NEW YORK (WENY) -- Local Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy is touting a group of bills he sponsored that he says not only enjoy bipartisan support, but also have been added to the pending 2024 Farm Bill. According to Langworthy, the bills will have a significant impact on Western New York and the Southern Tier. 

“I'm proud to have fought to ensure that this year's Farm Bill will reflect the needs of rural communities in Western New York and the Southern Tier," said Langworthy in a prepared statement, adding, "This Farm Bill is the result of the shared wisdom and collaboration with our hardworking farmers and producers and will leave a major impact on our region by allowing opportunities for local agriculture to grow and supporting the future success of rural economies."

The Farm Bill is one of the most expansive pieces of legislation Congress has to deal with. It is passed roughly every five years and sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy. Inside the bill are crop subsidies, rural development, conservation, nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, and more.

According to Langworthy, has has added five bills to the package, which do everything from helping dairy farmers to maple syrup producers. 

The Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act would require mandatory reporting of cost and yield information from dairy processors. According to Langworthy, if passed it would add a level of transparency to the dairy industry and will help dairy farmers make sure they get their full value. The Maple Act would add maple syrup to the list of products eligible under the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. 

The Rural Telehealth and Education Enhancement Act is designed to let rural communities like in the Southern Tier to get the technology and training needed to establish effective telehealth services. 

A copy of the full text of the proposed Farm Bill, which is currently still in committee, can be found here.