CAZENOVIA, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should establish a crop-insurance program for Central New York farmers who grow malt barley, according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.). Malt barley is a crop that is “crucial to the continued growth of the area’s burgeoning craft-beer industry,” the senator said during a visit Thursday […]
CAZENOVIA, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should establish a crop-insurance program for Central New York farmers who grow malt barley, according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.).
Malt barley is a crop that is “crucial to the continued growth of the area’s burgeoning craft-beer industry,” the senator said during a visit Thursday to the site of the Empire Farmstead Brewery in Cazenovia. His office provided details in a news release later in the day.
New York farmers don’t currently have federally backed insurance coverage for malt barley, even though farmers in other states do have such insurance, Schumer explained.
The lack of coverage in the Empire State “severely hampers” farmers’ ability to grow the amount of malt barley needed to meet the demand of local craft brewers, he contended.
Plenty of Central New York farms and farmstead breweries, such as Empire’s Cazenovia operations, are growing malt barley to meet the local demand. But the crop needs “very specific conditions” to grow, and severe weather can “completely knock out” an entire crop, Schumer said.
The Democrat wants to USDA to expand its malt barley crop-insurance program to include New York state.
With a number of farm breweries already open and operating in Central New York, it is “essential” to make sure the malt-barley crop can “thrive” locally, Schumer contends.
“Breweries and distilleries throughout the Central New York region pour local products and jobs into our economy, which is why it is important we continue to support this industry and provide them with the tools needed to succeed. In order for local craft brewers to expand right here in Central New York and beyond, we need a strong local malt-barley industry, since the crop is so important to the production of beer and spirits,” Schumer said in the release. “But the lack of insurance for malt barley is preventing farmers from planting this crucial crop. Without protections, the risk is just too high, and that is preventing our craft breweries from really taking off.”
In order to meet the demand of craft brewers, New York will need to increase its malt-barley production by 15 times, but farmers will need crop insurance to meet that goal, Schumer contends.
The senator worked to help Empire Farmstead Brewery establish and expand its production, his office said.
Schumer in 2014 secured a $200,000 USDA grant so Syracuse–based Empire Brewing Company could build out its own farm in Cazenovia. The upcoming facility will help the company grow hops and create a bottling facility, where the brewery would bottle its own beer for the first time in the company’s 20-year history.
This newly established facility is set to open in 2016.
“The explosion of craft and farm brewing has touched every corner of the state, including right here in Central New York. As this growth continues, demand for locally grown products like malt barley will only continue,” David Katleski, owner of Empire Farmstead Brewery, said in Schumer’s news release. “Senator Schumer’s push to get malt barley covered under federal crop insurance will only help meet this rising demand.”
Katleski also serves as the president and co-founder of the New York State Brewers Association.