The Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA), representing family dairy farms producing more than half the fluid milk in New York State, today released their 2025-2026 State Budget Priorities. Advancing these priorities, NEDPA remains focused on supporting the state’s highly skilled and talented dairy workforce and is committed to science-based environmental stewardship best practices while supporting policies that sustain these ongoing efforts.
Additionally, the State Comptroller’s Report on Agriculture released in November, underscores the need for continued investment in New York’s dairy industry.
“The data and recommendations compiled in the Comptroller’s Report on Agriculture clearly show the need for continued solutions-based partnerships and investments to support the viability of our family dairy farms,” said Northeast Dairy Producers Association Chair Keith Kimball. “NEDPA looks forward to collaborating with our elected leaders, industry partners, and academic researchers to inform effective policy that will strengthen our food supply chain, invest in ongoing science-based environmental stewardship efforts, and support the next generation of dairy farmers in New York State.”
NEDPA is advancing three policy requests (more detail available here), and state budget requests for additional funding. Policy requests include:
Fix the farm Employer Overtime Credit to ensure all farms are eligible.
Extend the Investment Tax Credit to 2032.
Make employee housing eligible for the Investment Tax Credit.
NEDPA’s requests for additional funding in the State Budget include:
Doubling the capacity of the New York State Farm Worker Housing Program (NEW funding) which is a revolving loan program for farmer-provided housing, which would include adding $15 million into the existing fund for a total of $30 million and raising the maximum cap on each loan from $200,000 to $400,000.
Investing $4.987M to Support Industry Vision for Net Zero Emissions, including:
$750,000 for the Cornell University Ruminant Center (CURC) (NEW). Research at CURC informs dairy farm decision-making, including dairy nutrition and metabolism, reproductive physiology and management, and genomics.
$2,713,000 for Cornell PRO-DAIRY ($1.25 million increase), including:
$250K for the Dairy Climate Leadership Specialist, included in FY 24-25 Budget.
$500K for four new positions: Two Farm Business Management Specialists, one Dairy Nutrition Specialist, and one Animal Well-Being Specialist (NEW).
$500K for applied research and extension support (NEW).
Investing $1M to establish a Dairy Foods Innovation Hub (NEW).
Investing $524,000 for Cornell’s Dairy Profit Teams ($150,000 increase).
Investing $150,000 for a new program between the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) & Cornell’s Ag Workforce Development Program (NEW). To support the development and implementation of online health and safety-focused training for agricultural employees, and workforce onboarding resources to improve performance and retention.
Investing $500,000 for the John May Farm Safety Fund ($400,000 increase).
NEDPA also requests the inclusion of sustained funding in the 2025-2026 FY New York State Budget, including:
Continued Support of the Dairy Farm Modernization Grant Program. NEDPA appreciates Gov. Hochul’s commitment of $34 million over two years and requests that commitment be fulfilled with $10 million in 2025-2026.
Continued Support for CAFO Enhanced Nutrient & Methane Management Program. NEDPA requests the $21 million commitment be fulfilled from Clean Water Infrastructure funding.
$17.5 million for Support for Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Control.
$17.25 million for Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
Continued Investment in Cornell through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) for Agricultural Waste Management Programs, including:
Nutrient Management Spear Program
$700K for Cornell’s Dairy Advancement Program, previously known as Dairy Acceleration Program
Continued investment in Workforce Development, and Health & Safety Programs:
$702K for Cornell’s Farm Labor Specialist.
$1.25 for the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health. This directed funding supports the On-Farm Health and Safety Program administered by Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital.
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