Nancy Kern reports in Columbia-Greene Media that State Senator Michelle Hinchey is crowing about unanimous passage in the state Senate of several agriculture bills she sponsored. One bill would require any arm of the government that purchases food to buy a percentage locally, but the story does not say what that percentage is. Another bill, Hinchey said, would "establish a hotline, with assistance from Cornell Cooperative Extension, to connect farmers with information and support on tax credit programs, loans, grants, research and marketing assistance.” And a third bill, Hinchey said, “expands eligibility under the Agricultural Assessment Program so more New York farmers can access tax benefits.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.