Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) announced he has joined a group ofMinority state legislators urging President Donald J. Trump to lift the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s funding pause for the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University.

The effort, led by Sen. George Borrello, culminated in a letter to the president outlining how the USDA’s funding freeze is jeopardizing Cornell’s research farms and Cooperative Extensions—lifelines that New York farmers have depended on for generations. The lawmakers warn that without immediate action, these critical programs could face closure, threatening local agriculture, rural economies and food security across the state.

The letter highlights how Cornell CALS plays a unique and vital role in New York’s agricultural landscape. Its programs support some of the nation’s largest dairy producers and a wide range of livestock and crop farms across New York, including research farms and Cooperative Extensions deeply embedded in local communities.

“Cornell’s agricultural programs provide critical research, education and on-the-ground support that our farmers depend on,” said Maher. “This funding pause jeopardizes not just vital programs but the future of New York’s entire farming community. We’re urging the administration to act quickly so our farmers can continue to operate.”

The lawmakers’ letter underscores that in a high-cost state like New York, farmers’ competitive edge has long relied on the innovation and technical support provided by CALS. Funding delays have already forced some local programs to suspend operations, directly impacting farmers’ ability to get their products to market.

One fifth-generation family farm, which produces more than 75 million apples annually, credited Cornell’s agricultural research partnerships with helping it survive and grow through generations. 

“The research Cornell is doing on a daily basis directly impacts our communities’ shared goals of reduced chemical usage, reduced food waste, more efficient water usage, improved yields and a healthy local food system,” the family said. “We call on the USDA to keep our farming support institutions like Cornell healthy, so we can keep our farming community healthy.”

Maher emphasized that lifting the USDA funding pause is about ensuring the stability and sustainability of New York’s agricultural future. “Farmers are the backbone of our rural communities,” he said. “Supporting institutions like Cornell CALS is key to protecting that way of life.”