Farmers in New York state have some concerns as they begin the new year. Changing federal and state policies seem to be the driving forces behind their worries.

“The uncertainty about agricultural labor right now is probably foremost in most of agriculture's mind," said Doug Shelmindine, co-owner of Sheland Farms.

What You Need To Know

  • New York farmers have some concerns this year

  • Potential deportations of workers and transitioning to renewable energy are some of the top issues they face

  • The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is helping address those concerns by offering financial assistance

Their main farm has been around for more than a century. But Shelmindine is concerned about what potential deportations could mean for farmers who rely on help from non-U.S. citizens.

Americans just aren't signing up to do farm work in the numbers needed.

“We're hopeful that food production is important enough, that that risk is hopefully low in New York and that they will be after other aspects of immigrants that are here illegally and maybe not here for the right reasons," said Kim Skellie, the owner/operator of El-Vi Farms.

“If we don't have the workers, eventually, we'll have to import food rather than workers," said Shelmindine.

Lawmakers said identifying how new federal immigration policies will impact New York state is one of their top priorities this session.

Another issue farmers are raising is the push to transition to renewable energy. 

Farmers on Thursday attended the 193rd Annual Meeting and Agricultural Forum in Syracuse, hosted by the New York State Agricultural Society. One of the forum’s themes this year was technology.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is helping address the concerns by offering “financial assistance to identify energy efficiency upgrades for eligible farms and on-farm producers.”

It also has the Rural Energy for America Program giving farmers support with updates to energy audits and preparing grant application materials for free.

Still, some feel the cost and speed to make the change is a challenge, as well as having technology that meets industry demands.

“Do they have battery power that can last like 16-hour days when the weather is good and you have to go? Or can you only work for seven, eight hours and they have to stop to recharge them before they can go back at it again?" Skellie said.

Farmers want a seat at the table for talks about helping the environment, and there is an ongoing need for people to understand what goes into the food in their kitchens.

“It's up to us as farms and farm organizations to educate the public and keep them kind of in the know as they have less and less affiliation with how food is grown," said Skellie.

The state’s agricultural commissioner is confident in the industry’s ability to overcome the challenges.