Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On April 7, 2015, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer visited North River Hops and Brewing in Wappingers Falls to launch his push to establish a crop insurance program for Hudson Valley farmers who grow malt barley, a crop that is crucial to the continued growth of the area’s burgeoning craft beer industry. Schumer explained that there currently is no federally backed insurance coverage for malt barley in New York State, even though farmers in other states do have coverage, which severely hampers the ability of local farmers to grow the amount of malt barley needed to meet the demand of local craft brewers. Schumer said that with a number of craft breweries already open and operating in Dutchess County, it is essential to make sure the malt barley crop can thrive locally. Schumer was joined by the owners of North River Hops and Brewing; Mike Oats, CEO of Hudson River Ventures; Ken Migliorelli of Miglorielli Farm; and Justin Ricoobono from Dutchess Hops.