Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Hudson), who sits on the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, announced that legislation she authored to help small and medium sized farm operations in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Capital Region has passed the Assembly. Specifically, the legislation would create a farm vehicle tax credit (A.7347/S.5195). Assemblymember Barrett is hopeful that the measure will be voted on in the State Senate before session concludes at the end of this week.

“Many of my constituents who operate small-to-medium sized farming operations recognize that New York City is a lucrative place for them to do business because of the large population and the demand for fresh, locally grown products. But, they simply cannot afford the high costs of transporting their goods on the Thruway, which is their only option,” Assemblymember Barrett said. “My legislation would ease this burden and allow farmers to do business where it would most improve their bottom line.”

The measure would allow for farmers transporting goods on the New York State Thruway by farm vehicle to claim a tax credit equaling seventy-five percent of Thruway tolls paid for the transport of goods and services during one tax year. The credit is applicable for travel for the purpose of selling within 150 miles of a taxpayer’s farm – roughly the distance between Albany and New York City.

Currently, many small and medium size farm operations utilize farm vehicles, known as “box trucks.” These “box trucks” are used to transport goods to New York City but are banned from traveling on the Taconic Parkway; and instead, farmers looking to sell their harvest must pay expensive tolls on the NYS Thruway – their only other option, Barrett said.