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.

Your Voice Matters: Shape the Future of Northeast Agriculture

By Charlie Elrod, Ph.D. NEAFA President

NEAFA needs YOU to help guide our organization.

As we celebrate another successful year of advancing Northeast agriculture, we're at a critical juncture. The challenges facing our farmers and agricultural businesses are more complex than ever—from climate pressures and regulatory changes to market volatility and technological disruption. That's exactly why we need fresh perspectives and diverse expertise on our committees.

Why Your Participation Makes a Real Difference

Every policy we influence, every educational initiative we launch, and every collaboration we forge starts in our committees. When you join a NEAFA committee, you're not just filling a seat—you're:

• Directly shaping policies that affect agricultural businesses across the Northeast

• Contributing your unique expertise to solve real problems facing our industry

• Building valuable networks with fellow agricultural leaders and innovators

We've Made It Easier Than Ever to Get Involved

Recognizing that your time is valuable, we've streamlined our committee structure this year. We've consolidated and reorganized to ensure every committee is focused and effective.

• Flexible commitment: Most committees meet just 2-4 times per year

• Convenient format: All meetings are conducted via Zoom—no travel required

• Strategic focus: Each committee tackles specific, actionable priorities

The Communications Committee meets monthly for 20-30 minutes to produce resources like this newsletter that keep our entire membership informed and engaged.

Take Action Today

Don't let others make decisions about your industry's future without your input. The strongest agricultural alliance is one that reflects the full diversity of our community's knowledge, experience, and vision.

Join a committee today and ensure NEAFA remains the powerful, relevant voice Northeast agriculture deserves.

Your expertise is needed. Your perspective matters. Your participation can make the difference between an organization that talks about change and one that drives it.  Visit our committee signup page to start helping our alliance thrive.

NEAFA Member Profile: Heather Dann, William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute

For September, NEAFA spoke with Heather Dann, President of the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, and Rachel Dutil, PR & Marketing Coordinator for the institute. “The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute (Miner Institute) is the present-day manifestation of the philosophy and principles once embodied by William Miner on Heart's Delight Farm,” said Dutil. “Since its creation in 1951 in Chazy, NY, the principal function has been, and continues to be, the improvement of agricultural operations through research, education, and demonstration. Miner Institute conducts integrated, cutting-edge education, research, and demonstration programs that optimize the biological and economic relationships among forage-crop production, dairy and equine management, and environmental stewardship.”

For Dann, agriculture is a lifelong passion. “I grew up on a dairy farm in the Finger Lakes region,” said Dann. “My dad instilled in me an interest in agriculture, and the value of lifelong learning. I was involved with 4H growing up, and attended Cornell for a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science. Unlike a lot of my classmates, I wasn’t interested in becoming a vet, but the research that you could do on the science path was very interesting to me. After graduating, I went to Pennsylvania State University, where I received my Master’s of Science degree. When I went to University of Illinois for my Ph. D., their dairy nutrition and management program gave me a greater perspective on the scale of dairy farming in the Midwest versus the Northeast. I knew that I wanted to make research a focus for my career, and I was intrigued by what I saw was happening at the Miner’s Institute. Their research and applied science is helping farmers locally, nationally, and internationally. I joined as a research scientist in 2004, and after 20 years in that role, I became the president in January of 2024.”

With their focus on education, it’s no surprise that NEAFA and the Miner Institute have a long relationship. “We benefit from all three core focus areas of NEAFA’s mission,” said Dann. “Our previous president, Rick Grant, had leadership roles with NEAFA. Besides myself, other members of our staff are involved as members as well - Wanda Emerich is a great networker for our students and staff in the industry, and a couple of our research scientists, Sarah Morrison and Marcos Marcondes, are involved as well. Advocacy is so important to have, especially lobbying efforts that help the dairy industry to farm in a way that we think is responsible. The work NEAFA is doing on transportation is also critical. Dairy farms have to have transportation that is able to run during times when there are emergency shutdowns. The networking opportunities that NEAFA provides is wonderful. The NEAFA Annual Meeting or through talking with the board or attending educational meetings – being able to talk and meet with people in the industry is incredibly important. Organizations like NEAFA and NEDPA are helping us move the industry forward. We’re all working together to make sure that we have agricultural practices that benefit our community across the world in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner.”

For more information on the Miner Institute, visit https://www.whminer.org/

Mark Anderson Receives 2025 NEAFA Distinguished Service Award

Jenny Mills, Mark Anderson, and Charlie Elrod during NEAFA’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award

NEAFA would like to congratulate Mark Anderson on receiving the 2025 NEAFA Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented annually, to recognize a lifetime of service to the animal feed, dairy and livestock industries in the Northeast. It is the highest honor awarded by NEAFA to show thanks for lasting contributions to agriculture.

“I’ve always been interested in agriculture,” said Anderson. “I was fortunate enough to start working with Bristol Meyers after college, and that started it all.” Anderson received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from SUNY Brockport. “I was a key account manager for 3 years at Bristol Meyers Animal Health,” added Anderson. “When they were sold, I moved to Roche Animal Health and Nutrition, where I spent 13 years introducing their products to the US market. For the past 25 years, I’ve worked as either a regional sales manager for the Northeast, or as the District Sales Manger for the Eastern United States for Diamond V. I’ve focused on supporting and positioning Diamond V products in the dairy sector.”

Anderson’s relationship with NEAFA goes back to the very beginning. “I was one of the original board members for NEAFA,” said Anderson. “I served on the board for 17 years, and I was also the Conventions Committee Chairman for the NEAFA Annual Meeting and Golf for Good Works. I think NEAFA is an excellent voice for the dairy industry and other feed related industries, both legislatively and in many other areas that impact their members/industry. It’s a really great honor to be recognized by your peers and the industry that you work in. I think there are bright skies ahead for the dairy industry in New York with new processors coming to the state. It’s a very rewarding industry to be in. The people are very down to earth, and the future is bright for Dairy in the Northeast.”

Golf For Good Works Tournament Results

NEAFA would like to congratulate Cargill’s team of Matt Sheffer, Steve Shaw, Jason Moyer and Eli Finley on their first-place win (-11)

The Golf for Goodworks Tournament returned to the Turning Stone Resort’s Shenendoah Golf Course for 2025.  Shenendoah offers 18 holes of PGA-level golf in a picturesque nature setting.  The course complies with stringent Audubon International standards for environmental protection and preservation.  Designed, constructed and maintained to TOUR standards at more than 7,000 yards, the course offers conditions normally reserved for Tour professionals.

NEAFA would like to congratulate Cargill’s team of Matt Sheffer, Steve Shaw, Jason Moyer and Eli Finley on their first-place win (-11).  Second Place went to Harbor Point Minerals’ Nick Stacy, Steve Dearstyne, Justin Baldauf, and Dan Ward (-10), while third place went to Mark Anderson, Zach Anderson, Brad Saunders, and John Myers (-9). Don Powell was the closest to the pin at 6’, 6”, and Matt Sheffer held the longest drive. The highest score (aka the Most Honest Team) went to Global Agri-Trade Corp.’s Barry Baetz, Dave Brown, Mike Liddle, and Brendan McGinis (+9). Thank you to all who participated this year.

We also thank our sponsor for their continued support of this tournament, as well as Nutra Blend and Zinpro for running the hole in one challenge to benefit the Northeast Dairy Challenge.  We could not do what we do without you. 

Proceeds from this event goes to support agricultural education and outreach programs. Previously NEAFA has supported the Northeast Regional Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, Future Farmers of America Foundation, NYS 4-H Foundation's Junior Dairy Leader Program, the New York State Fair Dairy Cow Birthing Center, LEAD New York, Dairy Judging Teams in New York and New England, New York Farm Bureau’s Food & Farm Experience, Maine 4-H Foundation's Dairy Quiz Bowl, and the Growing Through Showing Program.

The Power of Volunteering: Educating and Inspiring at the Dairy Cow Birthing Center and Mobile Dairy Experience

Photo credit: NYAAC

By Jenny Mills, NEAFA Past President

Volunteering at the Dairy Cow Birthing Center and the Mobile Dairy Experience at the New York State Fair offers a unique opportunity to connect with the public and share the story of modern dairy farming. As one of the fair’s most popular attractions, the birthing center draws thousands of visitors eager to witness the miracle of life and learn more about where their food comes from.

Volunteers play a vital role in bridging the gap between consumers and producers. By engaging with fairgoers, they help dispel myths and provide accurate, firsthand information about today’s dairy practices. These conversations often lead to eye-opening moments for visitors who may not realize the care and innovation that go into raising healthy animals and producing high-quality milk.

Modern dairy farmers are deeply committed to sustainability, animal welfare, and economic vitality. Volunteers at the birthing center help highlight how producers are using advanced technologies and science-based practices to reduce environmental impact, improve cow comfort, and support local economies. From nutrient recycling and precision feeding to renewable energy initiatives, the dairy industry is evolving in ways that benefit both the planet and the people.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the birthing center.  The conversations with consumers both in the birthing center as well as the mobile dairy experience parked right next door were meaningful.  It’s a rewarding experience that fosters understanding, builds community, and inspires future generations to appreciate and support American agriculture.  Consumers ask great questions and are genuinely interested in what our dairy producers do everyday.  If you have time, please consider volunteering at the Birthing Center or the Mobile Dairy Experience at the NY State Fair!

Our Readers Respond! NEAFA Survey Results

By Charlie Elrod, NEAFA President

Two months ago we sent out a survey to gauge our members’ interest in our continuing to publish the NEAFA Newsletter.  Thank you to those that took the time to respond!  Based on the results, it looks like you’re stuck with having us publish this newsletter each month.  We know from the analytics that our newsletter has an incredibly high open rate, often between 50 and 60%.  This is backed up by the 57% of respondents who say they open the newsletter every month.  Thirty seven percent of respondents open the newsletter “occasionally” and 4% said they “seldom” open it.  See graph below.

In terms of what gets read, it appears that nearly 80% of you read the Executive Pen articles 63% and 67% read the member highlights and legislative updates, respectively.  Externally written articles, from PRO-Dairy or NEDPA for instance, are read by 41% of our readers.  For the visual learners among us, these results are graphed below.

When asked what other types of information would be useful to see in the newsletter, several people suggested grain market information while others suggested more general ag issues and challenges.  Another suggestion was that we provide links to allied newsletters such as from NEDPA, NY Farm Bureau or VT Dairy Producers Alliance.  We will ask permission from these organizations to see if we can make that happen.

Lastly, since you’re reading this just a month after our last newsletter, the vast majority, 67%, of readers would like for us to continue to publish monthly, rather than the 30% who would prefer to see it published quarterly.

We hope that you find value in this newsletter and will continue to do our best to meet your needs.  Please do not ever hesitate to get in touch with any member of the board if you have suggestions on ways we can improve the communication within NEAFA.  With such high open rates, and an engaged audience, wouldn’t it make sense for you to advertise in the NEAFA Newsletter?  Rates are reasonable considering the audience you’ll reach with our 500+ subscribers.  You can access the ad form here.

Celebrating Progress & Partnership in New York Dairy

By Matt Sheffer, NEAFA Treasurer

The New York dairy industry continues to inspire us—with its resilience, innovation, and deep-rooted commitment to community. At NEAFA, we’re proud to work alongside you to strengthen our community and ensure its long-term success.

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of hosting our Golf for Good Works Tournament, and we’re thrilled to share—it was another success! Thanks to your enthusiastic participation and generous support, we raised critical funds to advance our mission of supporting dairy education, sustainability, and community outreach across New York.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the course, sponsored a hole, donated, or cheered us on. Your involvement made a real difference, and we’re deeply grateful.

As we look ahead, we close our fiscal year at the end of September. It’s energizing to see a profitable and purpose-driven path forward for Northeast dairy. But we can’t do it alone. Continued partnership is essential. Whether through financial support, strategic collaboration, or individual participation, your engagement empowers us to expand our impact and meet the evolving needs of the industry.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s keep investing in the future of dairy—together!

Change is Inevitable

Charlie Elrod, NEAFA President

Georg Lichtenberg was an eighteenth-century physicist who has been quoted as saying: “I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better”.  So it has been since your board of directors met in 2021 to hash out an updated strategic plan for NEAFA.  In that two-day retreat and in the ensuing years, we came to recognize that our industry and organization are changing.  In many ways, the dairy industry of the Northeast is thriving, with billions of dollars being committed to additional milk processing capacity across the region.  Cows are producing more milk and components to fuel the expansion of processing.  Despite that growth, there is an ever-growing trend toward consolidation. 

One corollary of that consolidation is that there are fewer farms, feedmills, banks, commodity brokers, seed dealers, etc. making up this thriving dairy industry of the Northeast.  This makes it difficult for member-based organizations such as NEAFA, Northeast Dairy Producers Association, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance, New York Farm Bureau and Vermont Feed Dealers to sustain their operations.  We have witnessed this in our shrinking member base.  There are just fewer companies and fewer people representing them to fill out the ranks of our membership.  Despite the efforts of our Membership committee, we have struggled to keep our numbers and their financial support up at sustainable levels.  Those who were there will have surely been aware of the diminished attendance at this year’s annual meeting in February. 

Given that, the NEAFA board has had to make some difficult decisions regarding our annual meeting in February.  We are obligated in our by-laws to hold an annual business meeting to review our financial statements, elect board members and conduct any other business that comes up.  As you know, that can be concluded in an hour or so.  With the declining attendance and the increased cost of holding a stand-alone annual meeting, the NEAFA board has decided to hold our annual business meeting in conjunction with the Herd Health and Nutrition Conference to be held on March 31st at 7:00 am in Syracuse.  More details will follow.  And for those committed to our lobbying efforts, we will be holding a separate New York lobby day on February 11th, 2026. 

We know that many will be disappointed, yet some members may be relieved.  The winter meeting season gets SOOOOOOO long.   In the end, the board felt that this was the best approach for the time being as we work on furthering the aims of our strategic plan to ensure that NEAFA fulfills our mission to “support and grow a sustainable agribusiness industry in the Northeast”.   I hope you’ll read and take to heart the message in Bonnie’s Executive Pen column this month.  She hit the nail on the head.  This organization is all volunteer based.  We hope that you will lend your voice, either by contacting a board member, or joining a committee to make sure your voice is heard.