NEAFA Member Highlight: Mike Tetreault, Poulin Grain

Poulin Grain Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Tetrault, looks over data with Dr. Christine Rossiter Burhans, staff veterinarian. 

By Eric Jenks, Special to NEAFA

Time flies with our NEAFA Members! We last sat down with Poulin Grain nearly six years ago in 2020. For January, we caught up with Mike Tetreault, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Poulin Grain. “Since 2020, we’ve grown to five facilities, and we relocated our office and logistics distribution center to Derby, VT in 2024,” said Tetreault. “We’ve also added an additional bagging line to our facility. We were running out of capacity and warehouse space, so we developed another production facility and took the warehousing and moved it 2.7 miles away. The efficiencies we’ve gained from splitting up our spaces and increased capacity are phenomenal. We now service all of New England, including Rhode Island, and we go west into New York past Syracuse.”

Beyond facility space, Poulin Grain has also expanded their workforce. “We’ve expanded the dairy nutrition team significantly,” said Tetreault. “We added four new nutritionists in 2025, and we created a new position, Director of Dairy Business, which is filled by Melissa Carabeau. We’ve also rebranded one of our production lines, and have expanding marketing from one person to 2 full time and 1 part time positions. One of the key differences between us and many of our competitors is that whatever we do, we support. We don’t have independent consultants, we’re all in house. Our strategy is to be the company that manages the quality, nutrition, and logistics. We want to make sure that everything is done how we see fit to help make our customers more profitable. A lot of others don’t have that direct control to make sure the outcome is exactly what they hope it will be.”

“Our tech services department has expanded as well,” said Tetreault. “We’ve got 3 techs that between drone servicing, data collection and processing are working on our data management system, along with two veterinarians that work for us, and two nutritionists that work for us . We’re building the tech side to meet the needs of the modern, progressive dairy farm. One of our key tech people flies drones and does inventory and service management through that. They visit farms on a monthly business to get data for our algorithms. We have data dated back to 1999. We’ve moved all of that to our tablet and phone tools in the cloud. It creates an executive report that dairies receive every month. In 5 minutes, they can go through their reports and see where they need to direct their attention, and how nutrition or management might be able to make a difference – to have a full comprehensive system that looks at cost, metabolic health, milk performance, quality, reproduction, test a that summarizes that and a heifer management report that we’ve built into the system that’s been 27 years in the making.”

For Tetreault, joining Poulin 39 years ago originally came down to a bit of luck. “I was brought up as a dairy kid,” said Tetreault. My parents had 40 cows which wasn’t uncommon. We lived at my grandparent’s place, which I now own with my wife, but we don’t have cattle any more. Our farm wasn’t large enough to support a career for me, and one of our Poulin Grain delivery drivers pulled in and told me that they were a great place to work. My dad said maybe you should go talk to them . When I talked with Jeff Poulin, he said they were looking to add a person. It’s been a great run. I think back of all the opportunities that we’ve explored, and the successes that the family and employees have had, it’s been tremendous. To go from one mill producing 4-5 tons a week, to expanding to other facilties and growing those markets, it’s just amazing. I was the 18th employee in 1987; we’re in the 160 employee range today. The thing I’m most proud of is the team that we’ve grown to be. We’re fortunate to have the support of a family that is investing in us – we have a super comprehensive training program. It’s been a very special career to work with so many people that have made this company grow so much. Jeff, his main goal was to gear the company so that his kids could transition the business. One of my key goals was to help that happen, and his son Josh is full of passion and energy and a lot of fun. Josh’s daughter, Mya, joined the business about 1.5 years ago as well. It’s been extremely rewarding to see Josh coming to this and grow into the leader that he is. It’s been a great career, it really has. I’m not ready to retire, I don’t have a plan to do that right now. They say that once you have a plan, you’ve already retired, so I’m not there yet. My goal is to make sure that regardless of when I do, we have the people in place to keep the culture that we’ve built and the business moving forward.”

For more information on Poulin Grain, please visit their website: https://www.poulingrain.com/

NEAFA Executive Pen

By Mike Thresher, Special to NEAFA

February brings us hope that spring may be around the corner.  Daylight is later, Ground Hog Day will tell us what the nest week 6 weeks brings, sugar makers are tapping…all good things.  This time of year, brings us many opportunities to learn more, or just to engage either through many of the meetings offered and conferences or engaging with your legislature.

Some of the upcoming conferences are:

·       VT Dairy Producers Conference Feb 17th in Burlington, VT

·       No-Till and Cover Crop Conference Feb 19th, in So. Burlington, VT

·       VT Organic Dairy Producers Conference March 6th, in Randolph Center, VT

·       Northeast Dairy Innovation Summit March 10-11, in Albany, NY

·       NOFA-VT Winter Conference March 14-15, in Colchester, VT

·       Herd Health and Nutrition March 31st, in Syracuse, NY

These are all great opportunities to learn, gather with friends and take a break from the day-to-day work schedule.  NEAFA will be represented by its members at these events.  This is a chance to talk with us about our mission and goals for this year, and what is going on in the legislatures in New York and Vermont. 

NEAFA will be holding its annual Lobbying Day in Albany, NY on Wednesday, February 11th to advocate for dairy and agribusiness issues with the New York State Assembly, Senate and their staffs.  If you have any concerns regarding legislation, please feel free to contact any of our board members to share your thoughts, or the NEAFA office at info@northeastalliance.com.

We are always looking to add to our membership.  If you are not already a member, please see any of us at the winter events above for more information on membership, as well as our sustaining sponsorship opportunities. 

Wishing everyone a great February.

2026 New York State of the State Address

By Hinman Straub 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address Tuesday, January  13th. The Governor spoke from the Hart Theater at The Egg in the Empire State Plaza. The speech is the Governor’s fifth such address since becoming Governor in August 2021.

The New York State Constitution requires the Governor to deliver an annual message to the Legislature regarding the “state of the state.” The proposals outlined in the State of the State are the first step in defining the Governor’s agenda for the coming year. Her policy and funding proposals will be forthcoming in the Executive Budget, due January 20.

The Governor’s speech highlights her administration’s priorities for the coming year and calls upon the Legislature to focus on affordability measures. 

Key proposals of the State of the State address include the following:

Agriculture 

Governor Hochul will expand support for dairy farmers by advancing another round of the Dairy Modernization Program and extending the refundable investment tax credit to give farms the time and certainty needed to modernize operations and complete major projects.

In addition, to address issues caused by federal tariff policy, Governor Hochul is proposing the Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program, which will provide $30 million in direct payments to New York specialty crop growers, livestock producers, and dairy farmers.

Governor Hochul will introduce the Sun and Soil Program to increase options for farmers to benefit from the integration of solar energy development on their land while maintaining valuable land assets. The program builds on existing State-supported research and demonstration projects that show how solar panels can be co-located with active farming, such as grazing and crop production, allowing farms to generate clean energy while keeping land in agricultural use.

Affordability 

The Governor’s address focuses largely on affordability through the provision of childcare, a focus on increasing auto and home insurance costs, rising utility costs, increased rent protections, and food and nutrition benefits.

Auto Insurance Costs

Governor Hochul is proposing a series of reforms targeted at combating fraud and bad actors, to lower costs while ensuring victims are entitled to justice and restitution. Such reforms include various actions designed to crack down on fraud and strengthen anti-fraud programs, limiting damages for individuals engaging in unlawful behavior at the time of an accident and for individuals who are “mostly” at fault, and tightening the serious injury threshold, among other proposals. This proposals dovetail nicely with NEAFA priorities.

Utility Costs

Much of the Governor’s affordability message revolves around rising utility costs. The Governor includes many proposals aimed at curtailing rising utility costs, including omnibus legislation that will try and tie executive compensation to affordability benchmarks, requiring utilities to present budget-constrained options during rate proceedings that keeps their operating and capital costs below the rate of inflation, a DPS review of utility bills to ensure ratepayers only pay for appropriate and approved costs. The Governor also proposes to fund the EmPower+ Program with an additional $50 million. The Governor intends to require data centers to pay for the costs associated with the additional utility infrastructure to power operations – or – to provide their own power.

The Governor will also introduce legislation that will require utilities to create and report on an affordability index, showing the energy burden on customers throughout their service territory. The Department of Public Service will report on utility affordability by utility, benchmarked against data from other states, and make an annual affordability presentation to PSC. If the PSC finds that any utility in New York is failing to protect energy affordability, this new legislation will empower the Commission to install an independent “Affordability Monitor” who will have full access to management meetings, books, and records to review utility operations and expenditures to help ensure efficient spending and report opportunities for cost savings to PSC.

The Governor will also put forward transparency measures for rate case proceedings, making various reforms to the current process.

Universal Childcare

In 2026, Governor Hochul is putting forward a plan to achieve “universal, affordable childcare.” This includes a new investment in Agri-Business Child Development (ABCD) Centers. The Governor's investment will increase funding by $1.7 billion on top of the significant increases previously made, and make a down payment towards ensuring statewide universal access to prekindergarten for four-year-olds (“Pre-K”), supporting the State’s early childhood workforce, and partnering with New York City to launch a 2-Care program for two-year-olds and finally realize the promise of universal access to 3K in New York City. This funding will support counties to build out new demonstration projects that offer universal care, reaching tens of thousands of more families with vouchers for affordable care. Alongside these commitments, the Governor will launch an Office of Childcare and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal childcare for New York families.

Home Insurance Costs

The Governor is offering several proposals aimed at lowering rising home insurance premiums including, tracking home insurer profitability and requiring insurers to lower rates or justify premiums for carriers with more than two consecutive years of “outsized profit margins.” The proposals also include transparency measures, expanding automatic discounts for homeowners and commercial multifamily properties.

Rent Protections

The Governor will put forward measures to increase protections for renters including enhancing penalties to protect rent-regulated tenants from pervasive harassment, reforming the J-51 tax incentive that can better support capital repairs for New York City’s rent-stabilized housing stock and streamlining the process, and expanding the SCRIE and DRIE programs.

Food Assistance and Benefits

The Governor announced several proposals to help needy families with food assistance and benefits including by supporting food banks and pantries with capital expenses, fighting fraud in food benefits with modern EBT cards, and supporting SNAP and meal programs.

Consumer Protections

Governor Hochul proposes to create the Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity, and Trust (“DIGIT”). DIGIT will serve as a central, authoritative body for digital safety and technological governance, devising new approaches and ensuring consistent enforcement to keep New Yorkers safe online.

The Governor will advance legislation to require all data brokers operating in New York State to register with the State as data brokers, and to allow New Yorkers to submit a single, centralized request to have certain categories of personal data obtained by data brokers deleted.

The Governor proposes to advance legislation that requires AI-generated content to include labeling about its origins and creation. Called “provenance data,” this information may be used like a digital nutrition label, allowing people to better understand more about where content comes from.

The Governor will also advance legislation aimed at cracking down on fake online discounts by codifying existing federal rules that require discounts to be “bona fide,” or genuine, and represent an actual discount on a regularly offered reference price. 

Economic Development

New York will launch a downstate-based Semiconductor Chip Design Center. This initiative will focus on complementing chip manufacturing infrastructure upstate. The Center will be a world-class chip design facility, serving as an incubator for early-stage firms, training chip designers, and connecting startups to the larger semiconductor sector throughout New York State.

New York will also establish up to four quantum hubs across New York that will serve as incubators and foster the development and commercialization of quantum technologies. These hubs will be regional anchors for quantum innovation, prioritizing commercialization of new inventions and real-world use cases. Each hub will host an incubator for quantum-focused startups, providing early-stage companies with critical resources, including mentorship and access to local quantum networks and quantum computing.

The Governor proposes to launch the Bolstering Biotech Initiative which will support all phases of the life science sector pipeline, from discovery to commercialization. These investments will accelerate the commercialization of life-changing therapeutics—with a focus on neurodegenerative disease—and catalyze private investment in biotechnology research and development through the following programs:

·        Statewide Clinical Trial Consortium: Establishing a statewide clinical trial consortium to leverage the combined strengths of New York’s research institutions to expand access to cutting-edge therapies and position the state as a premier destination for medical innovation.

·       Venture Capital Investments: Leveraging public and private venture investment to support promising startups with the potential to mature into the next generation of industry leaders.

·        Fellowships and Workforce Development: Seeding new skills-training programs designed to equip New Yorkers with the necessary skills to fill high-demand roles from production to c-suite in the biotech field, opening pathways to high-paying jobs for New Yorkers.

·       Commercialization Grant Program: Creating a new, performance-based grant program modeled on the state’s successful Biodefense Commercialization Program to support companies in bringing biotech innovations to market in targeted areas such as neurodegenerative diseases.

Environment

The Governor is proposing a number of environmental initiatives, including $425 million in funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, another round of funding for the Green Resiliency Grant Program, flood and coastal resiliency funding, and clean water initiatives.

Energy

The Governor will advance a new initiative, the Nuclear Reliability Backbone, directing state agencies to establish a clear pathway for additional advanced nuclear generation to support grid reliability. The Nuclear Reliability Backbone will be developed by a new Department of Public Service (DPS) process to consider, review, and facilitate a cost-effective pathway to four gigawatts of new nuclear energy that will combine with existing nuclear generation and the New York Power Authority's (NYPA) previously announced one gigawatt project, to create an 8.4 gigawatt “backbone” of reliable energy for New Yorkers.

Governor Hochul will support legislation to establish a sales tax exemption on the retail sale of electricity used to recharge an electric vehicle by a commercial EV charging station.

Manufacturing

The Governor will launch the Manufacturing Modernization Program to support the state’s small and mid-size manufacturers. The program will establish a network of Centers across the state, focused on assisting small and mid-size manufacturers in adopting new technologies. These Centers will provide such support as technical assistance to small manufacturers as they incorporate AI into their operations, supply chain consultations to help businesses adapt to geopolitical and tariff impacts, and capital grants to help manufacturers modernize equipment or pivot to priority sectors, such as clean energy. 

Week 3 of the Vermont Legislative Session – January 23, 2026

By Shouldice & Associates

Governor Phil Scott proposed a $9.4 billion budget to the Vermont General Assembly on Tuesday. He called his proposal a “disciplined” spending plan in the face of waning support and more cuts likely to come from the federal government.

The Governor outlined a plan centered on three priorities: growing the economy, improving affordability, and protecting the most vulnerable Vermonters. The budget emphasizes fiscal restraint in the face of downgraded revenue forecasts and rising costs, including a 9.7% increase in pension expenses requiring $331 million from the General Fund.

Major investments include $105 million in property tax relief to address a 41% increase over the past five years, largely driven by education spending. The Governor also proposed nearly $1 billion over five years for rural health care, focusing on expanded insurance options, reinsurance, affordability, and value-based care. Housing remains a key priority through continued funding for successful programs like VHIP, permanent housing investments, and regulatory modernization to increase supply and stabilize prices.

To manage budget pressures, the Governor proposed targeted reductions and structural changes. In transportation, declining fuel tax revenues prompted opposition to a gas tax increase and a proposed $10 million reduction in the purchase and use tax transfer from the Transportation Fund. In education, the Governor called on school districts to control spending growth and suggested exploring an education spending cap.

The address also proposed modernizing housing regulations by repealing restrictive road rules, extending housing exemptions, and expanding downtown and village tax credits. On energy policy, the Governor advocated for achieving affordable, 100% clean energy by 2030 by leveraging solar, hydro, and nuclear power, while criticizing prior policies that increased costs.

Public safety proposals included repealing “raise the age” for 19-year-olds, allowing violent juvenile offenders to be prosecuted in criminal court, expanding pretrial supervision, and scaling accountability court models statewide. Increased funding for mental health, addiction treatment, and recovery services was also emphasized.

Additional initiatives included agricultural fee reductions, investments in the outdoor economy, support for UVM’s new multi-purpose center, and targeted use of federal funds for housing, broadband, weatherization, and flood mitigation. The legislature now faces the challenge of weighing these proposals to balance fiscal responsibility with affordability, public safety, and long-term economic growth.

*********************

VDPA / AAFM

While the Governor’s budget address typically remains high level, he specifically highlighted the proposal to eliminate LFO/MFO permit fees. The intent of this change is to streamline the permitting process and reduce costs for farms, particularly those that are also subject to CAFO fees. We anticipate this proposal may be included in a miscellaneous bill, and it will be important for VDPA to be prepared to express strong support as the measure advances.

This week, the Vermont Dairy Producers Association spent time at the Statehouse meeting with members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Discussions focused on the recent Vermont Supreme Court ruling related to municipal regulation of farms, as well as broader updates on the challenges currently facing the agricultural sector. Continuing to educate legislators about who produces Vermont’s food and milk remains essential. Ongoing engagement by VDPA and its members will be critical to ensuring agricultural priorities are recognized and not overshadowed by opposing interests.

LCAR – Neonicotinoid Best Management Practices

Vermont’s Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) has advanced the state’s new Best Management Practices (BMPs) for neonicotinoid‑treated seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides, a key step in implementing Vermont’s broader neonicotinoid restrictions under Act 182. The rule package establishes standards governing the use, storage, and management of neonic‑treated seeds and neonic pesticides within Vermont’s agricultural landscape.

Approval of these rules moves the state closer to fully implementing the phased‑in neonicotinoid bans and exemptions scheduled to take effect beginning in 2025 and continuing through 2029. These changes will significantly influence how farmers, beekeepers, and regulators approach pollinator protection and pest management in the coming years.

Municipal Agricultural Exemption

The Vermont League of Cities & Towns supports retaining agricultural exemption in cities and towns, in a round-about way. 

VLCT will only support the exemption in certain agricultural activities from municipal zoning.  The proposal would not allow the exemption under Act 250 in Tier 1a areas due to the importance of creating Act 250 exempt areas (Tier 1a) to support community-driven growth plans that align with state and regional housing and development goals.

The full transcript of the Governor’s Budget Address is attached.

Vermont General Assembly – 2026 Session Outlook

Courtesy Shouldice & Associates LLC

The Vermont General Assembly will convene on January 6, 2026, for the final session of the biennium, with adjournment anticipated in late May. This session will be conducted under significant political and fiscal pressure, as lawmakers seek durable policy outcomes ahead of the upcoming elections. Key areas of focus include:

·       Housing affordability

·       Public safety

·       Education finance and governance

·       Healthcare costs

·       Budget constraints

Negotiations with Governor Scott (R), and across party lines, will be essential to achieving substantive, bipartisan results.

Fiscal Outlook

Vermont’s fiscal position is stable but fragile, with tourism and transportation revenues under strain.

·       Overall revenues: -1.1% (≈ $14M).

·       GF: -0.6%, EF: -0.8%, TF: -4.8%.

·       Education Fund (EF): On target (-0.1%).

·       Transportation Fund (TF): Lagging (-2.3%).

Key Drivers:

·       Personal Income Tax: Strong (+3.0%), supported by asset valuations.

·       Corporate Tax: Weak (-2.8%) due to refunding pressures.

·       Meals & Rooms Tax: Below target (-2.3% GF; -4.5% EF), impacted by reduced discretionary spending and Canadian tourism decline.

·       Motor Vehicle Purchase & Use: Down (-4.9%) from tariffs and pre-tariff demand shifts.

Vermont-Specific Indicators

·       Unemployment: 2.5% (August 2025), among the lowest nationally.

·       Housing Market: Burlington metro prices up 99% since prior peak; rural areas up 79%, but growth flattening outside metro areas.

·       Property Taxes: Projected 12% increase in 2026 unless legislative action is taken. Education property taxes have risen 41% over five years.

·       Agriculture as a Stabilizer: Agriculture continues to provide strong economic returns relative to cost, reinforcing its role as a critical driver of Vermont’s economy.

Agriculture and Land Use

Agriculture remains central to Vermont’s economy, contributing $1 billion annually with a relatively low taxpayer burden. Policy debates are expected to center on balancing farm viability with environmental accountability:

·       Dairy Stabilization: Measures to address volatility in milk prices and rising input costs.

·       Act 250 Adjustments: Potential revisions to agricultural land-use oversight.

·       Right to Farm Protections: Act 61 (2025) strengthened protections against nuisance lawsuits; lawmakers will revisit how these interact with municipal zoning and Act 250 following a Vermont Supreme Court ruling.

·       Diversification and Expansion: Legal uncertainty may reshape farm infrastructure development and diversification strategies.

Environmental Stewardship

Environmental policy will be a major theme, with emphasis on agriculture’s impact on water quality and climate resilience:

·       Pollution Control: Enforcement of new laws addressing water pollution, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and farm runoff.

·       Agricultural Innovation Board: Continued push for reduced pesticide use and improved soil health.

·       Climate Resilience: Expanded disaster recovery programs and infrastructure support for farms affected by floods, droughts, and extreme weather.

Northeast Dairy Producers Association Releases 2026-2027 State Budget Priorities

“There is significant investment being made in dairy processing across New York – more than in any other state." - NEDPA Chair and Farmer Keith Kimball

The Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA), which represents family dairy farms that produce more than half the fluid milk in New York State, today released its 2026-2027 state budget and legislative priorities. NEDPA remains focused on supporting New York’s highly skilled and talented dairy workforce and is committed to science-based best practices that protect the state’s natural resources.  

“There is significant investment being made in dairy processing across New York – more than in any other state, which means family farms will be stepping up to meet increased demand for our milk,” said NEDPA Chair and Farmer Keith Kimball. “That is exactly why a permanent Investment Tax Credit is more important now than ever before. It will allow both farmers and lenders to confidently plan for long-term investments that support our farmworkers, increase farm efficiencies, and improve overall productivity. With the Governor and Legislature’s continued support of our family farms as we work to keep pace with the expansion of dairy processing, New York can soon secure its place again as the No. 1 dairy-producing state in the country.”  

According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), New York is experiencing the largest surge in dairy processing capacity growth and expansion, and anticipates nearly $2.8 billion in investment between 2025-2028 alone.  

Kimball added, “The state’s investment in modernizing and expanding dairy processing capacity is not only boosting economic growth, job creation, and local food production – it is laying a foundation for future generations to continue farming here in the Empire State.” 

To meet the increased demand for fluid milk resulting from these expansion projects, NEDPA is advancing the following priorities that will directly support family farms, farm employees, and industry partners. 

NEDPA’s policy and additional funding requests: 

Support Farm’s Efforts to Invest for the Future by making the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Permanent. The current ITC is set to expire for projects not in service by December 31, 2027. Farms need more time to responsibly plan projects, source experts and skilled construction teams, and navigate ever-changing supply chain issues. Making the ITC permanent will keep projects moving forward, strengthen the foundation of New York’s dairy economy, and allow farms to meet the increased demand for milk. 

Support Farm’s Efforts to Build and Provide Farmworker Housing. 

• Make Farm Provided Employee Housing Eligible for the ITC. This will allow farms to improve the recruitment and retention of skilled employees while managing rising construction costs.  

• Increase the NYS Farm Worker Housing Loan Program, which has been a successful revolving loan fund, supporting farms’ efforts to provide high-quality housing for employees. To meet growing demand, NEDPA requests state leaders: 

• Raise the maximum cap on each loan from $200,000 to $400,000. 

• Add $10M to the existing fund. 

• Establish a separate fund for new construction projects. 

Invest $10M to Continue the Dairy Farm Modernization Grant Program to help farms invest in expanding on-farm milk storage capacity, improve efficiency, and implement technologies. The first year of the program was oversubscribed by more than double the available funds, demonstrating the need for this investment. 

Invest in Research, Innovation, and Extension at Cornell University. 

These investments directly support and inform farms, especially as they work to produce more milk to meet growing processor demand, while reducing environmental impact, including: 

• $500,000 for Cornell University Ruminant Center (CURC), an increase of $125,000. Research at CURC advances productivity and animal health and informs dairy farm decision-making. 

• $2.463M for PRO-DAIRY, an increase of $1 million to sustain vital programs, including the Climate Leadership Specialist position, and add new expertise in farm business management, dairy nutrition, animal well-being, and youth development, along with applied research and extension support.  

New this year: Create a “One Stop Shop for Agriculture” at DEC. Agriculture intersects with multiple divisions within the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Establishing a dedicated position focused on agriculture would help streamline communication, improve responsiveness, and ensure consistent interpretation of regulations. This will save farms and the agency time, reduce confusion, and strengthen environmental compliance. 

Sustain funding for New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) to provide bilingual safety training for farm employees. Continued investment in farm safety, health, and workforce development ensures that employees are protected, skilled, and supported in their roles. 

To view the full slate of budget and policy priorities, click here. 

NEAFA Executive Pen: Happy Holidays and New Year!

Charlie Elrod, Ph.D., President NEAFA

To start, we need to clear up one ongoing mystery which has puzzled the communications committee for a few years now.  Every month, there are several NEAFA News readers who appear to be from Sweden and seem to be among our most loyal readers.  First, thank you for reading, but second, who are you and what is your connection to NEAFA?  We would love to learn more about you!

As 2025 winds down to its finale, I next want to take the opportunity to thank all our members for your support throughout the year.  Without your continuing commitment to NEAFA, through your dues, participation in the Sustaining Sponsor program, serving on a committee or our board of directors, we would not have been able to accomplish so much over the last year without you.  A few callouts: 

• To our Executive Administrator, Sue Van Amburgh, we simply would struggle to get anything done without your attention, institutional memory, and dedication.  “Thanks” really is insufficient to convey our deep reliance on and appreciation for your efforts;

• To our Executive Board, Bonnie Bargstedt, Jenny Mills, Matt Sheffer and Mike Thresher, for your commitment to showing up, contributing your time, expertise and wisdom;

• To our Board of Directors, we truly appreciate your dedication and insights to direct our alliance and keep us moving forward;

• To the co-chairs of the Membership and Education committees, Luke Lines and Bonnie Bargstedt (membership) and Sarah LaCount and Heather Dann (education), we owe deep appreciation for your tireless efforts to recruit new members, cajole wavering members and elicit new sustaining sponsors, while the education committee continues to organize and provide outstanding programs for our industry;

• To our partners in advocacy, Julie Marlette and her team at Hinman-Straub and Emma Shouldice and her team at Shouldice and Associates for their insight and diligent work on our behalf in the legislative halls of Albany and Montpelier.

• And to a few of our great collaborators, namely Allyson Jones-Brimmer of NEDPA, and Renee St. Jacques and David Fisher of NYFB, we are all stronger for your willingness to work with us for the common good of our industry.

As we look ahead to 2026, it’s time to renew memberships and consider joining or raising your support of the Sustaining Sponsor program.  In an effort to provide more value at the top tiers of the program, we have added some additional benefits for Diamond and Platinum levels of sponsorship.  In addition to the usual benefits we have added:

Diamond

• Copy of the member list in Excel format in addition to the printed directory.

• Two product promotional emails sent on behalf of the sponsor to the membership list.

• One promotional podcast for your company, recorded with one of the PRO-Dairy specialists, featuring your company’s history, products and research.

Platinum

• Copy of the member list in Excel format in addition to the printed directory.

• One product promotional email sent on behalf of the sponsor to the membership list.

The Sustaining Sponsor program has become a cornerstone of NEAFA’s efforts to Advocate, Collaborate and Educate.  If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider participating at whatever level suits you.  If you have participated, please consider bumping up a level (or two!).  We feel it provides good value for your investment in the future of the agriculture industry of the Northeast.  If you’re ready to commit, you can do so here.

I’ll close in wishing you, your families and your businesses a joyous end to the year and warmest wishes for your continued success and well-being in the new year.

NEAFA Member Highlight – Natalie Wiley, Denkavit

Natalie Wiley, Photo Provided

By Eric Jenks, Special to NEAFA

For December, NEAFA had a chance to catch up with Natalie Wiley, a Milk Replacer Territory Sales Manager for Denkavit. “I’ve been with Denkavit for three years,” said Wiley. “My territory covers New York, Western Pennsylvania, and Ohio. I grew up on a dairy farm in Western NY, working mainly in the herd and calf program with my family. I went to college at Morrisville for my bachelors in dairy management. A passion for calves has stuck with me my whole life, and that’s how I found my way to Denkavit. I wouldn’t have traded growing up on the farm for anything else. My husband and I are expecting our first child February 4th, and I’m really excited to raise our family down the road from my grandparents dairy farm.”

Denkavit focuses on milk replacer and health support products for young ruminants. “We produce milk replacer in the Northeast, and we source the raw dairy ingredients from manufacturers here as well,” said Wiley. We are a global organization that is based in the Netherlands. We’ve been in the US since 2019. My favorite part about working with Denkavit is working with our distribution partners across my territory. I love getting to teach them about our products, to go on farm, meet their customers, and learn what they’re doing. Every farm is different, and it’s great to see them build programs around specific customer goals.”

Wiley has had a chance to participate in a few NEAFA events during her time at Denkavit. “I’ve been to a handful of the golf events the past couple of years, and those have been a blast,” said Wiley.” “A lot of our partners are also a part of NEAFA, and it’s nice to see them out and in a different setting. It’s more laid back, and you can connect at a different level at events like Golf for Good Works.”

Looking forward, Wiley sees a lot of promise for dairy in the Northeast. “People are putting a lot more focus on calf and heifer nutrition and health,” said Wiley. “And it makes sense! You need to start at the foundation of your herd in order to have a successful future.”

For more information, visit https://denkavit.com/usa/ or email customer support at customerservice.us@denkavit.com

NEAFA Memo: NYS Assembly Public Meeting on Emerging Farmers

By Hinman Straub

On October 28, 2025, the New York State Assembly’s Standing Committee on Agriculture  convened a public hearing in Albany focused on “Emerging Farmers.” Committee members in  attendance included Chair Lupardo and Assemblymembers Miller, Woerner, Schiavoni, Giglio,  Kay, Lemondes, Kelles, Barrett, Buttenschon, and Tague.  

According to the official hearing notice, the Committee’s purpose for the hearing was to examine  the impact and effectiveness of agriculture programs which assist young and emerging farmers  funded in the Enacted 2025-26 State Budget. The notice indicates that as the average age of a  farmer in the State continues to rise, it is important to encourage new entrants into the farming  profession. “Emerging farmers” includes both those individuals who are entirely new to farming  as well as those individuals who have been farming but are now transitioning to ownership. The  State currently funds several programs which support emerging farmers and assist in the  transition of farms. 

Testimony was heard from the following individuals: 

• Richard Ball, Commissioner, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

• Aaron Allen, Farmer, Allenwaite Farms, Board Chair, NY Farm Viability Institute

• Holly Rippon-Butler, Director, Land Campaign, National Young Farmers Coalition

• Ian Calder-Piedmonte, Farmer, Balsam Farms, Councilman, East Hampton

• Richard De Meyer, Farmer, De Meyer Family Farms, Chair, NY Farm Bureau, Young  Farmers & Ranchers Committee 

• Christian Lewis, Farmer, Blue Ruin Ranch, Member, NY Farm Bureau, Young Farmers  & Ranchers Committee 

• Quade Kirk, Farmer, Dutch Hollow Farm, Member, NY Farm Bureau, Young Farmers  & Ranchers Committee 

• Julian R Mangano, NY Policy Manager, American Farmland Trust 

• Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Executive Director, Northeast Dairy Producers Association  (NEDPA) 

• Julie C. Suarez, Associate Dean, Land-Grant Affairs & Director, Translational Research  Programs, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

• Katie Carpenter, Director, NY Agriculture in the Classroom, Cornell College of  Agriculture and Life Sciences 

• Karl Czymmek, Dairy Climate Leadership Specialist & Associate Director, PRO DAIRY, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 

• Dr. Anu Rangarajan, Senior Extension Associate & Director, Cornell Small Farm  Program, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 

Committee Chair Lupardo began the hearing with a statistic: 60 percent of New York farmers are  55 and older. Consequently, there is a need to support the next generation as they phase into the  profession. The Committee heard from a wide range of stakeholders, listening to the perspectives  of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life  Sciences, farmers, and others.  

There were several topics consistently discussed throughout the hearing including succession  planning and transitioning farms to the next generation, solar farms on productive farmland,  oversubscription to funding programs, collaboration with other State agencies and BOCES, farm  worker housing, need for business planning resources, and New York’s electrification initiative. 

Regarding the generational transfer of farmland and operations, it was noted that many  established farmers are approaching retirement, but younger farmers face significant barriers to  entry, especially access to land and capital. Members asked whether existing programs are  sufficient to facilitate these transfers and whether more resources are needed for business  planning, legal, and tax support to make transitions sustainable. Witnesses explained how, due to  long working hours and limited resources, many farmers do not have access to grant writers,  lawyers, or other professionals. There was a recognition that without better succession planning  assistance, productive farmland risks being lost or consolidated. 

Both Committee members and witnesses expressed concern over the growing number of solar  projects on productive agricultural land. Testimony indicated that large-scale solar installations  have increased nearby farmland values and, in some cases, contributed to conversion pressures.  The Committee discussed how to strike a balance between meeting the State’s renewable energy  goals and preserving farmland. Some ideas raised included incentivizing solar development on  less-productive soils and supporting farmland protection programs. 

Testimony indicated that most programs intended to help new and emerging farmers are  oversubscribed. Chair Lupardo indicated that last year, emerging farmers applied for funding  totaling $22 million, but there was only $800,000 available. Additionally, applicants often face  long waits or partial awards due to limited funding. It was suggested that the State should  increase funding and commit more consistent, ongoing funding to support emerging farmers.  

Members mentioned the need for improved coordination among State agencies—specifically Agriculture and Markets, Labor, NYSERDA, and Empire State Development—as well as l  BOCES and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Lawmakers asked for examples of effective  collaborations that help farmers acquire technical and business skills. There was interest in  expanding workforce training and agricultural education programs that prepare the next  generation of farmers for management and ownership roles. Specifically, Committee members  highlighted the important role of BOCES in preparing the next generation of farmers and asked  whether BOCES programs are being adequately leveraged. Additionally, the Portrait of a 

Graduate initiative was mentioned in the context of expanding agriculture-focused curricula that  translate classroom learning into real farm and agribusiness outcomes.

Northeast Ag Update: Key Federal Decisions Impacting the Region

Louise Calderwood, Director of Regulatory Affairs, American Feed Industry Association

It has been a hectic year for agriculture as producers and agribusinesses have navigated tariffs and the 43 days of the government shutdown. As the year winds to a close here is a re-cap of several issues of importance to the northeast.

Federal Funding Provisions

When the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 was signed into law on November 12 it provided a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funded some parts of the federal government including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration through the end of Fiscal Year 2026. The new law also includes appropriations bills, which will be effective September 23, 2026, to provide a full year of funding for Agriculture, Rural Development and the FDA. This federal stability is essential for farmers and the animal food industry as they look ahead to the coming year.

Funding for conservation programs like EQIP and CSP was bolstered through the CR which helps Northeast farmers implement sustainable practices and climate-smart agriculture and the dairy margin coverage (DMC) was extended through 2031, giving Northeast dairy farmers greater security.  The bill made the estate tax exemption permanent at $15 million per individual or $30 million per couple, which is a significant benefit for generational farms in the Northeast looking to transfer ownership.

Tariffs

Tariffs on goods from China and other countries are increasing the input costs for imported ingredients such as vitamins, amino acids and other feed-inputs. It has been estimated that certain agricultural inputs (including feed additives) have faced input cost increases of 15–22% in 2025 due to these tariffs and supply chain disruptions. The cost of expanding or improving feed mills has also been hit by tariffs. In June Oxford Economics published a report stating the effective tariff rate on US construction imports have surged to 27.7%, up from 0.9% in 2024.

Not federal- but important-Vitamin and Amino Acid Supply Chain

Although this isn’t connected to federal policy, it is worth noting that earlier this month the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) released a report titled “Strategic Assessment on Impact of Vitamin and Amino Acid Supply Chain Disruptions on U.S. Food Security”  which evaluated the vitamin and amino acid supply chains and assessed how potential disruptions in supplies could affect U.S. livestock and poultry production. The project analyzed global production capacity and trade flows of vitamins (A, B-complex, D and E) and amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan) that are critical to animals and the feed industry, the majority of which come from China. This dependence poses risks to both supply chain stability and national food security. A disruption in imports could harm domestic livestock and poultry production while increasing feed and production costs.

And so the year winds to a close with some points of stability for northeast agriculture and several areas where uncertainty prevails.

NYC Lobby Day

By Charlie Elrod, NEAFA President

November 19th was a beautiful morning as a cadre of representatives made their way by train and car from Albany and Long Island toward New York City.  After several months of planning, it was finally coming together!  Eighteen people, representing NEAFA, NEDPA, NYFB, the NY Vegetable Growers and the NY Horticultural Society split into three teams to make fifteen lobbying calls on NY City legislators in their home districts.  NEDPA and NYFB had done a joint NYC lobby day a few years ago and felt that it led to worthwhile conversations with legislators who may not be as familiar with the issues facing NY’s agricultural segments. 

Bonnie Bargstedt, Sean Dieumegard and I participated on behalf of NEAFA with the other 15 people coming from our collaborators in the other associations.  Each team spread out across a couple of boroughs to make their appointments. 

We prepared a document covering the major talking points which ranged from fairly general, like funding for Cornell Animal Science, to the specific provisions of anticipated legislation such as the Good Food Purchasing bill.  As usual there were some that we support and others we oppose.  Our talking points covered four broad categories: Budget support for agriculture, Food and nutrition security, Environmental stewardship, and Workforce development.

In several of the districts, there were food distribution events going on ahead of Thanksgiving.  This was a fortunate confluence of events as it highlighted the absolute dependence on agriculture for our food supply and provided a great context for the conversations.  Personally, I was pleasantly surprised that our conversations were highly productive and engaging.  Talking with others on the ride home, it seems that all the groups had largely favorable discussions. 

In one of the meetings I was in, Assemblymember Catalina Cruz relayed her absolute support for agriculture.  She readily acknowledged that without NY farms, her constituents would have gone desperately hungry during the pandemic.  From that experience, she crusaded the development of the Nourish NY program which uses state funds to purchase food from NY producers to help stock food banks across the state.  After three years of annual funding, Assemblemember Cruz and Senator Michelle Hinchey wrote and helped make the Nourish NY program a permanent program, feeding hundreds of thousands of people each year while securing a market for excess food products from NY producers. 

This is just one example, but the fact that we were able to have that conversation, build a bridge and connect with someone who is so passionate about her constituents AND the people who help keep them fed, gives me great optimism for continued collaboration with our state legislators.  I especially want to thank Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Executive Director of NEDPA, for sweating so many of the details of this undertaking, making sure we all got there and got back home.  Renee St. Jacque from NY Farm Bureau and our own Julie Marlette also shouldered the brunt of chasing legislators to get these appointments. 

NEAFA Executive Pen: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed

By Bonnie Bargstedt, NEAFA Vice President

Let’s focus on the seasonal theme “Thankful, Grateful, Blessed” and how it relates to NEAFA. We can link these words to our lives in our individual businesses no matter if you’re in the feed, farm, transportation, nutrition, seed, supply, education, financial or other industries we each represent.

Thankful – NEAFA has a long history dating back to 1918. I am Thankful that industry leaders had the vision to band together and find common issues to collaborate on that make our industries prosper. We speak with a collective voice and advocate for our members, animal agriculture and other stakeholders in NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, PA, and CT. We work to identify, proactively address and help resolve issues impacting us. We provide relevant services that focus on creating a competitive advantage for all served. These are the benefits of being a member of NEAFA and we proudly strive to meet the expectations of our members. Know that all suggestions and ideas are welcome.

Grateful - Those who give their personal time and commitment to represent NEAFA can never know how grateful our industry is. Everyone, including our committee members, Directors, Officers, members and our amazing staff of 1 – Sue VanAmburgh, give their all to keep NEAFA relevant with legislators, industry stakeholders and other industry organizations. Thank you for your dedication and service.

Blessed – We often take our situations in life for granted. Last week Charlie Elrod, Sean Dieumegard and I had the opportunity to represent NEAFA making visits to key Legislators in NYC with the Northeast Dairy Producers Association and NY Farm Bureau. The visits went well. We found we have more in common than initially thought. The Blessed part you ask? My group ended the day at a food distribution event in the 44th / 46th district of the Bronx with Assemblyman Landon Dais who represents the 77th Assembly district.

We are all hearing about food insecurity and know the issue is real. Living in rural areas we often do not see the depth of hunger unless we volunteer at a shelter, food pantry or distribution event. This event had people lined up around the block to receive a single shopping bag with a small turkey, some vegetables, a can of sauce, tuna, some water, Sunny Delight and a couple pints of milk. Assemblyman Dais was keen to tell us honestly that this is one of the highest crime districts in the city. He stressed that hunger drives people to do desperate things. His hope is to build the city – upstate bond to help address hunger in his district.

This event was coordinated by RTG – Release the Grip – an anti-gun violence group serving this impoverished area. Imagine living where the necessity of having this group exists. Mr. Dais proudly introduced us to the people waiting in line as “Upstate Farmers who grow your food”. The applause was unexpected and humbling.

We are Blessed to be part of the few who contribute to feeding the many. We are Blessed to live peacefully with an abundance of food.  We are Blessed to have NEAFA represent us so we can do it successfully. If you’re not yet a member I would ask you to consider joining NEAFA to help us broaden our efforts.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family and all those you hold dear.

NEAFA Member Highlight: Luke Lines, Actus

By Eric Jenks, Special to NEAFA

For November, NEAFA caught up with Luke Lines, the Northeast and Canada Dairy Technical Sales Manager for Actus Nutrition. “Actus got it’s start in Dundee, IL, but we’re now based out of Eden Prairie, MN,” said Lines. “Actus has divisions for both human and animal nutrition. They’ve been around for about 80 years, and until last year were known as Milk Specialties. Actus uses whey and/or milk, and we break them down to produce specialty ingredients. Actus sells protein through the human nutrition division, and we make milk replacer from whey for the animal nutrition division. We’re the largest milk replacer company in the US, and export to 47 different countries.”

Lines joined Actus approximately a year and a half ago. “I like that Actus is a dairy based company,” said Lines. “We touch about 11% of the milk produced in the US, either through whey or actual milk. We make products for dairy calves, energy boosters for lactating cows and more. We help farmers make milk, and we then work with what they produce as well. We’re an innovative and growing company that is able to make decisions quickly and come out with new products regularly. We have a great research team devoted to innovation.”

Lines grew up in the agricultural industry. “My father is an agricultural economist, and we lived in a lot of different places growing up, either at the schools or farms where he worked,” said Lines. “Both of my parents grew up on farms in Western NY, but after my father left the Miner Institute for a position at Ohio State, we moved and I grew up there. There were not a lot of dairy cows where I grew up, so I went off to Ohio State and majored in Forest Biology for undergrad. My junior and senior year, I worked for the forestry department in Wooster, Ohio over the summer. During my free time on the weekends, I got a job milking cows and found out I had a strong passion for not only forestry but dairy. After I graduated, I joined the Peace Corps and went to Tunisia and was a large animal husbandry specialist for a year, and then I worked with them in Malta as a large animal husbandry specialist as well. From that experience, I knew I wanted to work in the dairy sector. I got my masters in dairy nutrition from Ohio State, and went to work for Elanco animal health in a variety of roles. Before joining Actus, I also spent time working with Merck, Balchem, and AmpliSource.”

Lines has a long history with NEAFA, going back to when NEAFA first formed. “It’s a great organization for making contacts, networking in the ag industry for NY, NE, and even up into Canada,” said Lines. “I’m happy to be involved with and help out with programs that they do, like HHNC, Golf for Good Works, lobbying in Albany, etc. It’s just a really good, positive organization that I’ve enjoyed being a member of for over 20 years.”

Looking to the future, Lines sees a lot of positives for the Northeast. “There’s a lot of growth opportunities in dairy right now,” said Lines. “I’ve been working up here for almost 30 years, and with all of the new facilities coming online, I’ve never seen the dairy industry poised to grow as much as there is right now. There’s a lot of opportunity for young people in the industry. I haven’t seen this much excitement and growth opportunities in the NY ever. It’s a really exciting time to be in the dairy industry here in the Northeast.

For more information on Actus, visit www.actus.com

Become a 2026 NEAFA Sustaining Sponsor!

The Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance is happy to announce the NEAFA Sustaining Sponsorship Program is being offered again this year.  This program provides you with the opportunity to make one sponsorship investment and receive commensurate benefits throughout the year.  Your support now will help us sustain all the excellent educational programs and services we offer the agribusiness community and provide you the recognition you deserve, not just at our annual meeting, but throughout the year. 

Here is a summary of all that we offer the northeast agribusiness community:

• NEAFA is your ACE in the Hole!  Our goal is to know your business and provide you with the programs and services that help sustain and grow our industry.  Whether it is advocacy for public policy, industry collaboration and networking, or timely educational programs, NEAFA is your ACE in the hole! (Advocate, Collaborate, Educate) ​​

• Your support assures we can continue to stay on mission to advocate, collaborate and educate on behalf of the agribusiness community.  Our mission is more important than ever before as we battle headwinds of government policies, international competition, and the cost of doing business in the northeast.  We must remain focused and engaged in the issues impacting success for the agriculture industry throughout the northeast. ​

• Northeast footprint: We make it our business to engage with state government on behalf of the northeast agribusiness community.  We know that all northeast state governments, New York, Vermont and all of New England, impact the agribusiness community through their legislative and regulatory roles.​

• We are boots on the ground addressing the policy challenges and hurdles impacting individual agribusiness companies.  Our access to and influence with legislators and government administrators strongly positions us to represent the agribusiness community.  Further, our respected perspectives, within the agriculture lobby, ensures that the agribusiness perspective is considered on key policy issues. 

• Collaboration is in our DNA.  We know that collaborative relationships provide results far greater that independent efforts.   We actively work to engage with and work with industry stakeholders.​​ 

• Your brand is enhanced through association with us!  A Sustaining Sponsorship will compliment your company’s brand because of your affiliation with NEAFA.  Prominently displayed on our website, newsletters, and event materials, your company will be proudly identified as a sustaining sponsor.  We even give you the opportunity for a recorded video message/commercial linked to our website. 
  Our accomplishments to date are long and impressive and you can review the current list here.  Our good work is recognized by many, but it is particularly rewarding to receive endorsements from our two national partners, the American Feed Industry Association and the National Grain and Feed Association.  You may review their endorsements here.

We think you will agree that a Sustaining Sponsorship with the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance is well worth the investment.  The sponsor benefits document here provides the various options and benefits the program offers.  You may also sign up directly online by using the following link: 

https://www.memberplanet.com/s/neafa/sustainsponsorform2026

Thank you for your continued support!
 ​

Ever Closer Collaboration

By Charlie Elrod, Bonnie Bargstedt, and Jenny Mills

This past week before the Cornell Nutrition Conference, we had the chance to continue our exploration of ways that we can work more closely with the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA)  in keeping with NEAFA’s strategic plan adopted in 2021.  We joined their board of directors’ meeting for an hour of engaging discussion.  This follows on Keith Kimball (Chair of the NEDPA Board) and A.J. Wormuth (Vice-chair) joining NEAFA’s September board meeting to provide some updates on their organization. 

We are all in agreement that consolidation is happening up and down the dairy value chain.  As member-driven organizations, our strength is in our numbers, but as the potential membership pool shrinks, even as cow numbers and tons of feed produced stay the same or increase, we must explore new recruiting methods and potential efficiencies to be gained from working together. 

The collaboration between NEAFA and NEDPA has grown tremendously over the last four years.  On the advocacy front, we have jointly held two transportation summits, a transportation lobby day, and are in the midst of planning a New York City lobby day with NEDPA, NY Farm Bureau, NY Vegetable Growers and the NY Horticulture Society.  Our two lobby groups, Hinman Straub and Ostroff Associates are similarly close in planning our lobbying activities and ensuring that our messaging to legislators is constructively focused and consistent.  Both organizations share a high degree of support for the land grant universities where so much truly progressive research and extension originates.

One area where we could pick up some efficiency, share our resources and engage with each other’s’ members is holding our annual, or in NEDPA’s case biennial, membership meetings together.  This could take the form of two parallel tracks for our meeting sessions, or some overlap of programming during the meeting.  As one of our bigger annual outlays, the chance to share the planning, funding and holding our annual meeting with a close collaborator is appealing. 

Four years ago, the NEAFA strategic plan envisioned a day when the two organizations might merge as a strong unified dairy alliance.  The NEAFA and NEDPA boards both feel that day is still some way into the future, if it ever happens at all.  But, just as happened twenty years ago when the Eastern Federation of Feed Merchants merged with the New England Feed and Grain Council to form NEAFA, there may well come a time when the reasons for us to join forces far outweigh any downside.  In the meantime, we will continue our close collaboration and build on the strengths of each organization to support a thriving agricultural ecosystem in the Northeast.

DOB Call Letter and Comptroller Mid-Year Update

By Hinman Straub

While focus has remained on the federal government shutdown and the New York City mayoral race over the last few weeks, the State budget process has officially begun. The Division of the Budget call letter issued on October 9, coupled with the Comptroller’s mid-year fiscal update released October 15, start to frame the fiscal context in which the Executive budget will be developed.

DOB’s call letter marks the formal start of the budget process, directing all State agencies to submit their budget requests for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27 by October 24. These submissions will inform the Executive Budget which must be introduced by January 20, 2026. The call letter provides valuable insight into the Governor’s fiscal priorities.

This year’s letter highlights the fiscal pressures from the loss of federal funding caused by H.R.1, which DOB expects will exacerbate the State’s projected budget deficit. While the letter did not quantify the expected shortfall, it emphasized the need to align out-year spending growth with available revenues to minimize potential cuts to essential programs. Agencies were instructed to limit their SFY 27 budget requests so as not to exceed their SFY 26 Enacted Budget levels, excluding one-time investments. DOB also called on agencies to review existing regulations and identify regulatory burdens that could be reduced or reformed to promote efficiency and economic growth.

The Office of the State Comptroller’s mid-year report provided a fiscal update. Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli reported that through September, State tax collections totaled $59.9 billion, which is $702 million higher than DOB’s most recent financial plan projections. The Comptroller attributed this to higher than expected personal income tax collections; but noted that policy change in Washington could still “weigh heavily” on the State’s economy.

DOB is expected to release its own mid-year fiscal plan update later this month. This will likely provide a clearer picture of how the current fiscal dynamics will shape the Executive Budget proposal.  

Labor Roadshow IX

By Rich Stup, Director, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

The ninth edition of New York’s Labor Roadshow returns this December, bringing practical guidance on the workforce issues every New York farm employer needs to know. Presented by the Agricultural Workforce Development Council (AWDC) with the support of Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD), the Roadshow combines in-person programming across the state with two complementary online webinars to deliver updates, legal guidance, and leadership strategies for managing people on farms.

Why Attend

• Timely coverage of immigration, unionization, overtime, employee housing, technology, and compliance issues framed specifically for agricultural employers.

• Practical, actionable presentations from attorneys, regulators, and industry experts that help farms reduce risk and improve workforce stability.

• Networking and peer learning with other farm managers and agribusiness professionals across the Northeast.

• Flexible access: one registration gives you access to one in-person session, a recording of an in-person session, and both live webinars.

Dates and Locations

• In-Person

• December 9 — Elks Lodge, Greenwich, NY

• December 10 — Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown, NY

• December 17 — Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY

• December 18 — Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY

• Online via Zoom

• December 1 — 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

• December 22 — 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Key Topics and Speakers

• Immigration Update, by Attorney Michael Sciotti of Barclay Damon law firm

• Farm/family Preparedness, by a panel of first responders, emergency personnel and farmers

• Compliance Updates For Agricultural Employers, by NYS Department of Labor

• Unionization Updates, from PERB and from Attorney Joshua Viau of Fisher Phillips law firm

• Employee engagement and improving workplace culture, by Dr. Kaitlyn Lutz of CAWD

• Employee housing operational costs and pest management, by Sysannah Krysko of Cornell Integrated Pest Management and Jay Canzonier of CAWD

• Legality and best practices for employee monitoring using cameras and technology, by legal experts

• How to interact with regulators and the public about labor issues

Registration, Cost, and What’s Included

• Cost: $75 per person.

• Payment: Cash, check, or advance online payment accepted.

• Includes: Onsite programming for one event date, access to both webinars, recording access, coffee, refreshments, and lunch.

• Register: https://forms.gle/HheZLetKwyi8J3t6A. Early registration is encouraged; spaces may be limited.

Contact and Additional Information

• Program questions: cu-agworkforce@cornell.edu

• Registration questions: office@nedpa.org

• For the latest speaker and session updates, check the Labor Roadshow webpage.

Attend Labor Roadshow IX to sharpen your farm’s labor practices, stay ahead of regulatory changes, and connect with colleagues tackling the same workforce challenges. The Agricultural Workforce Development Council is dedicated to enhancing the agricultural workforce through education, advocacy, and support. By providing resources and training, AWDC helps farm employers navigate labor challenges effectively. 

FDA Considers Updates to GRAS: What Feed Manufacturers Need to Know

By Louise Calderwood, AFIA Director of Regulatory Affairs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is evaluating potential changes to the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) framework, which will include animal feed and pet food ingredients. These possible changes could reshape how new ingredients are reviewed, documented and approved, making it essential for feed manufacturers to understand what’s driving the discussion and how it could affect their operations. The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will closely follow the process and submit comments based on input from members.

The GRAS system, established in 1958, allows ingredients which have a long history of common use or have been independently reviewed and found safe for an intended use, to enter the market. Under pressure from the Make America Healthy Again movement, the FDA has announced that GRAS will undergo revision; they are expected to require federal review of GRAS conclusions for new animal food ingredients. The FDA has not yet indicated if they will conduct a post-market review of GRAS ingredients already in use.

Under the current system, companies can make GRAS determinations independently, without notifying the FDA. Some companies choose to submit their findings voluntarily through the formal GRAS notification program, but most companies find the FDA notification process to be unduly burdensome and therefore do not notify the FDA.

While all the data used to inform a GRAS determination must be publicly available, critics feel there are gaps in public access to safety data and limits in the FDA’s ability to monitor emerging ingredients. A revised regulation may require mandatory notification and public disclosure of GRAS determinations.

Consumers and international markets are increasingly focused on the safety, sustainability and traceability of animal feed ingredients. Strengthening the GRAS framework may be beneficial for U.S. manufacturers to maintain market trust and reduce future regulatory risk.

In the nearly seven decades since the GRAS system was developed, animal food ingredients have evolved far beyond traditional grains and minerals to include biotechnology, fermentation and synthetic biology to develop novel ingredients. The FDA aims to align the GRAS process with current scientific standards—ensuring that evaluations for microbial proteins, enzymes and other novel materials meet modern safety benchmarks.

In 2024, the FDA gathered input from feed industry representatives, including the AFIA, to identify weaknesses in the current GRAS notification process and areas for improvement; feedback which should be incorporated into the proposed rule. The FDA’s revision process for the GRAS regulations will follow the federal rulemaking framework, allowing for public input and industry engagement. The proposed rule may include requirements for mandatory GRAS notifications, updated definitions of “expert consensus” and changes to recordkeeping or safety substantiation. Once draft revisions are developed, the FDA will publish them in the Federal Register. The public and trade associations, such as the AFIA, will have the opportunity to submit feedback on the proposed rule, an essential step to ensure that new regulations are scientifically sound, practical and cost-effective for real-world operations. After reviewing and possibly incorporating comments, the FDA will finalize the rule and set a timeline for compliance. Industry education and guidance documents will be developed to help companies adapt.

Feed ingredient manufacturers may be wise to begin reviewing their internal GRAS procedures now, particularly documentation practices, expert panel methodologies and data transparency policies. By proactively engaging in the rulemaking process and aligning practices with evolving expectations, feed manufacturers and ingredient suppliers can help shape a system that supports innovation while ensuring safety and regulatory confidence across the animal food industry.

NEAFA Member Highlight: Kevin Putnam, Pioneer

By Eric Jenks, Special to NEAFA

For October, NEAFA spoke with Kevin Putnam, a Northeast Dairy Specialist for Pioneer and a member of NEAFA’s Board of Directors. “I cover Delaware to Maine,” said Putnam. “I do a lot of training for sales representatives; I work with them on larger accounts for best management practices and on the farm training. I have a dairy nutrition and forage background, where I worked a lot with corn, soybeans, wheat, and inoculants for 18 years. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but my father was in agribusiness his entire career, which sparked my interest. I went to Cornell University for Animal Science. I like agriculture, I like being outside and working with animals, and it all meshed together for me during my time there.”

Putnam worked as a dairy nutritionist for four years before joining Pioneer to focus on forage. “Pioneer is the largest seed company in the world,” said Putnam. “2026 will be our 100th year in business. They’re based out of Johnston, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines. Working in the Northeast, I’m based out of Lansing, NY. I like the ability to concentrate on the forage side for Pioneer. Forage doesn’t get as much attention as it should, and the people that we have working in the industry are great. The resources that Pioneer has available for forage means that we’re doing more work than anyone else can in the field. We have an immense amount of information that we can share with our customers and their nutritionists for best management practices and which products will get the job done efficiently. I truly love every minute of what I do.

Putnam’s term on NEAFA’s Board of Directors expires in 2027. “NEAFA asked if I would be interested in joining the board, and to be honest I hadn’t done that for any organizations or groups like this before,” said Putnam. “The first step in effective lobbying is to know what your members need, which means that my background in seeds, agronomy, and crop space is an asset. I’ve been on the board for over a year, and it has been a good opportunity to learn how groups like NEAFA work, and how they pick the topics to fight for in the industry. I’ve been really intrigued at the things that NEAFA is getting done. The passion for agriculture and agribusiness in the group is awesome, and the things that we’re tackling for the industry is motivating to me. There’s a lot involved in the process of getting things in front of our government representatives, and I’m glad to have a roll in that with NEAFA. Specific for my work with Pioneer, there are a lot of regulations for crops. Whether you’re talking about new products, watershed regulation, etc. We want to be able to use the latest and safest technologies that we can. We’re looking forward to future products and technology, and having a group like NEAFA to help get legislation passed and products regulated in a responsible and timely manner is wonderful. There’s a lot of products in the Northeast that we can and can’t use because of regulations. These technologies are only going to get more in-depth and better as time goes by, and I see NEAFA as a positive force to make sure we can utilize those technologies in the Northeast as they come available.”

For more information on Pioneer and their forage division, visit: https://www.pioneer.com/us/products/forages/dairy.html

Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform Effects in the Northeast

Christopher Wolf, Photo provided.

By Christopher A. Wolf, Cornell University

In the United States, milk pay price for most dairy farmers is built from Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) minimum class prices which are blended into a uniform price. Recent hearings resulted in changes to the FMMOs that impact the minimum reference prices. There were five categories of change adopted with four of the five implemented on June 1 2025 and the final change coming in December 2025. Increased make allowances are the largest negative effect on the uniform blend price from FMMOs. In order to calculate the minimum component prices, wholesale product prices are surveyed weekly resulting in a monthly average price for cheese, dry whey, butter and non-fat dry milk. The make allowance is the amount of the wholesale price that is allotted for manufacturing costs. All else equal, increasing make allowances results in lower component and minimum class prices.

The other changes in the reform included: dropping barrel cheese from the product survey (so using block cheddar only to determine cheese price); going back to the higher of class III or IV to determine the advanced class I skim milk price (and adding an adjuster for extended shelf-life class I milk); increasing the class I location adjuster in many locations; and increasing base skim milk component content of milk to reflect higher protein levels. These last 4 changes have the tendency to increase the minimum class prices of milk—although that depends on factors such as whether barrels are priced below block cheese and how far apart the advanced skim milk prices are in classes III and IV.

The Northeast is fortunate to have a fairly balanced market utilization across class uses. In particular, the Northeast retains a significant class I (beverage) utilization. The result of this being that the projected effect on the minimum uniform blend price in the Northeast is likely to be small relative to other regions. The specific effect on a given cooperative or farmer depends very much on the market and handler contract situation. The uniform FMMO blend price is only part of the resulting farm milk price and cooperative, handler and farm adjustments must be considered to arrive at the net impact. If, for example, a cooperative manufactures cheese and their processing costs exceeded the previous make allowance but are now covered, it is entirely possible that a previous deduction was made to farm pay prices to cover the loss and is now wiped out. In this example, the increased make allowance may have little to no effect on the resulting farm pay price. Further, the longer-term impacts of increased make allowance should be an increased investment in dairy product manufacturing accompanied by an increase in the derived demand for farm milk. Thus, while it may be a cost in the short-term, the recent reforms to FMMO pricing rules aim to make the entire supply chain sustainable in the long-run.