{"id":10742,"date":"2019-08-22T23:21:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T03:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=10742"},"modified":"2019-08-22T23:21:49","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T03:21:49","slug":"wny-hawley-tours-local-farms-listening-to-farmers-after-the-passage-of-the-farm-labor-bill-that-threatens-operations-in-nys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2019\/08\/22\/wny-hawley-tours-local-farms-listening-to-farmers-after-the-passage-of-the-farm-labor-bill-that-threatens-operations-in-nys\/","title":{"rendered":"WNY\/Hawley tours local farms listening to farmers after the passage of the Farm Labor Bill that threatens operations in NYS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Hawley listens as Christian Yunker talks about operations at CY Farms in Elba<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Assemblyman Steve Hawley toured farms in Genesee, Orleans and Monroe Counties today to listen to worried farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After passage of the Farm Labor Bill in NYS in July, farmers are concerned about losing their workers who come to the area on the H2A Program. The program permits farmers to employ non-immigrant alien workers (guest workers) and they can perform any type of farm work, seasonal or temporary, for a maximum of ten months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Farm Labor Bill will change the way farms currently operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill establishes the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act to protect farm worker rights and it ensures equitable housing and working conditions. The bill grants farm workers overtime pay, a day of rest each week, disability and Paid Family Leave coverage, unemployment benefits and other labor protections. The bill will take effect\u00a0on January 1, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Hawley with Craig Yunker and the turf grass harvester<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The biggest worry at CY Farms in Elba is hours and overtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They farm 6300 acres, have about 3,000 heifers and farm in three counties in NYS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“These folks that come are here to work,” says Craig Yunker, Managing Partner at CY Farms & Batavia Turf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They are here for a limited amount of time and they can only stay a few months. The are not here to take weekends off and picnic with their families cause their families are not here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H2A workers currently make $13.25 per hour plus transportation at CY Farms. The Yunkers say their H2A workers from South Africa are working 70-80 hours a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Heifer facility used for artificial insemination process<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Under the rules of the new law, the Yunkers say they can only be at a maximum of 60 hours. The Yunkers say they will not be able to stay in business and pay their workers that extra money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Their whole focus is to work as many hours as they can while they are here. When farmers say we can’t afford to pay you time and a half over 60 hours, they are going to be disappointed they can’t work more hours and they will be wanting to go to other states.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawley says some farmers in Genesee County have purchased farms in other states already and are flying back and forth to these states to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Hawley with Christian Yunker checking out the muck, soil that was created after draining a large swamp located between Albion and Batavia at the turn of the century. Most of the work in the swamp was completed by Polish and Italian immigrants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He says its not too late to try and change things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawley says he is looking to work with the Governor and both majorities starting in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says the Wage Board will determine what will happen with this bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Board is made up of the Commissioner of Labor, a member of AFLCIO and a member of the Farm Bureau. Hawley was hoping a few others could be added to the Board such as the Commissioner of Ag & Markets and a member of the agricultural community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The wage board is able to change any portion of this law any time they want to.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You can always amend laws and do the right thing,” says Hawley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawley also visited Zuber Farms in Churchville, Kludt Brothers Farm in Kendall and Lynn-ette & Sons Inc. in Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Checking out the turf on Transit road in Elba. The turf needs mowing 2-4 times per week and it take s 2 years to grow turf to maturity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Assemblyman Steve Hawley toured farms in Genesee, Orleans and Monroe Counties today to listen to worried farmers. After passage of the Farm Labor Bill in NYS in July, farmers are concerned about losing their workers who come to the area on the H2A Program. The program permits farmers to employ \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10738,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[919],"tags":[1773,1155],"class_list":["post-10742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wny","tag-farm-tour","tag-steve-hawley"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-2Ng","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":72821,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/nys-hawley-attends-press-conference-regarding-energy-crisis-facing-new-york-residents\/","url_meta":{"origin":10742,"position":0},"title":"NYS\/Hawley attends press conference regarding energy crisis facing New York residents","author":"aka","date":"February 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Information from a provided press release Assemblyman Steve Hawley joined his colleagues in Albany yesterday at a press conference in the state Capitol where he called for immediate action to lower energy costs and strengthen grid reliability for upstate New York families, farmers and manufacturers. \u201cUpstate produces the food, power\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "NYS"","block_context":{"text":"NYS","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/nys\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5612,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2018\/08\/15\/genesee-county-oakfield-democratic-bronx-assemblyman-tours-farms-and-businesses-as-a-guest-of-assemblyman-steve-hawley\/","url_meta":{"origin":10742,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Oakfield\/Democratic Bronx Assemblyman tours farms and businesses as a guest of Assemblyman Steve Hawley","author":"aka","date":"August 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The two have known each other for about 12 years, but got to know each other better when they served on the Veteran Affairs committee together for about 7 years. 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Schumer yesterday revealed, following his major push, that the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), in tandem with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, have confirmed the legality of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"hemp\"","block_context":{"text":"hemp","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/tag\/hemp\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Hemp-still-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Hemp-still-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Hemp-still-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Hemp-still-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71331,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/01\/10\/genesee-county-22nd-annual-celebrate-agriculture-dinner-tickets-are-now-available\/","url_meta":{"origin":10742,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/22nd Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner tickets are now available","author":"aka","date":"January 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release Plans are well underway for the 22nd Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner which will take place Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 5:00pm at the Alexander Fire Hall. 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