ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Congressman Josh Riley is reaching across the aisle in an effort to help farmers.

On March 5, Riley was one of just seven Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee to vote yes on and pass the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. It now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

Riley represents over 4,500 farms across nearly one million acres in his Upstate New York district.

“Our farmers are the heart and soul of rural Upstate New York,” states Riley. “They’re the very best of who we are. Up before dawn in the freezing cold to milk the cows. Out in the heat with the sun beating down to pick the apples. No excuses. No complaints. No days off. Nobody works harder. And they don’t ask for a hell of a lot in return, just a fair shot to make a decent living doing work that’s often been in the family for generations. This farm bill delivers on that promise, and I’m tremendously proud of what we were able to get done for Upstate farmers.”

He says he was inspired by his son and the story of Chobani to include an amendment adding yogurt to the bill’s dairy nutrition incentive program.

In a light-hearted moment, Riley engaged in some gamesmanship with his colleague, Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who represents Wisconsin’s 3rd District.

“Wisconsin is not a dairy state; we are the dairy state,” said Van Orden. “I do, however, take umbrage with my colleague from New York. We have Yodelay Yogurt in the state of Wisconsin. If you want to bring some of your Chobani by, and I’ll bring some Yodelay, and we can have a little lactose summit or something like that in the spirit of bipartisanship.”

Riley rose to the challenge.

“You name the time, you name the place, I’ll bring my Chobani and put it up against anybody.”

Riley secured provisions focused on farm safety, dairy and organic farm support, lowering costs, strengthening local food systems, and blocking foreign purchases of U.S. farmland. One adopted amendment with a direct local impact is called the You See It, You Squish It Act. It targets the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly, which increasingly threatens crops in the Finger Lakes and across the Northeast. Riley calls the bill a series of wins for Upstate New York.

You can learn more about the bill from Congressman Riley’s office here.