Guidelines released for Agrobusiness

Governor Andrew Cuomo released State guidelines for Agrotourism, but some local farmers don’t believe it will have much of an impact on their business.

Agro-tourism businesses throughout the state.

Newschannel 2's kirk tupaj tells us how the new guidelines will affect local farmers.

Events that typically happen on many farms will now happen with a few changes.

The governor released new state guidelines for agrobusiness.

Corn mazes, pick-your- own fruits and vegetables, and haunted houses have to have a reduced capacity, enforce social distancing and require face masks in public areas.

North star orchards owner george joseph doesn't think it will present any kind of a problem.

.

None .

None sot: george joseph, owner north star orchards i think it's going to take several years to get back to cfort vels thateople h before, and sowe'ref environment.

Eric savicki is preparing for this year's corn maze over at savicki's farm market.

He says the new guidelines are just part of a learning process that happens every year.

Sot: eric savicki, owner savicki's farm market we had to readapt, but if you're in thericulture siness th is the ne of the game.i woulo revent ourselvebasically stay relant, and follthe trendo do.

Sot: kirk tupaj most people are accustomed to wearing a mask these days, so that shouldn't present a problem.

So what is the biggest challenge farmers are facing.

Social distancing.

Sot: george joseph, owner north star orchards the challenges that i think most of the u-pick space, especially if you're putting them on a wagon, of how do we handle that, but i think we've figured it out pretty well.

George says he's reconfiguring the seating on the wagons so people will now be facing out instead of in.

The savicki farm is looking to add additional rides, but is also hoping technology will help alleviate some of the congestion.

Sot: eric savicki, owner savicki's farm market we have a website now.

We're going to probably do presale tickets so maybe you can buy ahead of time, and we will limit.

If we have a lot of people that show up at once we're going to say listen, maybe you could wait in your car or come back in a few hours.

We're going to try and accommodate everybody, but we're also going to keep track of the people.

Frequently touched surfaces like hand rails will also have to be sanitized after each hay ride, and this year no petting zoos are permitted.

In clinton, i'm kirk tupaj reporting for newschannel 2.

> still to come -- researchers