SYRACUSE -- Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle admits she was surprised a bit by the passion behind the complaints about government regulation she heard at a special hearing.
Businesses, farmers and governments voiced their concerns directly to a member of congress at the Southside Innovation Center on Wednesday afternoon. Some farmers said it's no longer fun to farm because of the impediments they face. Instead of tending to crops and herds, they are mired in paperwork and red tape, especially when it comes to hiring immigrant labor.
One farmer said, his generation will be the last in agriculture.
"You hear them talking about another generation not continuing on in this business, and that's a serious problem, because the agriculture industry in New York State is the leading industry," said Congresswoman Buerkle. "This is leading industry--the growers, the dairy farms--this is very important to the economy of New York and Upstate New York."
Buerkle says she will take todays testimonies and bring them to Washington in an effort to have some of the regulations reduced.
