production to cover.

Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers said that milk prices are definitely something that needs to be further addressed, as it affects a large populace of Chenango County.

Fisher said the Whole Farm Revenue Protection program would provide risk management for all commodities on the farm under one insurance policy, including any farm that grows specialty or organic crops, as well as those that have livestock.