NYCSGA Members Set the Course for FY 2026 Policy Priorities

Through the 2026 Policy Priority Survey, growers across the state shared their perspectives on the most pressing issues facing their farms — from input costs to trade access — providing valuable guidance to the NYCSGA Board as it establishes FY26 priorities.

Farmer Voices, Clear Direction

Survey respondents represented operations of all sizes and regions across New York, but one message came through loud and clear: farmers want reliable access to affordable inputs, strong markets for their crops, and policy certainty to support long-term investment in their farms.

The top-ranked policy priorities included:

• Fertilizer and input supply chain reliability
• Export promotion and trade access
• Farmland preservation and renewable energy siting
• Tax and transition policies, including the estate tax and depreciation rules
• Support for new uses of soybeans and corn, including high oleic and livestock feed applications

Farmers also reinforced the importance of maintaining Right-to-Farm protections, risk management tools, and continued support for dairy and livestock feed markets.

Board-Identified Focus Areas for FY26

Building on farmer input, the NYCSGA Board established several focus areas to guide advocacy work in FY26:

• Input Reliability & Affordability: Work with partners and policymakers to stabilize fertilizer supply and pricing, ensuring farms can remain competitive.
• Market Growth & Trade Expansion: Advocate for export programs and trade agreements that expand markets for New York-grown soybeans and corn.
• Renewable Energy & Farmland Preservation: Support renewable energy growth while protecting productive farmland and maintaining local control in siting decisions.
• Farm Profitability & Transition: Continue pushing for fair tax and depreciation policies that support generational transition and equipment investment.
• Innovation & New Uses: Promote the value of high oleic soybeans, feed applications, and bio-based products that create new demand for growers’ crops.

Growing Together

NYCSGA’s work in Albany and Washington, D.C. continues to be grounded in what matters most to its members. These survey results ensure your voice drives the Association’s priorities — keeping our advocacy rooted in real farm experience.

Your people are in the field — and at the table, fighting for you.