Hochul Proposes $30M Aid Plan for NY Farmers Amid Tariff Concerns

Details remain unclear on how the program would work and who would be eligible for payments.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:23pm

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Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced a $30 million plan to provide direct relief payments to New York farmers affected by tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. The proposed "Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program" is intended to help specialty crop growers, livestock producers, and dairy farmers, but specifics on implementation and eligibility criteria are still vague. While the plan has drawn praise from some agricultural advocates, others have criticized the lack of details and questioned whether the payments would be sufficient to offset the costs brought on by the tariffs.

Why it matters

New York is home to around 30,000 farms, ranging from small family operations to large-scale producers. The state's agricultural sector, which includes popular brands like Cabot cheese and Chobani yogurt, has been significantly impacted by the tariffs, with dairy, fruit, and vegetable growers facing higher costs and disruptions to export markets. The proposed aid program is an attempt by the state to provide relief, but the effectiveness of the plan remains uncertain.

The details

The $30 million program would provide direct payments to farmers to offset costs associated with tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. However, details on how the program would work, who would be eligible, and whether the payments would be sufficient to help farmers remain unclear. During a legislative budget hearing, state Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball acknowledged that the payments would not make up for all the costs brought on by the tariffs. Some lawmakers, such as Assemblyman Chris Tague, have criticized the lack of specifics in the plan and questioned whether it is more of a "political stunt" than a meaningful solution for farmers.

  • In the first year of the Trump administration, a barrage of tariff duties were imposed on countries, including some of the U.S.'s largest trading partners like Canada and Mexico.
  • During the first half of 2025, dairy exports from New York declined by 12% compared to the previous year.

The players

Gov. Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York who has proposed the $30 million "Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program" to provide direct relief payments to farmers affected by tariffs.

Richard Ball

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner, who acknowledged that the proposed $30 million in payments would not be enough to offset all the costs brought on by tariffs.

Chris Tague

A Republican Assemblyman whose district includes Schoharie and Greene counties, and a former dairy farm owner with a deep background in agriculture. He criticized the lack of specifics in the proposed relief plan and called it a "political stunt".

Derek Grout

The owner of a distillery at Golden Harvest Farms, a farm in Valatie that specializes in apple orchards. He said he appreciates the governor's efforts to address issues facing farms, but noted the impact of trade disruptions on the cider industry.

Ray Dykeman

The owner of the Dykeman and Sons Dairy Farm in Fultonville, who expressed skepticism about the state's attempts at relief for farmers, saying the main financial issues have to do with the rising cost of living and ongoing inflation.

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What they’re saying

“Canada is by far our largest trading partner, and Mexico, for example, takes an excess of 25% of our dairy exports, so they're pretty important relationships. They require nuances and conversations and building trust in those relationships. So when you take a chainsaw to them or threaten those relationships, it has a big impact on all three countries, but especially with Canada in New York.”

— Richard Ball, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner

“The export markets have dried up with retaliatory action as a result of the tariffs. The domestic market has more fresh-eating apples than it can handle.”

— Derek Grout, Owner of a distillery at Golden Harvest Farms

“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. The governor needs to be careful because I don't think she knows farmers very well. Farmers aren't about handouts. Farmers just want a fair and level playing field to be able to play on.”

— Chris Tague, Republican Assemblyman

“It's like putting a Band-Aid on a hole as big as a bowling ball. Until politicians can sit down with people in the (agriculture) industry and stop pointing figures, nothing's going to change.”

— Ray Dykeman, Owner of Dykeman and Sons Dairy Farm

What’s next

The details of the proposed $30 million "Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program" still need to be worked out, including eligibility criteria and the distribution of the funds. Lawmakers and agricultural advocates will likely continue to push for more clarity and specifics on the plan.

The takeaway

The proposed aid program highlights the significant impact that tariffs have had on New York's diverse agricultural sector, from dairy and produce to distilleries and cider makers. While the state's efforts to provide relief are appreciated, the effectiveness of the plan remains uncertain without more details on how it will be implemented and whether the payments will be sufficient to offset the costs faced by farmers.