Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C,I-Horicon) joined his Minority colleagues on Tuesday to once again call on Gov. Hochul and Labor Commissioner Reardon to not adhere to the Wage Board’s recommendation of lowering the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours. The lawmakers were also joined by Jeff Williams, New York State Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy, Brian Reeves, President of NYS Vegetable Growers Association and owner of Reeves Farm, Sarah Dressel-Nickles, owner of Dressel Farms and Nate Chittenden, co-owner of Dutch Hollow Farm. Legislators, industry leaders and farmers all believe a lowering of the overtime threshold would cause economic devastation for the family farm in New York.

“Here in Albany, I have been proud to join my Assembly Minority colleagues in pushing back on the Wage Board recommendation that would lower the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours. 98% of the farms in this state are considered ‘family farms’ who are already operating at tight profit margins from a myriad of issues. A pandemic, 40-year high inflation, supply chain issues and burdensome regulations out of Albany just to name a few.

“In today’s press conference we got to hear directly from agriculture industry leaders and farmers themselves. Their message is in line with 70% of testimony that was delivered infront of the Wage Board, a lowering of the threshold would be a crushing economic blow for farms in New York state.

“I urge Gov. Hochul and Labor Commissioner Reardon to take today’s message to heart. They can ignore the recommendation made by the Wage Board and keep the threshold at 60 hours. The fate of the family farm rests squarely in their hands and we will be watching,” concluded Simpson.