by Charlie Elrod, Ph.D., NEAFA President
Before launching into the topic of this month’s Executive Pen article, I want to take a moment to offer my sincerest thanks to Jenny Mills, the Past-President of NEAFA, for the dedication and effort she contributed to our alliance over the last two years as President. Coming off the transition to working without an Executive Director and navigating a new relationship with our advocacy firm, Hinman-Straub, Jenny really put her heart and soul into making sure there were no lapses in our presence in Albany or Montpelier or our collaborations with NEDPA, VDPA, NYFB, CAO and the other alphabet soup of organizations with whom we collaborate. Thank you, Jenny. I have always, and will continue to value your wisdom, knowledge and compassion to help make me a more effective leader for NEAFA. It goes without saying, but can’t actually be said enough, that we wouldn’t be able to function as we do without the ever-present guidance and institutional memory provided by Sue Van Amburgh. I hope you will take a second to drop them each a note (Jenny Mills, Sue Van Amburgh) to recognize and thank them for their service to our alliance and the greater industry.
On to the topic at hand. It’s no news to you that we have recently come off our annual meeting, which included our lobby day and about which you can read more in this issue of the newsletter. That was followed a week later by our participation in the Council of Ag Organizations lobby day on February 10th. Between the two, we had about 50 meetings with legislators, all talking about agricultural issues. Some might wonder whether our assembling to traipse up and down the floors and halls of the legislative office building, meeting with members of the state assembly and senate, is really worth the effort. I’ve wondered that myself. Does hearing from regular people like us make an impact on the legislative or regulatory processes of government? Hell yes, it does!
Many of you have participated in the transportation summits we organized with NEDPA and NYFB over the last couple of years and are aware of some of our efforts to help shape the transportation landscape for our members and your customers. There are so many issues around this: driver availability, insurance, CDL training, emergency road closures, etc. This month it is my pleasure to report that in the closing days of 2024, the NYS Disaster Preparedness Commission issued new guidance on the determination of essential workers during weather emergencies or in declared disaster areas. Among the major categories of Safety and Security, Health and Medical, Food Hydration and Shelter, Energy and Communications, we have, through our collective and repeated lobbying efforts, been able to attain essential worker status for: “workers in agriculture, such as milk haulers, dairy processing personnel, grain truck transporters, and those maintaining service vehicles and facilities for agricultural businesses”.
This is a huge win for the dairy and feed industry which has often been affected by extreme weather events and road closures. Now, within the constraints of safe operation, for our employees and equipment, we are able to keep milk moving from farm to processors and processors to stores as well as getting feed and supplies to livestock. This was a specific priority coming out of our transportation summits and hopefully just the first of many advances we can facilitate to ease the transportation bottlenecks affecting our businesses. We don’t always get the wins, as in the legislation on neonics, but when we do, it is well worth the effort. Thanks to all who participate in our advocacy efforts.