NYFB President David Fisher: We Must Fix Climate Policy So It Works for New York’s Farmers

NYFB President David Fisher: We Must Fix Climate Policy So It Works for New York's Farmers

Farms are under increasing financial pressure. Building in some flexibility to the CLCPA will give farmers some breathing room while still reducing emissions.

By David Fisher
Published in the Times Union on April 17, 2026

New York's farmers are on the front lines of a changing environment, facing challenges from unpredictable weather to shifting growing conditions. Farmers want to be part of the climate solution - but climate policy must be practical to work.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act set ambitious goals for reducing emissions. But it's clear that certain aspects of the law need to be updated to reflect real-world conditions, particularly for agriculture.

The cost pressures facing farmers are intensifying at an alarming rate, all while profit margins decrease. We must equip farmers with the tools they need to achieve financial stability. Only then can they continue to promote long-term environmental sustainability and resilience.

The cost pressures facing farmers are intensifying at an alarming rate, all while profit margins decrease. We must equip farmers with the tools they need to achieve financial stability. Only then can they continue to promote long-term environmental sustainability and resilience.

• A mushroom farmer in Niagara County reports that her electric bill is three times the normal amount, despite using the same amount of electricity. She fears she will lose her farm.
• A commercial fruit grower in Orleans County who houses workers on his farm says the average electric bill per housing unit has increased by $200 to $500 per month. An unoccupied unit saw average bills rise from $37 to almost $200 per month.
• A sheep farmer in Genesee County says her electric bills are the highest in 40 years, even though she uses natural gas for heating and cooking. She cannot increase her wool and meat products at a pace that can keep up.
• A dairy farmer in Oneida County reports his electric bills have nearly doubled, despite using energy-efficient practices, and despite using significantly less electricity. This rate hike, combined with record-low milk prices and high feed prices, has put an unbearable strain on the farm's finances.

The demand for electricity is growing faster than New York's grid can sustain, causing serious concerns about grid capacity and reliability. If electrification were rapidly expanded without ensuring the grid can support it, it would further increase costs and create dangerous instability for both rural and urban communities.

Plus, when it comes to agriculture, electrification has practical limits. Heavy-duty equipment like tractors and combines require consistent, high-powered output that current battery and electric technologies are not yet able to deliver at scale.

That's why a more flexible, diversified approach to emissions reduction is essential. We must include a clean fuel standard as part of the solution. Incentivizing the use of lower-carbon fuels can help drive emissions reductions while maintaining energy reliability and affordability. Biofuels - including biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel - offer a practical, lower-carbon alternative that works with existing equipment and infrastructure. These options allow farmers to reduce emissions today, without waiting for technologies that may still be years away from widespread adoption.

Farmers are already contributing to a more sustainable future. Across New York, many are investing in technologies like anaerobic digesters that convert manure and food waste into renewable energy, reducing emissions while improving waste management and creating new revenue streams.

New York's climate goals are important. Achieving them requires policies grounded in economic and operational reality. We must update the CLCPA to address cost pressures, grid limitations and the unique needs of agriculture. With thoughtful adjustments and a broader approach to energy solutions, New York can reduce emissions while keeping its farms - and its food supply - strong and prepared for the next generation of farmers.

David Fisher is president of the board of directors of New York Farm Bureau and the owner of Mapleview Dairy in St. Lawrence County.

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_{New York Farm Bureau is the state's largest general agricultural advocacy organization. Its members and the public know the organization as "The Voice of New York Agriculture." New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.}