Photo: Yulia Naumenko / Moment / Getty Images
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing forward with a $30 million relief package for farmers affected by tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump's administration, despite criticism that the move is politically motivated.
The proposed Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program, included in Hochul's executive budget, would provide direct payments to specialty crop growers, livestock producers, and dairy farmers across New York state. The governor, who is running for re-election this year, has framed the initiative as essential support for an agricultural sector that has been "hit hard by the Trump tariffs."
"It's not going to make up the difference, clearly," acknowledged New York Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball during a recent joint legislative budget hearing. Ball noted that farms in the North Country near the Canadian border have been particularly vulnerable to tariff impacts, with some farmers seeing monthly grain costs increase by $10,000 due to trade restrictions.
New York, home to approximately 30,000 farms ranging from small family operations to industrial powerhouses, has seen significant disruptions from tariffs. According to a report by the state, 80% of agrochemical imports and 70% of farm machinery imports come from countries subject to U.S. tariffs, while dairy exports declined by 12% during the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year.
The program has drawn support from some agricultural advocates but has also faced criticism from Republican lawmakers. Assemblyman Chris Tague, a Republican and former dairy farm owner, called the proposal a "political stunt" and questioned its effectiveness, suggesting that if divided equally among New York farms, each operation would receive only a few thousand dollars.
"Any time that you're going to do something to help farmers, I would definitely be in favor of it, but you've got to tell me what you're going to do and why we're going to do it," Tague said, according to Lancaster Farming.
Details about how the program would work remain scarce, with Ball dodging questions about how the $30 million figure was determined or how funds would be disbursed. He indicated that all farms affected by tariffs should be eligible, but payments might be based on farm size since larger operations may have suffered greater losses.
The New York Farm Bureau has expressed support for the state tariff aid, while farmers themselves have shown cautious interest in the potential relief. Derek Grout, who runs a distillery at Golden Harvest Farms in Valatie, appreciates the governor making agricultural support a priority as farmers face market disruptions.
"We're seeing a kind of hollowing out of discretionary spending at the farm stand and in the distillery tasting room as people tighten their belts," Grout noted.
Hochul's broader agenda, outlined in her State of the State address, positions New York as a bulwark against Trump administration policies while addressing affordability concerns for residents. The tariff relief program represents just one component of this dual approach.
As the budget negotiations continue, farmers across New York will be watching closely to see if and how this proposed relief materializes, and whether it will provide meaningful support to an industry facing multiple economic challenges beyond just tariffs.