The Federal Farm Bill is soon up for reauthorization. Farmers throughout Orange County have many suggestions on what needs to change and as our Elaina Athans shows us, they shared their concerns with a committee member.

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GOSHEN, N.Y. -- Some farmers say they are struggling to stay afloat and on Thursday, they tried to plant some ideas into one Senator's mind as to what needs to change.

"If you could literally start from scratch, what would you build?" asked Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to a crowd in Goshen.

Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton said, "We need a workable guest worker program in this country for agriculture."

Community leaders and farmers took out their frustrations with the agricultural industry at a forum. Some says they need stronger crop insurance policies, while other want more conservation. All concerns Gillibrand could address in the upcoming Farm Bill. She is the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Ag committee in some 40 years.

"We haven't have a dog in the fight and it's meant that farmers from New York and the Northeast have been short served when it comes to federal agricultural policy," said farmer Chris Pawelski.

The bill is reauthorized every five years and sets spending limits.

"We really talked about all the issues that affect agriculture as an industry, as an economic engine in New York state to make sure we can have a playing field that makes sense so they can run a good business," said Gillibrand.

At least one farmer says significant alterations need to be made, since it's becoming more and more expensive to produce.

Pawelski said, "No farmers, no food. So we need to have a good federal policy to back and mandate farming and agriculture."

Gillibrand plans to hold similar meetings like this throughout the state in the next year-and-a-half. She is running for election this fall. She will square off with one of three Republicans. Joe DioGuardi, David Malpass and Bruce Blakeman are vying for a spot on the ballot.