NEAFA 2026 NY State Budget Priorities

By Hinman Straub

Funding Requests

$1,125,000 in Additional Funding for PRO-DAIRY

The Executive Budget proposal reduces support for PRO-DAIRY BY $125,000 from the SFY 26 Enacted Budget. NEAFA strongly supports restoration of this funding.   

In addition to this restoration, an additional investment of $1 million in PRO-DAIRY is needed. If appropriated, the funding would be utilized as follows:

·       $500,000 would fund five new positions.

o   Two Farm Business Management specialists

o   One Dairy Nutrition specialist.

o   One Animal Well-Being specialist.

o   One specialist in youth/emerging farmers.

·       $500,000 for applied research and extension support.

$5 Million in Operational Funding and $5 Million in Capital Funding for Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

Cornell CALS is New York State’s land-grant college, part of the SUNY system, and a critical partner to farmers, foresters, food producers, and communities across the State. For over 150 years, through its statewide research farms, forests, and extension programs, CALS delivers practical, science-based solutions that strengthen agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and rural and urban economies alike.

At a time when New York agriculture is experiencing both significant opportunity and growing pressure, rising production costs, labor shortages, climate variability, and aging infrastructure, this investment is both timely and necessary. New private-sector investment, particularly in dairy manufacturing, underscores the importance of maintaining strong public investment in the applied research and extension capacity that supports farm viability and sustainability.

Operational funding is needed to maintain core staffing and statewide programming in areas such as dairy, maple, specialty crops, and forestry. Capital funding is essential to repair and modernize aging research infrastructure so that on-farm trials, technology development, and regionally relevant research can continue to serve producers throughout New York. This request represents a strategic investment in food security, environmental resilience, and economic development, and reinforces New York State’s long-standing partnership with its land-grant institution.

$150,000 in Additional Funding for Dairy Profit Teams

In addition to supporting the Executive proposal to continue to provide $700,000 for the Dairy Advancement Program (DAP) and $374,000 for Dairy Profit Teams, increased funding is needed. Demand for the services offered by these programs exceeds the supply supported by current funds. DAP funds are used by small farmers that seek to grow their businesses and adapt to the current financial and business environment.

Increase Funding Support for the Cornell University Ruminant Center (CURC) to $500,000 ($125,000 Increase)

CURC is the leading American university dairy research facility that is best equipped to conduct studies at the scale needed to identify strategies that will improve the production of milk and milk-components, decrease the intensity of GHG emissions, and safely evaluate the true capabilities of what the dairy industry can accomplish while improving milk production efficiency and mitigating climate-related challenges. An additional investment of $125,000 is needed.

Increase Funding for the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture to $1.25 Million (Restoration of $354,545)

The New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech serves as a hub connecting businesses and entrepreneurs with the services they need to succeed. The Center of Excellence works with partners across the State to increase the size and scope of the food and agriculture economy in New York by fostering the growth of new companies, new products, and existing businesses. 

$250,000 in Additional Funding for PRO-LIVESTOCK

Livestock farms in New York produce nutrient-dense protein to feed our residents and provide critical ecological benefits on millions of acres of land across the State. As this industry grows, sustained education and research will be required. Last year, $250,000 was included in the Enacted Budget to support two PRO-LIVESTOCK positions within Cornell to assist livestock farms in New York State as they work to enhance silvopasture practices and carbon sequestering management to create climate resilient farms while strengthening food and fiber. Restoration of this funding is required.

$1.5 Million in Funding for FarmNet (Restoration of $100,000)

In addition to supporting the Executive Proposal to provide $1.4 million, a restoration of the $100,000 to this network of 46 consultants across the State is needed. These practitioners are in place to respond to farmers’ requests for assistance. Professional financial and mental health consultants help farm families and businesses deal with the financial and emotional issues characteristic of an industry under severe stress. In 2021, FarmNet professionals worked with over 729 farmers on issues ranging from economic and mental health to business and estate planning.

Policy Requests

Farmers and the agribusiness industry have not been immune from the rising costs many businesses are grappling with. These costs are eating into already narrow profit margins and driving up the costs of many products. This is especially challenging in the dairy industry, as milk prices are federally regulated.

Litigation Reform

The Executive Budget includes several proposals that if adopted would help address some of the major cost drivers that dramatically increased in recent years. One of those is the size of jury verdicts and settlements. NEAFA supports these proposed changes and urges their enactment.

Reducing Unnecessary Litigation. This proposal would:

• Modify the definition of “serious injury” to eliminate often manipulated criteria;

• Limit the amount of non-economic damages from being awarded to uninsured motorists, individuals convicted of driving while impaired, and individuals committing a felony or fleeing one at the time of the accident;

• Adopt a common-sense rule that permits recovery of non-economic damages only if a plaintiff is not primarily at fault for causing an accident; and

• Ensure that defendants in multi-party personal injury auto cases are held responsible only for the damage they cause, not damages caused by other unrelated defendants.

Impose Market-Based Interest Rate on Court Judgments. The proposal would require that interest on judgments and accrued claims be calculated using the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate.

Insurance Reform

Rising insurance costs and inability to secure coverage are another significant issue for NEAFA members. NEAFA supports the proposals to address the rising costs of insurance.

Premium Increase Explanations. This proposal would require insurers to automatically disclose, on either the premium bill or declarations page, both the dollar amount of any renewal premium increase exceeding 10 percent (excluding increases due to added insured value) and a written explanation identifying the factors driving the increase. For other motor vehicle and residential property policies, insurers would be required to provide a prominent notice advising policyholders of their right to request a written explanation of premium increases.

Automatic Property Insurance Premium Reductions. The proposal would require insurers to offer discounted premium rates to homeowners and commercial property owners who make improvements to their property that contribute to the safety and security of the insured structures.

Extend the Excess Profit Law for Automobile Insurance. This proposal would extend the duration of New York’s motor vehicle insurance “excess profits” refund requirement by three years, through June 30, 2029. This law requires automobile insurers making profits that exceed a certain threshold to return portions of those profits directly to policyholders.

Taxes

NEAFA’s members support the following tax-related changes included in the Executive Budget proposal. 

Extending the Refundability of the Investment Tax Credit for Farmers. This proposal would extend the period during which eligible farmers may elect to receive unused investment tax credits (ITCs) as a refund until January 1, 2033.

Transfer of Authority to Administer Marketing Orders. This proposal would establish the Dairy Promotion Act which would authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, with approval from a majority (51%) of milk producers in the regulated area, to create dairy promotion orders that fund and oversee statewide or regional efforts to increase the consumption of milk and dairy products.

Standardize the Definition of Farmer for Certain Tax Credits. This proposal would standardize and broaden how farm income is calculated for purposes of various agricultural tax credits and exemptions. This change would apply to the following credits:

• Farm workforce retention credit.

• Farm employer overtime credit.

• Credit for farm donations to food pantries.

• Agricultural Property Tax Credit.

Harnessing the modern cow: Precision, behavior, and better herd performance

By Heather Darrow

Today’s dairy cow is changing faster than ever, and with that change comes both opportunity and responsibility. Genetic progress, nutritional innovation, and evolving management systems are reshaping the way high‑performing herds must be understood and supported. This year’s Herd Health & Nutrition Conference captures that shift — offering attendees insights into tools and strategies needed to keep up with the modern cow. Leading researchers, industry professionals and dairy producers will present new research and practical strategies that reveal how the modern dairy cow is advancing and how management must adapt alongside her.

The conference will be held March 31, 2025, at the Doubletree by Hilton in East Syracuse, New York. Presented by Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance (NEAFA), the conference delivers valuable insights and research updates related to dairy herd health and nutrition management.

This annual event is ideal for dairy professionals, feed industry representatives, veterinarians and dairy producers. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for the NEAFA Annual Meeting and a networking breakfast with speakers and sponsors, followed by a full day of educational sessions.

A key theme running through the program is the importance of understanding the cow as an individual, not just a member of the herd. Trevor DeVries opens the conference by showing how cow behavior and variability affect success in automated milking systems—and how tailoring management to those behavioral differences can lead to better outcomes.

From there, the agenda moves “down the cow’s feed path,” exploring how nutrition and forage quality shape performance. Michelle Chang‑Der Bedrosian brings cutting‑edge silage science to the table, translating new research on fermentation, stability, and preservation into actionable steps advisors and producers can apply before the chopper even enters the field.

Building on the biological and nutritional foundation, economist Chuck Nicholson will examine the shifting marketplace for milk components. His session offers a clear look at current and emerging trends in demand, pricing, and component value—helping producers and industry professionals understand how their nutrition and management decisions connect directly to farm profitability.

On the nutrient side, Kevin Harvatine and Mike Van Amburgh continue the precision theme with deep dives into fatty acid balancing, amino acid requirements, and the rapidly evolving genetic capacity for milk fat and protein synthesis. Their sessions highlight how the cow of today—and certainly the cow of tomorrow—requires more exact nutrient strategies to fully express her potential.

The day culminates with a panel discussion where science meets real‑world execution. A progressive dairy producer and their nutritionist will sit alongside Drs. Harvatine and Van Amburgh to connect research insights with on‑farm application. Together, they will show what it takes to consistently hit high component levels in a commercial setting, from feed bunk decisions to ration design to cow‑side management.

Throughout the conference, the narrative remains clear:

·        Understand the cow.

·        Optimize the diet.

·        Elevate the herd.

Backed by research and grounded in practical experience, the Herd Health & Nutrition Conference equips dairy professionals with insights they can put to work immediately — strengthening herd health, improving efficiency, and building long‑term sustainability for the future of dairy.

Full event information is available at cals.cornell.edu/pro-dairy. Registration is open with early bird rates available until March 15, 2026. Sponsorship opportunities with limited exhibit spaces are also available.

For more information, contact Heather Darrow, PRO-DAIRY Conference Coordinator at hh96@cornell.edu.

VDPA Lobby Day

By Kevin Kouri

Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance (VDPA) 2026 Lobby Day was held January 22nd in Montpelier, VT at the Vermont Capital Building.  We had a great young group of dairy producers representing four dairy counties in the State with a total of twelve dairy farms represented. 

The group had an opportunity to testify in front of the House Agriculture Committee on two bills that the Alliance opposes while in the Senate Agriculture Committee they had a chance to answer questions from the Senate Committee on the “State of Farming” in Vermont.  The Senators were most interested in what issues they can address and what sort of support they can provide with protection and legislative actions. 

During lunch, VDPA membership was able to talk more with members of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee’s in a less formal manner allowing for a deeper dive into the struggles we face in the industry. Legal Counsel for the Department of Agriculture attended as well, Steve Collier, to discuss current issues with Conservation Law Fund and watershed issues and the impact this will have on dairy. Collectively all parties are working hard towards environmental protection that is sustainable and can work within the current construct of the industry.

Discussion leaving the Capital with VDPA membership was that they felt the most welcomed in the Capital in long time with very supportive House and Senate Committee’s and optimistic for collaboration moving forward. Engagement level continues to remain high since our visit, and this has peaked increased membership into VDPA from non-members as they see the impact we are having in promoting and supporting the industry that supports all of us.

NY Needs More Science; Not Less

By Julie Suarez, Associate Dean & Director, Translational Research Programs, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

There are few certainties in life outside of the old saying – death and taxes. One certainty, faced by all of us, is the rapid pace of change. Whether it is global marketing conditions, economic and weather impacts, funding for research or conservation practices, or simply keeping up with new AI technologies, change breeds uncertainty and uncertainty can cause ripple effects throughout the entire food system. 

How do we reduce the uncertainty that causes additional hardship for farmers, the businesses that serve them, and the people who need to eat?  We need to turn to scientific solutions grounded in the real world.  Put simply, the world will need more science, not less, in the years to come.  Farmers will need more science-based solutions to economic and environmental challenges in the changing world, businesses will need to have a more certain regulatory environment based on science, and consumers who drive all business decisions will need to have trust in the food they’re buying. 

Which is, of course, why we need to keep investing in this vague but critical concept of a “Land-Grant”. Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is so proud of having both this incredible responsibility and this incredible privilege to be service-minded.  Cornell CALS has over 150 years of generational partnerships with family farmers, scientists and extension personnel, agri-businesses, and our youth from all of NY’s communities from rural to urban through our land-grant partnership.  This land-grant mission is embedded in the DNA of our faculty and extension staff, and while not always having the answers to the incredibly rapid pace of change – we do try to provide the best and most trusted science we can. 

We can talk about USDA’s Economic Research Services in 2019 highlighted that China, Argentina, and the European Union have outpaced the United States public investment in agricultural R&D; opening the door to less science-based solutions publicly available for growers. We can talk about the significant financial constraints faced by Cornell CALS and our extension partners from the State University of NY (SUNY) operating funds budget, which has virtually remained flat since 2009.  The rapid pace of declines in funding for agricultural sciences R&D is causing great uncertainty at our service-minded land-grant college, much like farmers and businesses are also facing uncertainty.   

But I would rather talk about that even in the midst of unprecedented, rapid change, Cornell CALS serves the public good and the farm community with practical solutions to everyday challenges. We teach students, work on critical areas like nutrient management, GHG reductions through innovations and efficiencies, and plant breeding for the changing climate, and translate that research into our food system to help play a part in making sure NY eaters have NY grown and processed, safe and healthy foods. 

Because the world needs more science, not less, in the years to come Cornell CALS is simply asking for your help.  Reductions in funding mean fewer trusted solutions from NY’s generational land-grant partner.  And while the science Cornell CALS provides sometimes causes conflicts with people from different walks of life, you can trust it’s the best that we can do with the tools, funding and knowledge we have and is conducted according to our strong value of the highest standards of scientific integrity.    

Cornell CALS is seeking a substantial re-investment from NYS in the form of $5M annually in increased core operating support to ensure that we are here for farmers, providing the science and information you need. We are seeking $5M in annual capital funds to help ensure that we can renovate our buildings, fence in our farms and fix failing tile drainage, greenhouses, labs, and ensure that we have the right equipment in place. We are particularly focused on boosting PRO-DAIRY’s operational budget to $2.46M, adding new specialists in farm business management, dairy nutrition, and shoring up the environmental and energy work for years to come. 

Cornell CALS will need every voice raised at a time of rapid change and increased uncertainty to stick up for science and the generational land-grant mission, so that we can focus on reducing uncertainty, mitigating some of the risks faced by farmers and agri-businesses, as we all go forward together to do what we all do best – feeding people, growing food, and providing science-based information to weave the food system together. 

NEAFA Executive Pen: Lobbying for Continued Sector Growth

By Bonnie Bargstedt

This is a long, cold and harsh winter. We get through it with the knowledge that Spring will eventually arrive and offer us the opportunity to plant, nurture and harvest another year of crops.

That same nurturing opportunity presents itself every February as the Governor and our State Legislature deliberate their budget and regulatory priorities not only for Agriculture, but for the entire population. It is an immense task with many considerations.

It is a priority for NEAFA to meet with as many legislators as possible to address the multitude of regulatory and budget concerns. We have taken advantage of those opportunities by teaming with the NYS Council of Agriculture (CAO), NY Farm Bureau and Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA).

At the February 4th CAO Lobby Day Charlie Elrod and I paired separately with other Agricultural leaders and maximized the day to meet with 17 Senators and Assemblymembers. There were an additional 27 meetings that were covered by leadership of other organizations including NY Farm Bureau, NEDPA, NY Farm Viability Institute, NY Horticultural Society, NYS Turfgrass Association, Empire Sheep Producers Assoc., NY Wine & Grape Foundation, NYS Vegetable Growers Assoc., NY Flower Industries, NY Horse Council and Upstate Niagara. You can read more in Charlie’s update in this newsletter.

One week later on February 11th, NEAFA held our annual Lobby Day. There were 7 NEAFA members and 2 NEDPA attendees along with 3 NEAFA representatives from Hinman Straub, and we visited with 26 legislative offices. Our lobbyists at Hinman Straub ensured we visited a mix of upstate and downstate representatives, key committee members and chairs, as well as knowledgeable staff.  That week in between events allowed legislators to work on their budget requests to fill the gaps in the Executive Budget that we pointed out on the 4th. It also allowed us to get their feedback and meet with those who were not joining forces to approve those requests.

If you would like to reach out to your representative via phone, email or in their district offices, here are some of our priorities. Sue VanAmburgh has talking points on these programs and she can forward those to you so you can have meaningful discussions. Time is of the essence as the budgetary process is winding down. I would encourage you to select a few that you are interested in to talk over with your representative.

Budgetary request highlights include but are not limited to:

·        Cornell Pro Dairy: $2.463M request; $1,338M in Exec budget; additional request $1,125M

·        Cornell CALS Operational Funds for Satellite Farms: new funds of $5M

·        Cornell CALS Equipment & Infrastructure Repairs for satellite farms: $2.5M in Exec budget of $5M total request

·        Dairy Profit Teams / Dairy Advancement Program: $1,074M in Exec budget – incr. $150K

·        Cornell Ruminant Center (CURC): $500K request; $375K in Exec budget; incr $125K

·        Center for Excellence for Food & Ag: Increase to $1.25M = Restore $354,545

·        Cornell Pro Livestock: restore $250K

·        Farm Net: $1.4M in Executive budget; restore additional $100K

·        Cornell Ag Workforce & NYCAMH: restore $75K

·        NYS Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory including Johne’s, Quality Milk, NYS Cattle Health Assurance, Avian Disease: $8,970,000 request - $8,270,000 included in Exec budget - $700K for restoration of previous funding.

·        Dairy Farm Modernization Grant, Farm & Food Growth Fund: $15M in Exec Budget of $24M request.

·        NY Farm Viability Institute: $5M request - $1M in Executive budget.

·        Wins to appreciate in the Executive Budget:

·        Ag in the Classroom: $500,000

·        Corn & Soybean Growers: $125,000

·        Cornell Ag IPM: $4,250,000

·        Cornell Farm Labor Specialist: $702,000

·        Cornell University 4H: $250,000

Policy positions that we discussed impact our members across the region. Again, Sue has our policy position paper that she can share with details upon your request. 

Litigation Reform: Reducing unnecessary litigation and imposing market-based interest rates on court judgements.

Insurance Reform: Address the rising cost of insurance. Premium increase explanations, Property insurance premium reductions, Extend the Profit Law for auto insurance.

Tax Reform: Extend the Refundability of the ITC for Farmers, Standardize the Definition of Farmer for certain ITC, Transfer of authority to administer Marketing Orders.

If you have never been to the NY State Capitol, I would encourage you to visit. Your representatives want to hear from you as their constituent, not only those of us who serve our organization. The buildings themselves are a marvel. Their beauty is appreciated as you make your way through the majestic halls and staircases. I would encourage you to make time to take the young people in your life to tour and meet with your representatives. Having the next generation learn how government works is important. It is our responsibility to instill an appreciation of how government works and the impact of our involvement in the process. We need to develop the next generation of leaders who have a passion for agriculture and are willing to make time to defend our way of life in order to feed the world.

Thank you to Sean Dieumegard, Blake Lutz, Jenny Mills, Carie Telgen, Eric Reid, Dan Demeree and Keith Kimball for your dedication to making this day a success. Deep gratitude to our own Sue VanAmburgh and Julie Marlette, Carla Downie and Brianna Wagner at Hinman Straub for their coordination of appointments and participation in legislative discussions. 

CAO Lobby Day

By Charlie Elrod, NEAFA President

February 4th was a bright cold morning as leaders from ag organizations across the state gathered for their annual Council of Agricultural Organizations lobby day. This followed on two days of preparatory work reviewing, debating and editing the 70 different policies which make up the Council’s Legislative Recommendations for 2026. In case you’ve never paid much attention to it, CAO is a group of 29 different ag commodity groups covering everything from grapes to hops, dairy producers to veterinarians and everything in between. Herding the 29 groups to accomplish all this is, of course, Sue Van Amburgh, without whom it would certainly be a more difficult undertaking. Thank you, Sue!!

Lobbying together, with each team representing three to four different organizations, feels like a very powerful tool to demonstrate the strength and breadth of agriculture in New York State. For a policy to be included in the 55-page legislative priorities book, it has to be unanimously agreed to by the member groups. Knowing that those policies have the support of thousands of growers, producers and other ag professionals lends a lot of credence to the conversations with legislators and their staffers.

Bonnie Bargstedt and I joined 17 others in meeting with 41 different legislators across the day. Most of our attention and discussions focused on a few key items:

• Support the Cornell CALS request for $5M in operational and $5M in capital funding to keep Cornell’s array of research farms functional and relevant for all of us.

• Supporting increased funding for PRO-Dairy to $2.6M which includes five new positions and funding for applied research and extension support.

• Supporting, as the Governor did in her budget, an extension to the refundable investment tax credit to 2033. This request went hand-in-hand with making farmworker housing eligible for the investment tax credit and increasing the cap on funding for farmworker housing projects from $200K to $400K.

• While we opposed the proposed Temperature Extreme Mitigation Plan (TEMP) Act, we supported full-funding for the NY Center for Ag Medicine and Health which provides on-farm, science-based training for appropriate heat abatement. We prefer an educational approach rather than a regulatory approach to keeping farm workers safe.

• In the energy sector, we strongly supported the protection of prime farmland from solar project development. We also supported the low carbon fuel standard which will provide a NY-based market for biofuels produced on NY farms.

Of the legislators and staffers that we met with, I felt that we heard a lot of support for our positions. Revisiting some of the downstate legislators that we had met with in NYC back in December, really helped build the relationship and reinforce the idea that in order for their constituents to eat nutritious, local ag products, they need farmers to thrive in the Northeast. Working together with all the other member groups of the CAO provides a very strong message that we are unified in supplying the Northeast, the U.S. and beyond with the highest quality, safest food supply in the world.

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!
 ​