Ag Matters – NY Farm Bureau Against Hike In Minimum Wage

The monetary belt is already tight for most New York farmers and the Farm Bureau says a raise in the minimum wage would make it even tighter.  One farmer says unlike companies and retailers, farmers can't just increase the price of their product to cover the additional cost.

According to USDA statistics, NY Farmers pay an average wage of $12.15 an hour.   However, forcing them to increase all wages to $9 or $10 an hour will put them at a competitive disadvantage with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin where the pay remains at $7.25 an hour.

Sandie Prokop, a dairy farmer with Crossbrook Farm in Schoharie County, estimates a $1.75 wage increase and additional payroll taxes for her six employees would add an additional $44,354 to her payroll.

 

Adding to the burden are falling milk prices, that are like to sink even more in March.  You can read the article in it's entirety at Farm Bureau's website.

SOURCE: NY Farm Bureau.com