West Hudson Valley News

Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C-Schoharie) led a press conference yesterday focused on the preservation of productive farmland amidst increasing development trends, particularly the growing presence of solar farms. Tague, a former dairy farmer, expressed his concerns alongside various local officials and agricultural representatives.

“It is disheartening to see what used to be hundreds of acres of farmland be turned into a solar farm,” lamented Tague during the conference. He highlighted the challenging economic environment for farmers in New York, emphasizing their struggle to sustain profitable operations in the face of mounting pressures to lease or sell their land.

Tague urged for a collaborative effort involving the governor, the Department of Agriculture, the DEC, and NYSERDA to evaluate the necessity of land conversions and ensure that farmland is being preserved appropriately. “I’m not against alternative energy sources or solar energy in general, but we need to keep our priorities straight,” Tague asserted, underscoring the critical link between agriculture and food security in the state.

With a backdrop of economic uncertainties, Tague emphasized the vital importance of safeguarding farmland in New York. “The saying ‘no farms, no food’ remains true and with the economy continuing downward, we need to protect what we have in our state,” he concluded.