U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., came to Sidney on Monday to discuss legislation he recently introduced to encourage hunters to donate processed venison to anti-hunger programs.
At the news conference at the Sidney United Methodist Church, where a town food pantry is located, he said it would be a "win-win-win" for all involved.
Not only will the bill save deer hunters money by giving them a tax deduction for the cost of processing, but it also will help with deer overpopulation while helping to feed hungry people.
Schumer said the legislation should be passed in the next few months to provide hunters a full tax credit for the cost of the processing when the final product is donated. In Delaware County, the cost per deer would be about $55 to $65, according to several hunters at Monday's conference. The legislation would also make tax exempt any income received by a deer processor from a nonprofit agency.
The cost of the program will be far outweighed by the benefit to food banks and pantries, Schumer said.
Several hunters from Walton on hand to hear the announcement, approved of the plan. Hunter Rob Hulse called it a "great idea." While he hasn't made such a donation yet, Hulse said he was more likely to do so if it wouldn't cost any money.
Brian Foster said he gets a deer hunting tag for bow and rifle season. "If I had extra I would donate it" under the proposed plan, he said.
The legislation would be "a big help," Delaware Opportunities food bank Coordinator Linda Vausse said. The agency supports food pantries in several towns in the county including Sidney.
"It will be nice to have," she said. "People in Delaware County have been very generous" in making donations, she said. Meat is such a large expense, getting such donations will help stretch agency budgets, according to Vausse.
It's especially important in the current economy, with more people using the service than she has ever seen in her 14 years with the agency.
The legislation would particularly benefit New York, where deer hunting is a popular activity and a critical component of the state's economy, Schumer said. Nearly 700,000 state residents, and over 50,000 nonresidents, hunt in New York, contributing more than $1.5 billion annually to the state's economy, he said. It is also a critical tool in managing overcrowded deer population, which contributes to an estimated $250 million worth of damage to crops, landscape and vehicles. Car-deer accidents consistently outnumber those caused by drunken-driving, he added.
After the meeting, Schumer toured a potential future site for Chobani Yogurt maker, Agro Farma of South Edmeston.
The company is looking to expand by acquiring the Proctor and Gamble facility in Norwich.
The project, which would create 275 to 350 full-time jobs, has secured two-thirds of the necessary funding, Schumer said in a release. He promised to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency to ensure all potential loan guarantees are utilized. He said he will personally call Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to push the project to completion.
