New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said he’s worried federal policies are hurting the state’s farmers.
DiNapoli issued a report Tuesday that concluded tariffs have impacted dairy exports. They declined a reported 12% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Tariffs have also caused farmers to pay more for fertilizers and farm equipment, the report found.
Meanwhile, DiNapoli says immigration policies have also hurt. Many farms use migrant workers on special H2A visas, which have been severely curtailed by the White House. Many other immigrant workers, he added, are not showing up for fear of workplace raids, regardless of their immigration status.
The report noted that the U.S. Department of Labor recognized the problem as a serious issue for the nation’s food supply.
“There is real concern in rural New York about federal cuts, tariffs and labor shortages,” DiNapoli said in a release. “New York’s farms are a vital part of the state’s economy and our local food supply, and we need policies that strengthen, not undermine their production and that lower, not drive up, prices in the grocery store.”
View the full report.
