Northeast Dairy Producers Association requests continued investment in Cornell programs and research to support workforce and rnvironmental stewardship efforts.
The Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA), which represents family farms producing more than half the state’s fluid milk, is pointing to the newly released Report on Agriculture from State Comptroller DiNapoli to underscore the need for continued investment in New York’s dairy industry. At the Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture on Wednesday, November 13, NEDPA Executive Vice President Tonya Van Slyke and Vice President of Regulatory & Legislative Affairs Allyson Jones-Brimmer discussed potential solutions to ongoing industry challenges and NEDPA’s budget requests for 2025.
Click here for Tonya Van Slyke’s testimony and here for Allyson Jones-Brimmer’s testimony.
“The Comptroller’s Report on Agriculture is a clear signal to state officials that continued solutions-based dialogue and investments are necessary for the viability of our family dairy farms,” said Northeast Dairy Producers Association Chair Keith Kimball. “The number of NY dairy farms declined 40% between 2017 and 2022, and while technology and science-based practices have helped farms become more efficient over the years, the costs of labor and other inputs have skyrocketed.
Labor costs for all NY farms increased 68% percent in 10 years, however, dairy farmers cannot pass those costs on. Milk prices are set at the federal level and have not even come close to keeping pace with these rising costs. NEDPA thanks our ag leaders for coming together to discuss industry challenges and potential solutions, and we look forward to working together in 2025 to strengthen our food supply chain from farm to hauler to processor, while supporting the next generation of farmers.”
2025 Budget requests include continued investment in:
- Cornell University’s Ruminant Center (CURC)
- PRO-DAIRY
- Including the Nutrient Management SPEAR Program
- Cornell’s Agriculture Workforce Development Program
- New York State Farm Worker Housing Loan Program
Click here to view a detailed one-pager on joint-industry budget asks for Cornell University research and programs that support the continued viability of New York’s dairy industry – which is by far New York’s top agricultural commodity, according to the Comptroller’s report, accounting for nearly half of the state’s ag product sales in 2022.
Additionally, NEDPA is:
- Urging Governor Hochul to sign the OT bill unanimously passed by the State Legislature that extends eligibility for the farm employer overtime tax credit;
- Advocating for an extension of the Investment Tax Credit, and the ability of farms to include farm-provided employee housing as part of this credit; and
- Requesting that timely payments are made for tax credits and reimbursements to farms.
–Northeast Dairy Producers Association
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