NEAFA Member Highlight: Bonnie Bargstedt, Novonesis

Bonnie Bargstedt, Key Account Manager for Novonesis. Photo provided.

By Eric Jenks, Special to NEAFA

This month’s NEAFA highlight is on Bonnie Bargstedt, a Key Account Manager at Novonesis for the past six years. Novonesis is a new company with deep roots. It was formed earlier this year as Novozymes and Chr. Hansen joined together to create a leading company in biosolutions. “Chr. Hansen started in 1874 in Denmark by extracting rennet to make the enzymes for cheese. To this day people make cheese with our rennet.

We currently have more than 10,000 employees working in 30 different industries across the globe. Our biosolutions enable feeding and fueling the world more sustainably, from healthy and sustainable nutrition to biofuel. They also reduce the use of fossil-based resources, chemicals, energy and water.”

“Our US headquarters is in Milwaukee, WI, while our corporate headquarters is in Copenhagen Denmark.,” said Bargstedt

Beyond her work with Novonesis, Bargstedt is no stranger to agriculture. “I grew up on a dairy farm in Fonda, NY,” said Bargstedt. “My entire career has always been in agriculture where I have been fortunate to have good jobs and great leadership. Agriculture, particularly dairy, is engrained in me, and providing solutions to customers that have become my friends is very important to me. Selling products that make a farmer’s life easier and their business more profitable is rewarding. Personally, I am a partner at Envision Dairy where we milk 580 cows. When you are a dairy farmer and in sales you understand the challenges that your customers face. I wouldn’t sell my customers something that I don’t believe enough in to use myself.”

Bargstedt’s participation in NEAFA began when she first joined Novonesis. “There was a NEAFA annual meeting that my boss asked me to attend,” said Bargstedt. “He felt that it was important for me to be involved since NEAFA does so much to represent agribusiness in the Northeast. I think it’s important to develop policies that represent the interests of agriculture and agribusiness in the Northeast. The opportunity to network is a huge plus as well. Networking with your peers and developing an understanding of issues that you may not come across in your day-to-day life but that effect the industry at large is important.”

Looking at the future of agriculture in the Northeast from a personal level, Bargstedt is excited for the growth of new dairy processing facilities in New York State. "That expansion is going to offer many opportunities for the agricultural industry moving forward,” said Bargstedt. “It’s not just dairy producers, the industry as a whole will benefit. Feed mills, veterinarians, trucking companies, milking equipment companies, nutritionists, etc., will all benefit from having increased processing capacity in the Northeast.”

For more information on Novonesis, you can visit: https://www.novonesis.com/en

Happy Holidays from the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance

By Jenny Mills, NEAFA President

As we approach the end of the calendar year, it is a time for reflection, planning and gratitude. Many articles in this newsletter will focus on the reflection of NEAFA’s vision for advocacy, education and collaboration the past several months. Planning is in full swing for the Annual meeting – mark your calendars for February 4 and 5 in Albany! For the rest of this article, I would like to focus on gratitude.

Our membership is the heart and soul of what we do – as a member of NEAFA, you help guide what legislative priorities to focus on, coordinate our education efforts, raise thousands of dollars for youth in agriculture and collaborate with other agricultural organizations throughout the Northeast. The result of your efforts as a member has been the continued recognition of NEAFA as a key partner and “chamber of commerce for agriculture.” Thank you for your continued support of NEAFA. Your membership matters!

I am also thankful to our partners who have worked with us on important issues. In New York, a huge thank you to the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA), NY Farm Bureau, Cornell CALS and PRO-Dairy at Cornell for navigating many issues important to agriculture, including transportation obstacles, offering solutions, and working together to brainstorm solutions for policy. Our partnership with Hinman Straub has opened legislative office doors (literally) that we haven’t visited with before. I appreciate their collaborative approach with our partners’ advocacy firms and the many hours of brainstorming as we navigate tough issues in Albany (thank you Julie Marlette for all the Friday night chats!). In Vermont, a huge thank you to the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance for the collaboration in advocacy in Montpelier. We appreciate the work that Shouldice and Associates have completed on behalf of agricultural advocacy in Vermont. Our partnership in communications with Morning Ag Clips continues to result in higher open rates on our electronic newsletter. Thank you Kate Ziehm and Eric Jenks for the leadership on the newsletter. Eric – thank you for keeping our newsletter on time and increasing readership through strategic timing of our email blasts and the member profiles that you coordinate. You will be proud to know this article is only six hours late!

Lastly, I am grateful for the support we have from our board and staff. We made some tough choices two years ago to not have an Executive Director and rely on our active committee system, under the guidance of our Executive Administrator, Sue VanAmburgh. Our strategy has worked because Sue is detail oriented, an effective communicator and is passionate about our mission to support and grow a sustainable agribusiness industry in the Northeast. We appreciate all that Sue, joined now by Keith VanAmburgh, do to make our meetings, emails, social media, fundraising and communications seamless. Our board is comprised of volunteers. I cannot thank each of the board members enough, especially our committee chairs, for their commitment to making NEAFA a stronger brand and more active in the industry. A special shout out to our Executive Committee, including Charlie Elrod (Vice President), Matt Sheffer (Treasurer), Mike Thresher (Secretary) and Danielle Penney-Stroop (Past President) for taking extra time to approve and discuss issues to keep our organization fiscally strong. I really appreciate the time and miles that Charlie continues to put in as Vice President. His vision and enthusiasm to grow NEAFA gives me confidence in the future of our member-based organization. Thank you for being a great partner!

With gratitude and optimism for the future of NEAFA, I look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting February 4 and 5. Happy Holidays to each of you and your families!

Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Update Webinar Report

By Jenny Mills, NEAFA President

As part of NEAFA’s transportation initiatives, a webinar was hosted to further understand the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation for the dairy and feed industries on Tuesday November 5.  Scott Wajda-Griffin, Chief, Heavy-Duty Vehicle Programs Section and James Clyne, Director, Bureau of Mobile Sources & Technology Development from the NYS DEC presented on the regulations which start in 2025 in New York.  In addition, Kendra Hems from the NY Trucking Association discussed implications of the ACT regulations on the trucking industry.  The webinar was well attended with over 80 participants. 

To watch the video of the webinar, please follow this link: 

Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation for the dairy and feed industries - Video on Demand 

Some key takeaways from the messaging from DEC: 

• NYS adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks Act in 2021 

• Supports NYS legislative goal of 100% zero-emission Medium /Heavy Duty Vehicle sales by 2045 (Ch. 423, 2021)  

• Includes annual ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicles) sales mandate for applicable Class 2b-8 trucks and school buses 

• ACT regulatory compliance applies to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – not fleets or purchasers 

• Starts with model year 2025 in NYS 

• OEM exemption: Emergency vehicles, transit buses, motor coaches.  The DEC is working to apply exemption to heavy-duty vehicles used for: Snowplowing, including dedicated plows and intermittent plows (e.g., dump trucks and refuse trucks that are converted as needed) as well as street cleaning, including street sweepers and catch basin trucks. 

• The goal in 2025 is to have 7% of Class 7 and 8 (larger trucks and tractor trailers) vehicle sales as zero emission vehicles 

• A need for strategy for building infrastructure for ZEV (including charging stations and necessary grid upgrades) especially along main routes (thruway) was brought to DEC’s attention. 

• The DEC also went through credits and incentive programs.  Please see the video link for more information 

After the DEC presentation, a robust question and answer session was held.  Kendra Hems then discussed the challenges and opportunities with the new regulations for the trucking industry in New York.  A follow up meeting will be scheduled as more information is available.  The webinar was hosted with several of our collaborators, including the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, PRO-Dairy and Farm Bureau. 

New York State Agricultural Society Annual Meeting and Forum to Take Place January 9, 2025

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today encouraged members  of the agricultural community to join the 193rd Annual Meeting and Agricultural Forum, hosted by the New York State Agricultural Society on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Held at the OnCenter in Syracuse, this year’s Forum offers an opportunity for farmers and other key partners to examine how emerging trends and technological advancements are helping shape the future of agriculture. Commissioner Ball will also deliver the 2025 State of Agriculture Address and provide an update on New York State’s ongoing efforts to support New York farmers and agricultural businesses. Registration for the Forum is now open. Those who register prior to December 20 will save $25. To register or learn more about the event, visit nysagsociety.org.  

Commissioner Ball said, “I always say that this is our industry’s biggest and best family reunion. Every year, the Forum gives New York’s farm community the opportunity to come together to reflect on the past year and prepare for what’s coming down the pipeline in the years to come, as well as recognize the achievements of our colleagues who are doing excellent work advancing our industry. I look forward to this event every year, and have no doubt that this year’s theme, ‘Trends, Tech and Teachable Moments,’ will facilitate fruitful discussions in policy areas that are a priority for New York agriculture.”

2025 Agricultural Society Forum Program
The 2025 Agricultural Society Forum includes a full day of panels and guest speakers, which will be capped off with Commissioner Ball’s State of Agriculture Address. The theme for the upcoming year’s forum is “Trends, Tech and Teachable Moments.”

Keynote speakers and panelists will discuss the opportunities that technological innovations can offer the agricultural industry, including advancing research in disease resistance, soil health and crop yields, improving food systems, and more. First, Eric Schilling and Dr. Dennis Buckmaster will kick off the Forum’s Morning Keynote session. Mr. Schilling focuses on new innovations in the sustainability marketplace as director of U.S. Dairy Business Unit for Elanco, a global leader in animal health dedicated to preventing and treating disease in farm animals and pets. Dr.Buckmaster, a Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Dean’s Fellow for Digital Agriculture at Purdue University, coordinates and supports work to collect data for improved agriculture and food systems.

During lunch, Todd Lighthall, Executive Director of NYS FFA Leadership Foundation, will lead a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the NY FFA.

After lunch, Dr. Yu Jiang will provide a glimpse into how Cornell AgriTech is harnessing  significant advancements in artificial intelligence and robotic systems to better understand disease resistance, in-season disease and weed management, harvesting, and postharvest quality assessment. Dr. Jiang is an Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering and Data Analytics for Specialty Crops in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, and leads the Cyber-Agricultural Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) Lab.

The afternoon session panel, moderated by Dr. Buckmaster, will highlight ‘The Delicate Dance of Using Technology Intelligently.’ Dr. Buckmaster will be joined by Heidi Lott of Lott Farms LLC; Brett Chedzoy, regional forester with Schuyler County Cornell  Cooperative Extension and forest manager for Cornell’s Arnot Teaching and Research Forest; and Kristen DeMarree of Donald DeMarree Fruit Farm.

Honorees in Eight Award Categories to be Recognized
New Yplatform to honor individuals and businesses who have lifted the state’s agricultural and food industries to new heights in terms of environmental stewardship, consumer outreach, farm safety, and the production of quality, safe foodstuffs. New York State Agricultural Society honors will be presented in eight categories throughout the day-long program, including farm safety, journalism, agricultural promotion, FFA Chapter of the Year, next generation farmers, business of the year, distinguished service, and century farms.

About the New York State Agricultural Society

Established in 1832, the mission of the New York State Agricultural Society is to build a robust future for New York’s food, agricultural, and natural resource industries by providing networking and educational opportunities for its strongest advocates, decision-makers, and aspiring leaders. Agriculture is a major economic driver in New York State, generating more than $5 billion worth of annual economic activity statewide and providing a livelihood for residents across all 62 counties. More than 800 members
of the New York State Agricultural Society strive to build a better understanding and positive working relationships with neighbors, consumers, and government leaders.

VDPA - Post Election Report for VT

Governor Phil Scott-(R) won easily against an unknown challenger and will begin his fifth term as Governor in January. Governor Phil Scott has never enjoyed campaigning but this cycle he campaigned and helped fund strong candidates to try to bring more balance to Montpelier. 

Many were surprised to see that both the Vermont Senate and House of Representatives lost their super majority as well as the incumbent Lt. Governor. This year, 60% of legislative seats were contested, including 24 of 30 Senate seats and 84 of 150 House seats. The theme that resonated with Vermonters was to elect more pragmatic, common sense and fiscally conservative Vermonters. While we wait for the official final numbers, it looks like a total of 24 seats were picked up by the Republicans in the House and Senate. 

The Republicans got their message out that voters are fatigued over increased costs and taxes. Property tax bills put a finer point on how unaffordable Vermont is becoming. Add that to the over 15% health insurance premium increase and fear of the anticipated increased cost of fuel. Many candidates, both Independent and Republican, stated similar reasons for running for the General Assembly. 

What’s next? Once the ballots are certified and all recounts have been settled, the General Assembly will consider who will be in leadership positions. The current Speaker, Jill Krowinski, is being challenged by Laura Sibilia, an Independent from Dover. The long-time Senate majority leader Sen. Alison Clarkson is also being challenged. Vermont legislature leadership could be turned on its head in the coming weeks, which is important because committee assignments are chosen by leadership. It is important to note that both House and Senate Agriculture committees were largely dismantled by retirements and elections.  

The next legislative session will be critical in many areas, including education finance and property taxes, rising health care costs, lack of housing and heating costs.  Agriculture could be a bit of a sleepy topic with so many economic pressures in Vermont. 

The agricultural sector will look for opportunities to amend Act 182 An act relating to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.  With the hopes that the effective date can be pushed out and if New Yorks law is repealed that Vermont’s law would automatically be repealed.  We will also be looking for opportunities to provide farms protect from nuisance lawsuits by passing a “Right to Farm” bill.   

Lastly, the Vermont General Assembly will receiving a report, which VDPA has testified and provided information, that will consider the rights for farm workers to organize for collective bargaining and the right to strike.   

Overview of Elections: 

Governor’s Race – Republicans retain the Governor’s Office 

• Phil Scott (R) 70.87 % 

X   Esther Charlestin (D/P) 21.29 % 

Lt. Governor’s Race  

• John Rodgers (R) 46.24 % 

X   David Zuckerman (P/D) 44.64% 

Vermont House:  Total 150 seats  

• Democrats 87 

• Republicans 56 (+18 seats) 

• Progressives 4 

• Independents 3 

Vermont Senate:  Total of 30 seats 

• Democrats 16 

• Republicans 13 (+6 seats) 

• Progressive 1 

*Votes have not been certified and several recounts are likely 

Committee assignments will be announced in January when the General Assembly returns to Montpelier. 

Notable losses: 

• Rep. Diane Lanpher Addison-3 district (Chair of House Appropriations) 

• Rep. Josie Leavitt in the Grand Isle-Chittenden district (Agriculture) 

• Re. Mike Rice in the Rutland- Bennington District ( Agriculture) 

• Rep. Robin Chestnut-Tangerman in the Bennington-Rutland district (House General) 

• Rep. William Notte Rutland-7 House district (House Asst. Majority Leader) 

• Sen. Mark MacDonald- Orange District (served over 40 years in the Legislature) 

• Sen. Chris Bray – Addison District (Chair of Natural Resources & Energy), generally not a supporter of agriculture. 

NEAFA Testifies at Albany Hearing

Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), convening the hearing on 11/14

By Hinman Straub

NEAFA submitted testimony at New York State Assembly hearing held in Albany on November 13.  The Assembly’s Agriculture Committee convened an oversight hearing related to “developing needs in agriculture.”   

The hearing focused on “current and developing needs in agriculture with a specific focus on dairy and seafood, along with emerging crops and products.  NEAFA’s testimony requests new state support for the Cornell University Ruminant Center (CURC).  CURC is a research dairy, and the only one in the nation able to conduct research at scale to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions while also identifying strategies to improve production of milk and milk components.   

NEAFA is also supporting increased funding for Pro-Dairy in the FY 2025-2026 State Budget, particularly for climate leadership, staffing and for applied research and extension support. 

To read the testimony, click here.

2024 New York Election Results

By Hinman Straub

In yet another interesting Election Night in the Empire State, the New York State Legislature will once again have a number of new members from across the state and on both sides of the aisle.  A review of the election results in New York follows.  

Federal  

A reliably “Blue State,” Vice President Kamala Harris won all New York’s 28 electoral votes over President-elect Trump 54.64% to 43.27%. This 12-percentage point win is a significant underperformance compared to previous presidential elections, including 2020 where President Biden won New York by 23-percentage points. Of the 26 U.S. House seats, three seats were “flipped,” where new Democratic representatives defeated Republican incumbents.  

• On Long Island, Laura Gillen defeated Republican incumbent Anthony D’Esposito.  

• In the Hudson Valley, Democratic challenger Josh Riley prevailed over Republican incumbent Marc Molinaro.  

• In Central New York, Democrat John Mannion won the seat currently held by Republican incumbent Brandon Williams.  

Heading into 2025, New York’s Congressional Delegation will have 19 Democrats and 7 Republicans from across the state. Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also won reelection. 

State Senate 

Senate Democrats appear to have lost their Supermajority, which requires 42 seats in the 63-seat body. While they have maintained a clear majority, winning at least 40 seats, incumbent Senator Iwen Chu (D-Brooklyn) conceded to Republican Stephen Chan.  The one race that appears too close to call is the seat being. Democrat Christopher Ryan won an open seat vacated by John Mannion (D-Syracuse), who chose to run for Congress, prevailing over Republican Nicholas Paro.  

In all, 58 incumbents appear to have been re-elected; four incumbents (all Democrats) sought not to seek office either choosing to run for Congress or to retire from the Senate. These seats will continue to be represented by Democrats: 

State Assembly 

In the Assembly, Democrats will retain their large majority, in the 150-seat chamber. Republicans flipped two Democratic seats, with Republican Patrick Chludzinski ousting Monica Wallace (D-Cheektowaga), and Republican Daniel Norber defeating Gina Sillitti (D-Nassau). Also in Nassau County, Republican Edward Flood was defeated by the Democratic candidate, Rebecca Kassay.  

In total 15 Assembly Members chose not to seek re-election. Each of those seats appears to have been retained by the same party as the incumbent.  

The 2025 Legislative Session will begin in early January, when all 63 State Senators and 150 Members of Assembly will formally take office.  

Get Registered for a Great Annual Meeting!

By Charlie Elrod, Ph.D. , NEAFA V.P. 

Sue and the Conventions Committee have been working diligently since this summer to put together a fantastic agenda for the 2025 Annual Meeting to be held February 4th and 5th at the Albany Marriott Hotel.  Whether you’re an active member of NEAFA or just an avid reader of the NEAFA News, there will be valuable information and ideas that you can put to work in your day-to-day job. 

Whether you’re returning from Lobby Day on Tuesday morning, or just arriving in Albany for the meeting, we’ll kick off the program at 2:00 with an informative panel discussion led by Cornell CALS’ Workforce Specialist, Dr. Rich Stup.  The panel will include a variety of panelists who each bring their own unique perspective and expertise to share with attendees.  Dana Politis from the NYS Department of Labor will bring her knowledge of local resources available to New York businesses, through regional workforce development offices which can help companies locate, connect and train people to meet their labor needs.  Crystal Grimaldi, from Ideal Dairy, will discuss their very progressive approach to managing, training and retaining employees.  Ideal does a great job recognizing talent, training employees for advancement and providing an attractive work environment.  Shannon Kayhart, from Phoenix Feeds, will focus her comments on the value they have found in turning Phoenix Feeds into an employee-owned company through the formation of an ESOP; an option that should be of great interest to NEAFA members.  Lastly, the panel will be rounded out with Anna Richards, of 2020 Consulting.  Anna has built 2020 Consulting as broad spectrum business consulting service, offering everything from accounting services to building  staffing, growth, financing or succession plans.  Under Rich’s expert moderation this will prove to be a highlight of the annual meeting. 

Next up, Kristi Krafka, V.P. of Regulatory Affairs at Kemin will provide us with a valuable update on the ever-shifting regulatory environment in which we all work.  Given the recent changes in the relationship between AFIA, AAFCO and the FDA this topic should be top-of-mind for any member who works in the feed industry.  Marking a change to our typical agenda, this year we’ll have a breakout session in which those interested in feedmill management can hear about new advances in feedmill technology from Dr. Caitlin Evans from AB Vista and a graduate of the renowned Feed Science and Technology program at Kansas State University.  Concurrently, our other session will be lead by Larry Van de Valk, Executive Director of LEAD New York, will provide some oversight of what the program is and what benefits can be had through supporting young leaders in your company to participate in LEAD NY. 

Wednesday morning will start off with the NEAFA Elections and General Session.  NYS Department of Ag & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball will provide some opening remarks followed by the ever popular and insightful Dairy Markets and Outlook from Dr. Chris Wolf.  The morning program will be filled out with updates from the NEAFA Sesquicentennial Fellows, Drs. Joe McFadden and Kristan Reed, followed by legislative updates from our NY and VT lobbyists.  Finally, before we adjourn to the Awards Luncheon, Leah Wilkinson from AFIA will provide us with an update on broader trends and AFIA priorities impacting the dairy and feed industries. 

An annual highlight of this NEAFA meeting is the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award, recognizing one of our own who has consistently given back to our industry through their leadership and involvement.  Our keynote speaker, Kim Bremmer from Ag Inspirations, will provide us with practical and readily accessible ways that each of us can tell the story of agriculture, our own businesses and farms to our friends, neighbors or fellow citizens who are increasingly distanced from agriculture.  Several of us heard Kim speak at the Mercer Milling Summit this past spring and found great value in her message.   

If you haven’t already, visit the Annual Meeting page to register and reserve your hotel room.  Lobby day registration is separate and can be signed up for here. 

NEAFA Member Highlight: Kemin Animal Nutrition & Health

By Eric Jenks, Special to NEAFA 

For this NEAFA member highlight, NEAFA spoke with Natalie Glunz, the Key Account Manager for the Northeast at Kemin Animal Nutrition & Health. "My focus for Kemin is on dairy and beef cattle segments," said Glunz. "I've worked for Kemin covering Virginia to Vermont for the past seven years. Kemin is a global biotechnology company that has been in business since 1961 when R.W. Nelson started to mix his own sheep de-wormer in the drum of a Maytag® washer in an old wool barn at his residence. You can actually see the washer on display at our worldwide headquarters. Even today, the company remains family-owned-and-operated. It's based out of Des Moines, Iowa. The CEO, Chris Nelson, is the second generation to run the business, and has a PhD in biochemistry; he's a super smart guy." 

As a global company, Kemin works in many different markets. "We do a lot with human food processing, ensuring a safe food supply with natural antioxidants, plus we extract molecules, such as lutein, from plants that are used in human supplements," said Glunz. "Everything that we do is backed by peer reviewed research. We also operate in the pet food space, where we have pioneered innovations in palatants, food safety, and antioxidant solutions for rendering. In animal agriculture, we work in all aspects of food animal production. We're a monogastric first company; meaning that we develop products and do research on monogastrics (poultry and swine) first, because you can obtain data so much more quickly than you can with cattle. We often look at those products for poultry and swine, and then work on ways to apply to all species after they've been proven to be effective. In animal nutrition, we’re focused on helping farmers, nutritionists and feed mills make the best quality feed that they can. That includes feed quality, nutrition, and gut health solutions to foster healthier animals while increasing the profitability for our producers." 

Agriculture is a life long love for Glunz. "I'm a native of Maryland, a typical 4-H and FFA kid," said Glunz. "I grew up on a 4 acre farmette, and went to college at Virginia Tech, where I received a degree in Animal Science. I was hired by Agway shortly after school. I was very blessed to have two mentors that took me under their wing and taught me everything I needed to know to be a successful dairy nutritionist. I worked in Pennsylvania doing that for 10 years. That work really made me fall in love with the industry, and that’s what kept me in it ever since. I really enjoy working for a science first company like Kemin; we develop a lot of innovative technologies and get to nerd out about fun stuff. I enjoy working for a company that is focused on bringing sustainably made products to market that foster healthier animals."  

At Kemin's suggestion, Glunz joined NEAFA when she started working for them. "I’ve always found value in the NEAFA meetings because it gave me an opportunity to interface with people in the business that I don’t often get to meet," said Glunz. "The feed mill managers, logistics members and upper management. I really like the educational aspect that NEAFA has as well. I have enough other things going on in my life that I don’t always stay current on legislation, and NEAFA provides a forum where I can have a succinct amount of information in one place." 

Glunz sees a bright future for agriculture in the Northeast. "I think that the US, and agribusiness in Northeast in particular, is extremely adaptable at figuring out how to feed the world efficiently," said Glunz. "I love working with the people that are so very good at this. When met with a challenge, no one rises to that challenge better than Northeast dairy producers." 

To learn more about Kemin, visit www.kemin.com/dairy  

Executive Pen: A Harvest Holiday

By Matt Sheffer, NEAFA Treasurer

Harvest is complete, football season has brought excitement or disappointment for your favorite team, and we begin the transition into the holiday season. Thanksgiving to many of us, me included, is a time spent with family, food, and the high probability of a post-meal nap. Happily, in our industry the historical context and tradition of Thanksgiving is still honored as a harvest celebration.  

While the holiday combines old and new traditions, one that is constant is taking a moment to reflect and give thanks. As I look through the lens of NEAFA there is much to be thankful for. As an organization we continue to support and grow a sustainable agribusiness industry in the Northeast. To do so we need and rely on our members to be active in the organization by becoming sustaining sponsors, attending the Golf for Good Works tournament, the Annual Meeting, and volunteering time by serving on committees and the board of directors. It is due to this active membership we can continue our Good Works donation program, NEAFA scholarship, and opportunistic giving as there is an industry need.  

A great benefit of NEAFA is our self-sustainment. As we begin to wrap up CY2024, our organizations financials are again strong. Sue and our events committee do a great job keeping costs in line. Both our income and expenses are within 5% of budget on our financial statements. This financial freedom allows us to donate to many worthy causes in our industry. I have shared below a list of past recipients of our Good Works funds.  

Thank you for your continued support of the organization and speaking for both the executive board, and board of directors, we hope you have a great Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.  

Matt Sheffer 
NEAFA Treasurer   

o    4-H Junior Dairy Leaders Program & 4-H Foundation 
o    FFA Foundation & FFA Scholarship Program 
o    NY Animal Agriculture Coalition Birthing Center at the NYS Fair 
o    Madison County Junior Holstein Association 
o    NY Holstein Spring Dairy Carousel 
o    NY Holstein Association All Breeds Senior Convention 
o    New England Green Pastures Program 
o    4-H Junior Dairy Leader Programs 
o    4-H Dairy Judging Teams 
o    Northeast Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge 
o    Cornell University Alliance for Science 
o    Vermont State Dairy 4-H 
o    Cobleskill Dairy Judging Team 
o    LEAD NY 
o    Maine 4-H Foundation 
o    Clinton County Farm Bureau – Day on the Farm 
o    Food and Farm Experience, NYFB Foundation  
o 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Teams 
o Cornell Dairy Fellows Program 
o Oakfield Corners Dairy - Growing Through Showing Program 
o Vermont Breakfast on the Farm 

Executive Pen: A Big Take Home from the Cornell Nutrition Conference

Charlie Elrod, Ph.D.

NEAFA VP

For those of you that were there, this year’s CNC had a distinct emphasis and multiple points of view on the ways that agriculture, and the dairy industry in particular, can contribute to mitigating the effects of carbon emissions on our climate.  For me, one highlight was the Wednesday afternoon panel of PRO-Dairy, Nutrient Management Spear Program and Department of Animal Science experts discussing this topic.  Context for the panel was set by Karl Czymmek, PRO-Dairy’s Dairy Climate Leadership Specialist (a position which NEAFA advocated strenuously for during last year’s NYS budget negotiations).  While many in the dairy industry object to the focus on cattle as major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Karl very persuasively demonstrated that indeed, while we are a small part of total emissions, our industry has an outsized influence on methane and nitrous oxide emissions, two of the most potent of GHG.  Consequently, we all have to do our part to contribute to the global reductions in GHG.

The panel consisted of PRO-Dairy Specialists Kirsten Workman and Lauren Ray, agronomist and engineer, respectively; Olivia Godber, an environmental modeler from the CNM Spear Program and Mike Van Amburgh, who needs no introduction to this audience.  The overlapping expertise of the panel, covering cropping, manure and nutrition influences on the dairy industry’s GHG emissions presented a very integrated overview of the challenges to, and also the successes of, the Northeast dairy industry.  I hope our membership appreciates that we are blessed with a very cohesive, collaborative and progressive collection of dairy farmers, researchers, regulators, and service and product providers in what we know as the Northeast dairy industry.  Because of that, we are national leaders in the adoption and validation of best practices to aid in reducing GHG emissions.   On a regional level, our dairy industry has among the lowest carbon intensity per unit of milk produced of any region in the country.  

However, the expert panel was adamant that there was much more progress to be made.  On the engineering front, designing and building manure storage which prevented dilution of manure nutrients with rainwater while also reducing the volatilization of (especially nitrogen) from storage structures is a major emphasis.  Validating methods, e.g lasers and gas sensors, to measure gaseous emissions from manure storage is another high priority.  Only through accurate measurement can we document the improvements made over years.  Evaluating cropping practices, cover crops, tillage practices and manure application on the agronomic side are crucial for reducing nitrous oxide releases from soil.  And while much attention has been paid to reducing cow methane emissions through feed additives, increasing the nitrogen efficiency of our diets should also be a major focus.  There is still a lot of work to be done.

For me, the bottom line was that the agronomists, nutritionists, ag engineers and lenders who serve our dairies must get better at integrating their efforts, sharing their knowledge and expertise to bring an integrated solution to each farm, which in the aggregate, can result in the GHG reductions that we all strive for to reach our goal of having a net zero dairy industry in the near future.

NEAFA Submits Comments on NY Cap and Invest Investment Framework

By Hinman Straub

On September 30, NEAFA President Jenny Mills submitted formal comments to New York officials on the State’s proposed Cap and Invest Investment Framework.  Public comment is being sought on the use of “Climate Investment Account” proceeds, expected to be generated under New York’s Cap-and-Invest Program to meet the State’s greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives. Read NEAFA’s comments by clicking here.

Election Day Approaches

By Hinman Straub

November 5, 2024 is Election Day, and early voting in New York State begins on October 26.  Beyond the presidential race, every seat in the State Assembly and Senate are on the ballot, as well as all of New York’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one of the New York’s two U.S. Senate seats.   

17 current members of the State Senate and Assembly have announced their retirements or are running for other offices. Several very senior leadership and committee chair positions will be open (e.g. Assembly Speaker Pro Tem, Assembly Ways & Means Committee chair), and be filled by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie early in 2025.

The appointment of legislators to chair certain committees will impact NEAFA’s advocacy in Albany. The following state legislators are not running for reelection in November:

State Senate

• Neil Breslin (D-Albany) – retiring. Senate Insurance Committee chair.

• Tim Kennedy (D-Buffalo) – running for Congress in an April special election. Senate Transportation Committee chair.

• Kevin Thomas (D-Suffolk) – recently suspended a candidacy for a seat in Congress. Senate Consumer Protection Committee chair

• John Mannion (D-Syracuse) – running for Congress. Senate Disabilities Committee chair.

State Assembly

• Jeff Aubry (D-Queens) – retiring.  Speaker Pro Tem.

• Marjorie Byrnes (R-Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Steuben and Wyoming Counties) – retiring.

• Taylor Darling (D-Suffolk) – lost June primary for State Senate.

• Inez Dickens (D-Harlem) – retiring.

• Patricia Fahy (D-Albany) – running for State Senate. Assembly Higher Education Committee chair.

• Joseph Giglio (R-Olean) – retiring.

• Andrew Goodell (R-Jamestown) – retiring.

• Aileen Gunther (D-Middletown) – retiring.

• Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D-Nassau & Suffolk) – retiring.

• Daniel O'Donnell (D-Manhattan) – retiring. Assembly Tourism, Parks Arts & Sports Committee chair.

• Fred Thiele (D-Suffolk) – retiring. Assembly Local Governments Committee chair.

• Helene Weinstein (D-Brooklyn) – retiring. Assembly Ways & Means Committee chair.

• Kenneth Zebrowski (D-Rockland County) – retiring. Assembly Government Operations Committee chair.

ACT Regulation Webinar 11/5

New York State has adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation, which requires the manufacture of zero emissions medium- and heavy-duty vehicles beginning in 2025. NYS DEC speakers on this webinar will clear up confusion on the intent of this regulation and its impact. The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) is advocating for the delay of the regulation due to the economic burdens and significant challenges for implementing the ACT mandate. TANY will present concerns with ACT and their efforts to delay it.

There is an informational meeting about this November 5th at 12:00 PM, EST. To signup, click here.

2025 NEAFA Annual Meeting's Registration is now open!

Kim Bremmer, Owner of Ag Inspirations, is the Keynote Speaker for the 2025 NEAFA Annual Meeting.

Registration for the 2025 NEAFA Annual Meeting is now open! The meeting, taking place February 4-5, 2025 at the Albany Marriott Hotel, will feature the following:

• Timely, Topical Seminars

• Excellent Networking Opportunities

• Panel Discussion on Workforce Development

• Breakout Sessions

• Agricultural Markets and Policy Observations

• Keynote Speaker: ​Kim Bremmer - Owner, Ag Inspirations

Register Online by clicking here, or choose a printable registration by clicking here.

The event will be held at the Albany Mariott Hotel, located at 189 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205. Rooms are available at the conference rate of $143 plus tax.  To reserve your room now, please use the online reservation link below:
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1729092289712&key=GRP&guestreslink2=true

To reserve via phone, ​please call Donna LaRocca in the Marriott Sales Office at 518-437-6333.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming Annual Meeting!

NEAFA Member Highlight: Agri-Access

For October’s NEAFA member highlight, we spoke with Matthew Senter, Vice-President of Lender Relations for Agri-Access. “I joined Agri-Access in January 2023,” said Senter. “Agri-Access has been providing secondary market lending and leasing products since 2003, but until recently, we’ve had a very modest presence in Northeast.”

While Agri-Access is headquartered in the Des Moines, IA area, Senter is based in Vermont in the Middlebury area. “Agri-Access is a provider of secondary market lending products with local representatives serving different geographies across the US,” said Senter. “With our headquarters being located  in Iowa, we have a well-established partner network  in the Midwest.  We have a very experienced team that serves agriculture – including staff that manage technology, accounting, credit underwriting, loan servicing and as well as an experienced sales team. What we do is unique. In my prior roles in the Farm Credit system, I  worked directly with producers and agribusinesses. Agri-Access is different. We help banks and other financing providers to make more agricultural loans. Our partners would include community banks that are actively financing farms and  agribusinesses, but may not have access to long term fixed interest rate products that are needed by those businesses.    Agri-Access can provide the community bank with access to those products.  We also can help our partners with large and complex loan transactions.  Agri-Access is able to participate in loans originated by our partners to help them manage the risk exposure to individual loan transactions.  In partnership with Agri-Access, our partners can serve agricultural customers and support them through the excellent service provided by community banks and other local providers. We take on all (or part) of the risk of each loan, and they continue to serve the customer in a meaningful way. Everyone gets to where they want to be. The bank meets the credit needs of its customer while also managing risk exposure & funding costs and the customer is able to continue working with the bank or finance provider that they know and are comfortable with.”

Senter’s agricultural background goes beyond his work with Agri-Access and Farm Credit as well. “I grew up on a small dairy in Constable, NY, north of Malone,” said Senter. “That was my start in the agricultural community. I majored in Economics at St. Lawrence University, but I wasn’t sure that agriculture would be where my career ended up going when I first started studying. As I neared the end of school however, I wanted to see if there was a way to combine my interests in agriculture, banking, and economics. By chance, I saw that there was an opening to work for Farm Credit of Maine and was fortunate to be able to join that organization in 1995. I moved to Maine almost immediate after graduating, worked in Maine for over 25 years and then relocated to Vermont to take a role managing Commercial Lending for Yankee Farm Credit in 2018. There were a few things that drew me to Agri-Access after my time with Farm Credit. In some rural communities, there are very few options when farmers and agribusiness owners need to borrow. In fact, there might not be more than a couple of options in many areas, and those options might not always be a good fit for the businesses’ borrowing needs.  That’s where Agri-Access comes in. We work with banks and other financing providers so that they can provide more lending options for agriculture. If an agribusiness has a local bank that they work with, but that bank does not have a financing product that fits it borrowing needs, have that bank call us. We want to make more financing options available for agriculture and agribusiness in the Northeast and can work with banks to support their agricultural lending business.”

With Senter’s membership in NEAFA, it’s about the connections it provides. “I want to stay connected with the industries that I have worked with historically and that are served by Agri-Access,” said Senter. “NEAFA is an extremely well-respected organization that represents leaders in feed production and farm services in our region. These providers are vitally important to the dairy industry, poultry industry, protein producers, and many other farms in our region.  The dairy and protein industries need high quality feed providers and consultants, and NEAFA members provide just that. The organization has a great leadership team and membership base, and I think Agri-Access’ support of the organization is a great way to introduce our brand to the Northeast. The Northeast is an unique place. We have excellent agricultural land, access to the water we need in most locations as well as significant variety in the agricultural commodities produced. We are also really close to a huge base of consumers in the Northeast, especially on the coast. I think a few things stand out as unique in our region. There’s a lot of diversity in the agriculture here. In an afternoon you can drive past crop farms, nurseries, wineries, dairy farms, poultry operations and more. That diversity helps the region be more resilient to the ups and downs that you might see nationally. We have really high-quality farmers in the region and a well-developed support system that includes our land grant universities, cooperative extension and industry organizations like NEAFA. Agriculture is a challenging business to be successful in and I hope that Agri-Access can play an important part in the long term success of agriculture in the Northeast.”

For more information on Agri-Access, visit https://agri-access.com/

Executive Pen: Leadership in Action

Charlie Elrod, Ph.D., NEAFA Vice-President

The recent Dairy Day Recognition and Awards Ceremony at the New York State Fair was absolutely jam-packed with leaders from all facets of the New York dairy industry.  Milk processors, dairy farmers and leaders from NYS Ag & Markets, Cornell CALS, PRO-Dairy, New York Farm Bureau, Northeast Dairy Producers Association and the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance were all in attendance to recognize the amazing people who produce milk and those who turn it into the greatest and most innovative dairy products in the world.  Awards for every category of dairy product known to man were handed out during the celebration.  

Of special note this year was the PRO-Dairy Agriservice Award presented to Tonya Van Slyke by Tom Overton and Karl Czymmek of PRO-Dairy and Commissioner Richard Ball of NYS Ag & Markets.  These awards are given each year in appreciation and recognition of outstanding contributions to the dairy industry.  While I’ve been aware of Tonya and her work in the dairy industry for many years, it’s only in the last two years that I’ve come to really appreciate the energy, dedication and professionalism she brings to her work on behalf of the dairy industry.  

Tonya has been the Executive Director and then Executive Vice-President of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association for 12 years.  She is not a leader who seeks out the limelight, but rather works to develop her knowledge on the topics of importance to the NEDPA members.  For NEDPA, this has covered the gamut from environmental regulations, labor law, farm-worker safety, animal welfare, unionization of farm labor, milk markets, immigration, and regulation around CDL licenses.  Whatever the topic, Tonya organizes the appropriate collaborators, provides the context and agenda and is the first one out with summary notes from the meeting.  In other words, Tonya shows up day in and day out for the dairy industry of NY and the Northeast.  Jenny and I are very thankful for the opportunity to collaborate so closely with Tonya and the other leaders of NEDPA and NY Farm Bureau.  Congratulations, Tonya! 

Collaborating for a Sustainable Future

The Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA)’s mission is to maintain a viable, consumer-conscious dairy industry that prioritizes the well-being of communities, employees, and the environment. Since 1993, NEDPA has served as the VOICE, the RESOURCE, and the NETWORK for dairy farms in the Northeast. Critical to NEDPA’s success has been the support of business partners who believe in NEDPA’s work and want to help dairy farms in the Northeast remain viable for generations to come. 

NEDPA’s membership includes a diverse array of dairy farms, representing more than 251,000 cows with an average herd size of 1,500 cows. These farms produce more than half of the milk in New York State. Our business and industry partners who comprise our Affiliate and Associate memberships are also vital to NEDPA. Collaboration across industry groups, including with NEAFA, is essential to the future of the dairy industry. 

NEDPA legislative priorities

As we look to the 2025 legislative session, NEDPA plans to highlight the importance of investment in dairy producers to help meet expanding dairy processing capacity, which has been bolstered by state investment. We will be focused on slowing the pace of regulatory change to ensure a viable dairy industry for the future.

Labor issues remain a top priority for New York’s dairy farm families. Labor costs are rising and attracting employees remains a challenge. We value and will continue to advocate for Cornell University’s Agriculture Workforce Development Program and the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH). We recently welcomed Assemblymember Harry Bronson, chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, to Mulligan Family Farm. We shared our concerns with the Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program (TEMP) Act. We highlighted all the work farms do to provide a safe environment for employees and opportunities for training through many industry partners, including consultants, veterinarians, nutritionists, Cornell Ag Workforce Development and NYCAMH.

As the state focuses on climate and water quality issues, we will continue to ensure farmers and industry experts have a seat at the table in these discussions. The North American Manure Expo held at Patterson Farms in July was a prime example of industry collaboration for the benefit of all. Farmers were able to see the latest technology in action, learn from each other, and talk with business leaders and researchers. It also allowed us to engage with legislators and regulators to show them our innovation in environmental stewardship. Funding for Cornell’s PRO DAIRY program, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Cornell University Ruminant Center (CURC) are vital to research, outreach and implementation efforts to help meet the state’s environmental goals. 

Ensuring access to markets is also a priority area for us, including addressing transportation issues. We are building on our past collaborations with NEAFA in holding Dairy Transportation Summits to continue discussions on areas like workforce development, insurance, and varied state regulations. 

Building relationships

It is always impactful when we are able to get legislators and regulators on farms and talking with farmers. In addition to the farm tours and events already mentioned, NEDPA hosted Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, who chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee, and Assemblymember Pamela Hunter at New Hope View Farm this summer. Ag and Markets Commissioner Ball and his team and Kevin King and Lindsey McMahon from the Governor’s office have joined us for farm visits. We participated in Assemblymember Chris Tague’s farm tour in the Cooperstown area where 15 legislators and numerous staff members visited farms and agribusinesses.

The agriculture industry has found strength in the power of collaboration with industry partners and outreach to our leaders in state agencies and government. Proactive communication and strategic discussions of the dairy industry’s needs will help ensure that we are working towards common goals on behalf of New York’s family dairy farms and agribusinesses. 

Business and Industry partners can support the unified voice of dairy by joining NEDPA through the Affiliate and Associate levels, along with encouraging your customers to join as producer members. Your support will allow us to continue to have a seat at the table with state agencies and policy makers on issues impacting the dairy industry.

To join or if you have questions on membership, reach out to Alyssa Kealy, Vice President of Communications and Member Services, at Alyssa@NEDPA.org. Any members with questions on legislation can reach out to Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Vice President of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, at Allyson@NEDPA.org. The NEDPA team can also be reached at 585-447-0034.

NYS DOL Issues Guidance on Extreme Heat and Outdoor Workers

Provided by Hinman Straub

Last month, the New Yok State Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance recommending that employers take steps to protect outdoors workers from extreme heat (based on heat index). This is a guidance documents only, but has many parallels to legislation considered in the last session. These recommendations include but are not limited to: 

• Providing outdoor workers with 32oz of cool drinking water every hour, regardless of the heat index. 

• Making free potable water available at all times, in close proximity to the worksite. 

• Providing sufficient time for workers to consume water. 

• Providing outdoor workers with shade and paid time for rest when the heat index reaches 80 degrees or above, and more frequently when the heat index exceeds 90 degrees.

• Shade should be adequate for all workers on recovery rests and during meal time (with sufficient space to sit. 

• Employers should prepare to provide adequate shade even if the heat index hasn’t reached 80 degrees for workers who request it or begin showing signs of heat related illnesses. 

• Provide standardized breaks when the heat index reaches 90 degrees or greater. DOL provided the following suggestions:

Heat Index 

Rest Break Durations

80 or greater

As needed to prevent overheating

90 or greater

15 minutes every two hours

100 or greater

15 minutes every hour

110 or greater

High risk of heat stress; consider rescheduling activities (if rescheduling is impossible, best practice is 15 minutes of work with 45 minutes of rest every hour.)

• Providing outdoor  workers with some or all of the following PPE: lightweight clothing, sweat wicking fabric, wide-brim hats, cooling vests, water cooled garments and sunscreen.

• Provide outdoor workers and supervisors with annual, effective training to help spot and mitigate heat related illnesses. 

• DOL provided a link to OSHA training materials that could be used to support this work: OSHA Training Guide 

• Establishing a written plan for acclimatization, extreme heat preparedness and emergency response. 

• DOL made some recommendations regarding elements that should be included in such plans, including flexibility to move work to cooler times of the day, methods for monitoring workers exposed to extreme heat, and methods for alerting affected staff to hazard exposures. 

• Instituting  acclimatization measures when the heat index reaches or exceeds 80 degrees. DOL provided the following suggestions for the acclimatization schedule:

Day 1

A new or returning worker should work 20-25% of a shift at full intensity

Week 1

Increase the time working at full intensity by 20-25% a day

14 Days

Closely watch all new or returning workers for 14 workdays.

Full details on the DOL guidance can be found here: (Extreme Weather Guidance | Department of Labor (ny.gov)).

Substantial reduction in Northeast dairy farm greenhouse gas emissions

Karl Czymmek
PRO-Dairy, Dairy Climate Leadership Specialist

The Northeast dairy industry has made significant progress in a range of sustainability measures between 1971 and 2024, especially greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to “Fifty years of environmental progress by U.S. dairy” published June 2024 in the Journal of Dairy Science by Dr. Alan Rotz, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and colleagues. The research team evaluated six dairy regions across the U.S., comparing typical practices on dairy farms in 1971 and 2020 for emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, using a well-documented and widely published life cycle assessment model developed by Dr. Rotz during his career at ARS.  

Dairy farming in the Northeast U.S. covering 10 states from Maryland to Maine, including NYS, shows excellent sustainability progress based on this study. During the 50-year period the Northeast dairy industry has:

• Increased annual milk production per cow by 150 percent from 9,250 pounds (fat and protein corrected milk, FPCM) to 23,144 pounds FPCM.    

• Increased total yearly milk production by 27 percent from 24.4 billion pounds to 29.4 billion pounds.

• Reduced number of cows by 49 percent.

• Decreased carbon intensity of milk by 42 percent from 1.69 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents/pound of milk to 0.97. Each greenhouse gas has a different heat trapping potential and carbon dioxide equivalent is a way to weight the global warming potential of a greenhouse gas over a period of time, typically 100 years. The Rotz study used the 100-year timeframe.   

• Reduced absolute dairy GHG emissions by 24 percent.

• Decreased absolute methane emissions by 13 percent and nitrous oxide by 42 percent.

Progress by dairy farmers in this region results from implementing advances in animal care, nutrition, genetics, forage management, agronomy, and energy efficiency and dairy farmers have made further progress since 2020, including continued increases in milk production per cow. The study also found that the type of dairy management system did not predict a high or low carbon intensity value. This suggests that well managed dairies of any type or size can meet environmental sustainability goals.      

Farmers are always looking for ways to do more with less. This study demonstrates that for Northeast dairies, farm economics and the environment have benefited simultaneously. 

PRO-DAIRY is a nationally recognized extension and applied research leader serving dairy farms for more than 35 years.