New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey was one of several high-profile lawmakers who came to Marlborough this summer to address the crisis local farmers are facing after the devastating April frost that wiped out many of their crops. Her efforts, along with those of the Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, state Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson, Rep. Pat Ryan, Senators Schumer and Gillbrand, and the Ulster County legislature, helped successfully pressure the USDA into approving federal aid for New York fruit growers.

That’s why Sen. Hinchey is fighting to create a Farm Security Resiliency Grant program to help farmers recover from future crop losses caused by extreme weather events. Sen. Hinchey is also a strong supporter of several initiatives that protect local farmland and wrote legislation to expand New York’s Farm to School Program to give farmers new markets and students access to healthy food grown by local farmers. She has also been fighting to raise the SNAP minimum benefit from $25 to $100 to support New York families.

Senator Michelle Hinchey has been our stalwart advocate in Albany, and I am excited about the opportunity to vote for her again to continue representing Marlborough and the rest of the 41st senate district. I urge all voters to do the same on November 3rd.