By Allyson Jones-Brimmer, NEDPA Executive Director
NEDPA and PRO-DAIRY’s Northeast Dairy Management Conference brought together nearly 350 dairy producers and industry professionals for networking opportunities and a strong and engaging lineup of speakers. Centered on the theme Shaping Tomorrow’s Dairy: Leadership, Innovation and Stewardship, the conference focused on positioning New York’s dairy industry for long-term success amid significant investment in processing capacity. Speakers approached dairy farm growth from multiple angles, including people management, environmental stewardship, animal care, and community engagement.
Greg Bethard of High Plains Ponderosa Dairy in Kansas shared practical insights from his own operation’s growth. He emphasized that successful expansion starts with building and developing a strong management team. His message centered on focusing on total margin and putting systems in place that drive sustainable financial performance over time.
Dr. Tom Overton and Karl Czymmek of Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY highlighted how expanding processing capacity in New York creates real opportunity, but there will likely not be a one-size-fits-all approach to growth. Their analysis showed that future milk demand could be met in large part through gains in productivity and components, rather than herd expansion alone. Their session also sparked thoughtful discussion around community engagement and the importance of maintaining a strong social license to farm.
Leadership and workforce development were consistent themes throughout the conference. Keynote speaker Jason Hunt encouraged attendees to think about leadership as influence rather than authority, noting that retention and performance are built through showing care, building strong relationships, and focusing on intentional communication. Dr. Richard Stup of Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development built on that idea, explaining that as dairies grow, leaders must shift from focusing on day-to-day tasks to developing people and systems.
A panel on the workforce pipeline highlighted a challenge: agriculture can no longer rely solely on traditional, multi-generational labor sources. Panelists emphasized the need for proactive engagement – creating accessible, hands-on opportunities and building connections through schools, FFA, 4-H, Junior Dairy Leaders, and other community programs. For farmers and agribusinesses alike, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity to help cultivate the next generation of talent.
Environmental stewardship must be a core business strategy as the industry expands. A panel on expansion stressed the importance of aligning herd growth with land access, nutrient management, and infrastructure – particularly manure storage. Tools like animal density metrics and stronger crop partnerships were identified as key to managing risk and maintaining community trust.
That focus on trust carried through to the closing keynote from Bruce Vincent, a former logger from Montana. He challenged the audience to think differently about public perception, emphasizing that maintaining agriculture’s social license will depend on proactive, local engagement. Transparency, empathy, and clear communication – not defensiveness – will shape how the industry is understood. His message left the audience both energized and reflective.
Looking ahead, watch for details on the next Northeast Dairy Management Conference, scheduled for March 2028. In the meantime, NEDPA and PRO-DAIRY will co-host the Operations Managers Conference on January 27–28, 2027. We hope you’ll join us!