AUBURN - David Valesky learned an important lesson Thursday: Don't try to set up a meeting with a farmer on a May afternoon forecast to be warm and sunny
The Democratic state senator from Oneida was in Cayuga County for most of the day, first appearing on Ed Lauckern's radio show on WAUB-AM and then stopping into an Auburn city council meeting. After that, he toured Nucor Steel and McQuay International.
After a stop at the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology at Cayuga Community College, Valesky met with Skip Jensen, New York Farm Bureau's field advisor for the eastern Finger Lakes counties.
They ended up eating patty melts and french fries at Hunter's Dinerant in Auburn, instead of subs outside at an area farm, as Jensen had planned.
That's because every farmer Jensen called said it was too promising of a day weatherwise to be off the tractor or away from the sprayer, even to talk to a member of the state Senate's Agriculture Committee.
"It's the time of year," Jensen told Valesky.
Jensen is a former Yates County dairy farmer who has worked for Farm Bureau for four years as a liaison between its members and Albany staff.
Farm Bureau is the largest agricultural lobbying organization in the state, with more than 34,000 members, 518 of them in Cayuga County.
Since he had Valesky's ear, Jensen discussed with the senator the issues that are important to area farmers. They discussed the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned New York's law banning out-of-state wine sales, as well as workers' compensation, agriculture related environmental issues and higher energy costs.
"They affect farmers not only with fuel, but with fertilizer," Jensen told him. "Those prices are way up."
Valesky asked about Farm Bueau's relationship with the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Jensen said it was good, as was the agency's relationship with Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Jensen promised Valesky a more successful agriculture meeting the next time he was in the county, when farmers might not be so busy.
Or, if it rains.
After a stop at the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology at Cayuga Community College, Valesky met with Skip Jensen, New York Farm Bureau's field advisor for the eastern Finger Lakes counties.
They ended up eating patty melts and french fries at Hunter's Dinerant in Auburn, instead of subs outside at an area farm, as Jensen had planned.
That's because every farmer Jensen called said it was too promising of a day weatherwise to be off the tractor or away from the sprayer, even to talk to a member of the state Senate's Agriculture Committee.
"It's the time of year," Jensen told Valesky.
Jensen is a former Yates County dairy farmer who has worked for Farm Bureau for four years as a liaison between its members and Albany staff.
Farm Bureau is the largest agricultural lobbying organization in the state, with more than 34,000 members, 518 of them in Cayuga County.
Since he had Valesky's ear, Jensen discussed with the senator the issues that are important to area farmers. They discussed the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned New York's law banning out-of-state wine sales, as well as workers' compensation, agriculture related environmental issues and higher energy costs.
"They affect farmers not only with fuel, but with fertilizer," Jensen told him. "Those prices are way up."
Valesky asked about Farm Bueau's relationship with the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Jensen said it was good, as was the agency's relationship with Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Jensen promised Valesky a more successful agriculture meeting the next time he was in the county, when farmers might not be so busy.
Or, if it rains.
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