25th Annual NODPA Field Days, Pompey Rod and Gun Club, 2035 Swift Road, Pompey, NY 13138
Celebrating 25 Years of NODPA Field Days! For a quarter of a century, NODPA has been proud to host Field Days throughout the Northeast—bringing together organic dairy farmers, advocates, researchers, and industry partners in a spirit of collaboration and growth.This year marks our 25th Field Days and Annual Meeting anniversary, and we're taking the opportunity to reflect on the journey we've shared, where we stand today, and what the next 25 years may hold for organic dairy.
For producers, 2025 will be an interesting year, complicated by unusual patterns of weather. Pay Prices have increased, and demand is high for organic milk, but costs are unpredictable but sure to increase. This year’s Field Days will look at opportunities for organic dairy, how to evaluate future trends in marketing your milk and how best to maximize family income and soil health. There are new tools available that can lower costs and can be applied to any operation. For example, virtual fencing does not need any internet connection but can save money on fencing and labor, and make it easier to control grazing. Many of the tools we highlight will give producers the means to assess how changes to their operation will reduce cost, increase income, and improve production practices. To learn more and to register, visit the NODPA Field Days webpage.
Field Days begin on Thursday morning with the first farm tour at Tre-G Farms, Manlius, NY. It’s hosted by The Smith Family who will lead a tour of their farm, their grazing systems, needed improvements to soil health and pasture, and the health of their herd. They will share how they see their business developing and diversifying with a retail outlet and how they have improved their farm operations to allow them the efficiencies necessary to be profitable in the future. Their Lely robots will be working and ready for an upgrade. They are ready and open to discuss the transition process from Sue and Jim Smith to their son and daughter-in-law, Ryker and Jenny Smith. It will be a really enjoyable way to start the day.
Following the tour, registration and lunch take place at the Pompey Rod and Gun Club, with the educational program starting at 1:00pm.
Our educational program kicks off on Thursday afternoon with a panel discussion on emerging technologies to lower costs, improve production and contribute to profitability. The session will feature virtual fencing, robotics, cow health and improving breeding systems to take full advantage of better genetics. Do you know what your costs of production are? There will be discussion of the many different tools available to improve your herd management and make important data more easily available, which could help with your annual certification paperwork, as well. Panel members include Drs. Giordano and Perez, Cornell Agricultural Testbed and Demonstration Site (CAST) for the Farm of the Future, who will be sharing the latest research including advancements in virtual fencing and a variety of cow monitoring tools that are accessible to farms of all sizes and production practices. In addition, Bob Church, a representative from Lely Robotics, and Ryker Smith, Tre-G Farms, will be diving into what new equipment is available to improve production and make full use of skilled labor. Producers Kirk Arnold and Madeline Poole will join the panel to ensure that the experts keep the presentation practical.
The next session will explore current and emerging trends in the organic dairy sector. The organic dairy market is increasingly diverse and holds many different opportunities for producers. Our expert panel will look at the future of the supply market, the impact of Extended Shelf-Life packaging and the shift in demand for more organic dairy manufactured product (cheese, cultured products). They will offer opinions on the potential of A2A2 genetics, regenerative organic certification, and extra label organic certification (Grass-Fed), plus the potential and pitfalls of direct-to-consumer farm sales. Our highly knowledgeable panel members are: Nathan Weaver, Windhover Farm, Canastota, NY, Mike Davis, General Manager, Membership & Bulk Sales Divisions Upstate-Niagara, Inc. (UNC), Eric Sheffer, Sheffer’s Grassland Dairy, Tom McGrath, Family Farmstead Dairy, Worcester, NY, and Christopher Wolfe, Cornell University Professor of Agricultural Economics (invited).
We round out the afternoon with an in-depth look at the current state of the Dairy x Beef calf market - a growing area of income for many organic dairy operations. Robert Goodling of Horizon Farm Credit will share expert insights into the trends shaping this market, along with the opportunities and challenges it presents specifically for organic dairy farmers. The session will look at the decision-making that each farm needs to do in evaluating whether to breed more replacements or continue to use sexed semen for the immediate cash return in week-old calves. This session is in response to many requests from producers for help in decision making around a market that appears strong but has many different variables.
We wrap up Thursday with a lively and engaging Social Hour and Trade Show—a perfect opportunity to relax, network, and connect with fellow attendees. Enjoy light refreshments as you mingle with friends, old and new, and be sure to visit our Trade Show vendors, all of whom are valued supporters of NODPA and the broader organic dairy community. Following the Social Hour, we’ll gather for a delicious banquet and the NODPA Annual Meeting, featuring updates and insights from the NODPA Board Co-Presidents, Kirk Arnold and Roman Stoltzfoos, and the NODPA Executive Director Ed Maltby.
The evening will conclude with our Keynote Address: Enhancing Production by Breeding for the Best Cow Characteristics for Every Production System, presented by Michael McCaffery, aAa Weeks Analyzer. His address will focus on breeding the right cow with the right genetics for your management system. Built on the tenets of more milk for size, better feed efficiency, and greater longevity that leads to fewer replacements needed, McCaffrey will share his interest and experience in helping farmers see real results in breeding the balanced cow that will yield increased profits and genuine satisfaction to the dairy breeder. aAa Weeks, headquartered in North Clarendon, VT, is in its 75th year of helping farmers. aAa Weeks is a dairy cattle breeding guide that identifies qualities a cow needs in a mating and qualities a bull brings to a mating. This information helps dairy breeders create a herd of consistently balanced well-functioning daughters. With approved analyzers around the world, aAa has herds in the United States that have employed this tool for over 50 years and stand among the most successful breeding establishments in the country. Kathie Arnold from Twin Oaks Dairy, Truxton, NY, who has worked with McCaffery for many years, said, “Mike has helped us improve our genetics and breeding program, and I am so glad he’ll be sharing his wealth of knowledge with us at Field Days.”
Friday morning begins early, with continental breakfast prior to (and during) the Producers-Only Meeting, a meeting where producers can speak freely about all things related to the organic dairy industry. Two hours are budgeted for the meeting and generally we run out of time. Open to organic producers, there is an opportunity to share information, fears, doubts, rumors and experiences. For non-organic producers, a more relaxed time to have breakfast is available from 6:30 to 9:00 am.
Friday’s educational session begins at 9:00 am with Sarah Flack, renowned expert on organic dairy, discussing how to evaluate whether your farm and farming production practices align with a Grass-Fed system and certification. She will explore what you need for a Pay Price, land base, infrastructure, forage quality, cost of production, herd genetics, finances, and family goals. She will also discuss key points for a successful conversion to a Grass-Fed dairy. This opportunity is too good to miss and will be both informative and practical.
Sarah’s session is followed by Bill Kipp, Animal Nutritionist, whose session Better Nutrition = Better Milk Production, Cow Health, and Profitability will focus on using good nutrition practices to increase production and herd health with all production systems. Bill has presented at past NODPA Field Days and NODPA members wholeheartedly requested his return this year.
In the last session before lunch, Peter and Jeremy Mapstone, tour hosts for the afternoon farm tour, will introduce their farm, Pastureland Dairy, Manlius, NY. Father and son, Peter and Jeremy, are partners on their dairy farm, which was established in 1944 by Peter’s father. Organic since 2007, this is a 1400-acre farm with a 650-cow herd, made up of 375 milking and dry cows and 275 youngstock. Pastureland Dairy’s goal of producing nutritious milk from healthy, grazing cows remains the backbone of all that they do.
Following lunch and the door prize drawing, attendees will head over to Pastureland Dairy for the Friday afternoon farm tour that concludes the Field Days for 2025.
Posted: to Field Days on Sun, Jul 13, 2025
Updated: Sun, Jul 13, 2025
