Cornell survey: 1 in 4 farmers say the 60-hour overtime threshold has made farming more difficult

ALBANY, N.Y. — A new survey shows the overtime threshold for farmers has not made worker recruitment or retention easier.

The Department of Labor commissioner in October accepted a plan to lower the overtime threshold for farm workers from 60 to 40 hours per week. A survey by Cornell University researchers found that 1 in 4 farmers say the current 60-hour overtime threshold made farming more difficult. Just 3% of dairy farmers said overtime made recruiting easier.

The Grow New York Farms Coalition said the survey shows “without a doubt that lowering the overtime farm labor threshold to 40 hours will make farming harder in new york.”

Supporters of this change say farm workers deserve the same overtime rules as everyone else and have been robbed of overtime pay for decades. Opponents say it will destroy already struggling family farms in New York. 

More of our coverage:

• NYS labor commissioner decides to lower farm overtime threshold (Oct 1)
• Pay bumps coming for farmworkers in NY (Sept 30)
• NY Farm Laborer Wage Board recommends 40-hour overtime thresholds (Sept 6)
• Officials speak out against proposed change to farm worker overtime laws (Aug 8)
• NY farms pleading with Gov. Hochul to reject plan to lower overtime threshold (Feb 15)
• NY farmers rally in Albany over proposed overtime pay changes (Dec 2021)