Important Dates!
Farm Credit East offices, including online banking and payroll processing, will be closed on the following dates:
• Monday, September 1
• Monday, October 13
• Tuesday, November 11
• Thursday, November 27
• Friday, November 28
• Thursday, December 25
Board Election and Reorganization Results
Farm Credit East announced the results of its director elections in late April. Stockholders elected the following candidates.
James Crane, of Exeter, Maine, was elected to a three-year term in the Eastern Region. James is co-owner and manager of Crane Bros. Inc., growing grain corn and chipping potatoes.
LouAnne King, of Waddington, N.Y., was re-elected to a four-year term in the Eastern Region. LouAnne is an owner of Mapleview Dairy LLC, a family owned and operated dairy farm.
Joel Viereck, of Logan Twp, N.J., was elected to a four-year term in the Central Region. Joel is the farm operations manager of Viereck Farms LLC, a fourth-generation diversified vegetable, fruit and grain operation.
John Knopf, of Canandaigua, N.Y., was re-elected to a four-year term in the Western Region. John is senior member and majority owner of Fa-Ba Farms, LLC, a dairy farm.
Congratulations to the winning candidates! Thank you to customer-members for voting and to the association nominating committee for providing an excellent slate of candidates.
At the April 29 reorganization meeting, the board re-elected John Knopf as Chair and LouAnne King as Vice Chair. In addition to Chair Knopf and Vice Chair King, the Executive Committee also includes Laurie Griffen, of Schuylerville, N.Y., James Robbins II, of Searsmont, Maine, and Kyle Thygesen, of Tunbridge, Vt.
Additionally, at the April 29 board meeting, Christopher Cebula, of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and president of investment advisory services at Armbruster Capital Management, Inc., was appointed to the board as an outside director. Mr. Cebula will begin his 4-year term in July.
Also at this meeting, Cathryn Kennedy, of Wright’s Dairy Farm in North Smithfield, R.I., and John Kelder, of Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson, N.Y., were retained to serve the board in a non-voting advisor role to provide the young, beginning, small, veteran (YBSV) perspective. Both will serve a term beginning in July and ending in March 2026.
In 2026, there will be three seats up for election. Learn more about these director seats and how you can become involved in the election process on page 13 of this issue.
CEO’s MESSAGE
Mike Reynolds CEO, Farm Credit East
WITH PURPOSE
Over the past several years, Farm Credit East has been evolving our business to provide more value to customers. Luckily, change isn’t new for us. Since our formation three decades ago, the cooperative has sustained market shifts and significant advancements in technology, all while continuing to grow the cooperative and return value to customers.
We’ve developed a regional service approach, while also aligning dedicated teams to support our financial services and credit delivery. This allows us to provide specialized, consistent, faster service. It also grants us greater access to talent, which is a direct benefit to customer businesses.
We’ve significantly increased our technology investment as we continue to evolve through automation and artificial intelligence. These reinvestments allow us to stay competitive, meet regulatory expectations and better serve customer needs.
We hope you’ve enjoyed increased patronage (plus a bonus patronage the past two years) resulting from our strong business results. This is a direct result of how we’re evolving your cooperative.
You can expect more of those perks as we move Farm Credit East forward. We are a cooperative after all, so our success is your success.
This issue’s cover story aims to keep you, our cooperative owners, informed about where we’re heading. As you read about our vision for the future, remember that just as we’ve proven in the past, each decision is made with the customer at the forefront and intends to bring more value to you and your business.
We’re moving forward with purpose. And while we’re evolving how we do business, we remain grounded in what matters most: Our roots in agriculture, our commitment to customer-owners, and our focus on longterm strength.
The future of Northeast agriculture and rural communities is bright. Later in this issue, you’ll meet this year’s 40 higher education scholarship recipients. Their career aspirations excite me for what’s ahead. As we move our business forward, we aim to be your lender and financial services partner today, and for this emerging generation, too.
Our history proves that we’ve seen large periods of change over the past three decades and we’ve come out better than when we started. Farm Credit East has confidence this period will be no different. Thank you for trusting us to be your partner in what’s next.
EVOLVING OUR BUSINESS MORE VALUE TO YOURS to provide
cover story
In today’s world, change may be inevitable, but transformation is intentional. Over the past several years, Farm Credit East has been on a transformational journey. It was never — and never will be — our goal to stray from who we are at the core: a relationship lender and financial services provider committed to Northeast agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products for more than 100 years. But in order to keep up with the world around us and ensure we can remain a competitive partner, we have to evolve.
In the last five years, we’ve committed resources and made significant investments to transform our business strategically and with purpose. We’ll never lose sight of our cooperative structure. In fact, we value that structure. It’s those customer owners who have enabled us to be successful for more than 100 years and who motivate us to do more.
As we continue our transformational journey — one that will continue to develop — we want to be sure our customer owners remain informed. Read on to learn more about our focus areas as we evolve our business to provide more value to yours.
FASTER ACCESS TO CAPITAL
For those who have done business with us for a while, maybe even over multiple generations, you may recall when you had to call us to request an advance on your line of credit. You waited for days to receive a check in the mail, then took a trip to the bank to deposit the money and waited again for the check to clear before you finally had access to those funds.
CELEBRATING OUR COOPERATIVE
We’ve come a long way from those days. In recent years, we’ve reduced financial reporting requirements, while still ensuring sound credit decisions. We’ve introduced loan auto-approval. We have tools in place enabling our loan officers to spend more time on the road so we can be proactive in delivering the financing you need.
This spring, we launched an effort aiming to deliver money even faster, while maintaining information security and the local relationship. Over the next several months, we’ll be expanding this effort throughout our territory.
Here’s what you need to know: Your lender is specialized in serving the agricultural industries in which our customers operate. Your lender has a support team that allows them to spend more time on the road strategizing with customers. This support team may not be local, but with today’s technology, they don’t have to be. We have the secure tools in place to allow your relationship team to understand your business and support your business from anywhere, while providing you the flexibility to work with us however is most convenient.
The greatest impact on your business? Dedicated service, faster access to your money and flexibility in how you want to do business with us.
HONING OUR EXPERTISE
Our tax and accounting services continue to be highly valuable to customers who use this information to manage their business. With a diminishing number of tax professionals across the Northeast, coupled with increasingly complex tax laws, there is unprecedented demand for our services.
2025 celebrates the international year of the cooperative. Farm Credit East is proud to be owned by our customers for the last century. And while we’re excited to celebrate our cooperative model, we’re more pleased to celebrate our cooperative owners who have made our success possible. The fact that we’ve worked with many customer businesses over multiple generations is not something we take lightly. Thank you for being part of our journey and making our continued success possible.
Want to learn more about how we’re paving our path forward?
Scan the QR code to watch a short video.
We continue to hire and train new tax professionals throughout the year. Our goal is to continue to offer skilled resources to customers who value and rely on our expertise. We will continue to evolve this area of our business to ensure it best serves the needs of our customers and our team.
Here’s what you need to know: Our knowledgeable team stays current on the evolving tax landscape. The changes we’ve made over the past year reflect the complexity of modern taxes, the expertise of our team and our commitment to providing high-value services.
The greatest impact on your business? To deliver the most value to all our customers, employees and customers alike have a role. We will hold true to the standards we’ve established and expect customers to do the same. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/tax to learn more about the requirements for our tax preparation service.
SECURITY AT THE HELM
2024 saw a 36% increase in cyberattacks leading to data compromise, according to the Annual Data Breach Report issued by The Identity Theft Resource Center. This equates to 8.7 attacks per day and more than 1.7 billion victims annually. Information security cannot be taken lightly.
“Farm Credit Connect is our secure online customer portal to communicate and exchange information. This portal requires multifactor authentication (MFA) and complex passwords, among other measures, to maintain the security of information.
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We’ve been fortunate Farm Credit East has not had a significant incident, but the cyber criminals are only becoming more advanced, and the threat is very real. As we evolve how we deliver credit and financial services, protecting customer information is at the forefront — and technology will never outpace trust.
Farm Credit Connect is our secure online customer portal to communicate and exchange information. This portal requires multifactor
THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!
Thank you to those who responded to our customer feedback survey this spring. Your responses reinforced what’s important to you — Farm Credit East’s commitment to agriculture, your relationship team, personalized service, and competitive rates and patronage dividends. These remain most important to us, too.
But your feedback isn’t once and done. As owners of the cooperative,
your continual feedback is crucial to our success. We capture ongoing feedback from our board of directors and Regional Advisory Committees. You’re always welcome to share your feedback with them, but we want to be sure all cooperative members have the opportunity to share feedback during this period of heightened change.
We have two ways for you to do that.
1. Send your feedback via email to board@farmcrediteast.com
2. Contact a regional leader. We have a credit leader and financial services leader for each of our offices. Access their contact information at FarmCreditEast.com/offices.
authentication (MFA) and complex passwords, among other measures, to maintain the security of information. We also have procedures in place to validate customer identity when performing sensitive transactions. These security measures are critical to protect your business.
Our team participates in regular security training to stay up to date on the latest threats and best practices. This includes simulated exercises to assess our strategy if a breach were to occur.
In addition to our strategic technology partner, Financial Partners, Inc., over the past 18 months, we have hired a Chief Information Officer and onboarded new information security teammates. In April, the board of directors received results from a recent assessment of our cybersecurity program, which indicated Farm Credit East is taking proactive steps to keep cybersecurity at the forefront. The board recently formed a new technology committee to keep focus on this important topic.
The security of our buildings is equally important. As part of our ongoing commitment to keep customer information secure, this summer, we are implementing a new process where all employees must wear photo identification badges when in our offices and all visitors must sign in and wear a visitor badge when in an office. This ensures we know who is in our offices at all times and that each of those individuals is authorized to be in the building, thereby further protecting the sensitive financial data we handle daily.
Here’s what you need to know: Information security is paramount as we implement new tools and processes. You need to do the same in your daily transactions. Stay aware of cyber threats, keep your systems and software up to date, create strong passwords and update them regularly, and always think before you click a link or open an attachment.
The greatest impact on your business? We may request additional information at times to assure a request is valid. We will require sensitive information be sent via Farm Credit Connect. These additional steps are to protect you and your information.
OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO YOU
While change is inevitable, we remain mission driven. We are committed to supporting your goals with fast, consistent and personalized credit and financial services. Agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products will continue to be the only industries we serve. This allows us to develop a rich understanding of how our customers operate and to serve our customers’ needs through various industry cycles.
Here’s what you need to know: We’re driven by the relationships we have with customer businesses, both new and generational. As part of those relationships, we are committed to delivering local service and remaining active in the communities where our customers and our team live and work. And last but certainly not least, we will remain a cooperative owned by our customers and all the benefits that affords, including voice in governance and a share of earnings.
The greatest impact on your business? As we move forward to evolve our cooperative, here is our commitment to serving you and your business into the future:
1. Deepen our consultative relationship team approach
2. Foster a knowledgeable team working together to proactively serve customers
3. Keep customers and relationship team informed
4. Provide superior, secure credit and financial services delivery
5. Deliver competitive solutions that provide value to customers’ businesses
Our Commitment In Action
Over the last several months, Farm Credit East has been advancing its strategy to serve our customers with a team of experts committed to delivering value to their business. A recent visit to Crist Bros. Orchards, a fifth-generation apple grower and packer located in Walden, New York, proved the value of this approach.
Crist Bros. Orchards is vertically integrated from growing to storage, packing and shipping.
Current operations include 600 acres of highdensity orchards with the capacity to store and pack all production — and plans to grow.
“This outside professional view of the agricultural and business climate and opportunities helps position our farm for future success!
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Jeff Crist Crist Bros. Orchards Co-owner
A recent meeting brought together the full Crist family along with Farm Credit East financial services team members Dario Arezzo, David Rifenburg, and Kirk Williams; Crop Growers agent John Fitzpatrick; and the borrowers’ lending team of Kristen Kochetta and Anna Shuknecht, to discuss the operation’s plans for strategic growth.
Together, the team reviewed a six-year production forecast and discussed the investments needed to achieve those goals and continue to grow. “The entire Farm Credit East team has a role in such expansion, from financing to tax planning and insuring the growing acreage, making in-person discussions with the full relationship team powerful and effective,” said Loan Officer Anna Shuknecht.
“At Crist Bros. Orchards, our amazing team is always tuned into growing and packing the next apple crop. We also realize it is equally important to be in close discussions with our key partners off the farm that we collaborate with every day, and Farm Credit East is one of those very critical partners,” commented Crist Bros. Orchards co-owner, Jeff Crist. “With expertise in accounting, balance sheet management, business and succession planning, Farm Credit brings vast experience working with progressive farmers across the Northeast to the table. This outside professional view of the agricultural and business climate and opportunities helps position our farm for future success!”
“Farm Credit East is committed to surrounding our customers with talented teams that are on farm delivering high value to our customers,” said Chief Financial Services Officer Dario Arezzo. “The level and depth of our cross-functional teams, when working together, cannot be beat in the marketplace.”
The Farm Credit East relationship team meeting with the Crist family to discuss their commitment to scaling operations through data-driven decision-making, strategic capital investment, and operational efficiency.
ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL: IMPACT ON NORTHEAST AGRICULTURE
President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law on July 4. The legislation, which passed the House on a 218-214 vote, generally extends, and in some cases amplifies, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for farmers as well as makes significant changes to agricultural safety net programs. What are some of the most significant changes for Northeast producers to keep in mind?
The 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction for pass-through entities is made permanent and includes a minimum $400 deduction for businesses with at least $1,000 of qualified business income.
Section 179 expensing provision increased to $2.5 million so long as eligible purchases don’t exceed $4 million.
Bonus depreciation (SDA) reverts to 100% for purchases made after January 19, 2025 and is now made permanent.
Estate tax exemption is made permanent and increased to $15 million per taxpayer ($30 million for married couples).
Reference prices for crops have been increased effective with the 2025 crop year, with another increase slated for 2031.
Beginning with the 2026 crop year, the bill extends the authority for base acres and introduces a new allocation of up to 30 million additional base acres.
The general payment limitation for commodity programs has been increased, and adjusted annually for inflation, from $125,000 to $155,000.
The bill allows producers to elect the higher of the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) for the 2025 crop year. Additionally, PLC, ARC and Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) are extended through 2031.
The definition of a “beginning farmer or rancher” is extended from 5 years to 10 years of farming experience. This change allows more producers to qualify for special benefits under federal crop insurance programs.
For a more in-depth analysis on these and other changes in the legislation that impacts both businesses and individuals, as well as tax planning considerations from our experienced team, visit FarmCreditEast.com/OBBB.
LLeadNY is a pioneering training program designed for committed leaders in the New York agriculture and food sectors who aspire to make a significant impact in their communities. This program, guided by Cornell expertise, focuses on enhancing leadership skills, self-awareness, issues analysis, critical thinking and civic engagement.
Since its inception in 1985, LeadNY has trained over 500 alumni who have gone on to become leaders and innovators in various fields such as agriculture, finance, retail, marketing, business and education. The program’s comprehensive approach includes expert seminars, collaborative workshops, professional networking and field travel, all aimed at preparing professionals to overcome challenges and lead others to innovative and successful solutions.
As LeadNY celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, Farm Credit East is proud to be part of their journey. Many Farm Credit East employees have benefitted from the training and professional development provided by LeadNY. Farm Credit East is also a committed financial supporter. The Farm Credit Endowment Fund, established in the mid-90s, continues to generate significant revenue to support the program, and we continue to provide tuition support for customers to participate in this important program to foster leadership within the agricultural community.
SPOTLIGHTStewardship
RECENT REPORT RELEASES
Build Connections.
Build Relationships. Build Community.
The 2024 Sustainability Report touches on the work the Farm Credit East team is doing to build relationships with our customers, our team and the local communities we serve.
2024 Northeast Dairy Farm Summary & 2025 Mid-Year Outlook.
Net earnings increased, total costs decreased, and net cost of production decreased on Northeast dairy farms in 2024. Read the report for a deeper dive into Northeast dairy farms.
2025 Grants and Incentives for Northeast Agriculture.
Learn more about grants and other incentives available to agricultural producers and other entities involved in agriculture or related industries.
LeadNY Class 20
Celebrates Investments 400
FarmStart, a unique Farm Credit program that invests working capital of up to $125,000 in northeast agricultural, fishing and forest products ventures showing promise of success, recently announced the approval of its 400th investment. Since the first investment approved in August 2006, FarmStart has invested more than $19.4 million with over 400 entrepreneurs throughout the Northeast.
“Farm Credit East is committed to helping individuals get started in farming, forest products and commercial fishing, and FarmStart is an important initiative to help that next generation get started,” said Chris Laughton, FarmStart Program Manager. “Our goal is to provide capital and support to help young entrepreneurs enter the industry.”
A recent FarmStart investment was to Sunset Farm, located in Naugatuck and Milford, Conn. Sunset Farm is a USDA certified organic farm that grows a diverse range of fruits, vegetables and flowers on over 10 acres. The farm has 10 employees at peak season, and grows crops for its retail farm stand, Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) and local farmers markets. They also sell fresh produce to local public schools and independent grocery stores.
As first-generation farmers, Kaitlyn Kimball and her husband, Larry Passeck, have a passion for sustainable and regenerative
farming practices. They began farming in 2019, and Kaitlyn first heard about the FarmStart program through friends who are also FarmStart participants.
FarmStart has provided Sunset Farm with the flexibility to cover their spring payroll and purchase necessary supplies, which has been crucial for their cash flow. “Having access to a line of credit has been an invaluable tool for our business, especially as we expand and take on more employees,” Kaitlyn explained. “It’s a great tool to help us grow and succeed.”
FarmStart is a joint initiative of Farm Credit East and CoBank to fulfill Farm Credit’s long-term commitment to support a vibrant, entrepreneurial northeast agricultural community. FarmStart participants complete a business plan and monthly cash flow budget to serve as a roadmap for their startup business. In addition to the financial investment, a FarmStart advisor works with each participant to help the new business stay on track toward achieving business objectives.
Learn more: FarmCreditEast.com/FarmStart
As a cooperative, Farm Credit East is owned by the more than 18,000 customers it serves and governed by a board of customer-elected directors. Operating independently of the board, the Association’s Nominating Committee serves an important role in identifying and advancing the board of director candidates. The members of the nominating committee represent each of Farm Credit East’s office locations to ensure geographic diversity and representation of various industry and business backgrounds. For more information on the structure of the Nominating Committee and how it operates as well as to view the members of the 2026 Nominating Committee, visit FarmCreditEast.com/Elections.
FARM CREDIT EAST MARKETPLACE REGIONS
A Message from Board Chair John Knopf
The role of the Nominating Committee has never been more important. As members consider a role on the Nominating Committee or the Board, remember that the quality of the Nominating Committee dictates the quality of the Board. I’d boil the director job down to three characteristics:
1. You have to be willing to lead. The most important job of a director is to hire and evaluate the CEO who sets the strategy for our cooperative for the years ahead.
2. You have to be able to support the management team. The board offers opinions and guidance as the annual business plan is developed and strategy is set – and then as a board, we have to commit to supporting that vision.
3. You have to be willing to monitor operations and risk. To do that effectively, you have to spend the time to be aware of what’s going on in our operating environment.
Moreso than board experience, it’s these traits that make a strong board member. Some of the best directors I’ve known had very little experience, but they had a willingness to grow. When I first ran for the board, I never expected to succeed, but I’m proud to have served our cooperative for the last 12 years.
Changes to 2027 Nominating Committee
In order to foster engagement and match the changes made to Association marketplace regions, the Board took strategic action to reduce the size of the Nominating Committee. Starting with the 2027 election cycle, the Nominating Committee will be made up of two voting members and two alternates per marketplace region, for a total of 14 voting members and 14 alternate members.
Interested candidates for the 2027 Nominating Committee will be required to attend the Regional Advisory Committee meetings being held November 18-19, 2025, in Albany, N.Y. Regional Advisory Committees are composed of a cross section of stockholders and other members of the agricultural community who meet two times annually with local Farm Credit East leadership. The November meeting will be this group’s second meeting of the year. Visit FarmCreditEast.com to learn more about the Regional Advisory Committees and their membership.
To express interest in serving on the Nominating Committee, visit FarmCreditEast.com/Elections or contact a member of your Regional Advisory Committee, the Nominating Committee or a Farm Credit East representative. Nominations must be received prior to the November meeting.
Once identified during the November meeting, the 2027 Nominating Committee candidates will be voted on by the 2026 Nominating Committee in January and then formally voted on by membership at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
Interested in shaping the future of your cooperative?
Any borrower who owns voting stock is eligible to nominate themselves to be considered for a position on Farm Credit East’s Nominating Committee or the Board of Directors
REGIONS
“It’s important to participate, contribute and lead to represent your community, yourself and your own farm. Your participation ensures you’re leaving the industry in a good place for the next generation, and you’ll be surprised by how much you bring back to your operation.”
– Matt Beaton, owner and president of Beaton’s, Inc. and Sure-Cran Services, Inc., in southeastern Massachusetts, and former Farm Credit East Board member (2006-2020), including four years as board chair.
You may nominate yourself or another individual by visiting FarmCreditEast.com/Elections or by contacting a member of your Regional Advisory Committee, the Nominating Committee or a Farm Credit East representative. Nominations for candidates for the 2026 director elections must be received by December 15, 2025.
Director Seats up for Election in 2026:
• Eastern Region: One 4-year seat
Candidates must be from former Yankee Farm Credit territory
• Central Region: One 4-year seat
• Western Region: One 4-year seat
Scan to nominate someone for the Farm Credit East Nominating Committee or Board of Directors. FarmCreditEast.com/Elections
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON
One Big Beautiful Bill
The Republican majority used the congressional reconciliation process to deliver the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to the President’s desk before the July 4th holiday. The bill has several provisions that significantly impact U.S. agriculture, including Section 199A deduction and increased farm safety net.
The changes to the Section 199A deduction for qualified business income, initially introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, include making the deduction permanent. The deduction will also increase from 20% to 23% for qualifying pass-through entities and the taxable income limitations are modified making the deduction more accessible.
The farm safety net is enhanced with higher reference prices under Price Loss Coverage (PLC), adjusted formulas for Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC), and expanded crop insurance support. The bill increases spending on these agriculture programs by $56.6 billion over the next decade.
2023 2024 2025 Farm Bill Update
While the “One Big Beautiful Bill” included provisions typically within the farm bill, there were many areas it fell short. The reconciliation process can only be used to pass money issues such as taxes, spending and the debt limit. Policy issues still need to be addressed in a new farm bill.
These policy issues include several Farm Credit backed proposals that would allow Farm Credit to lean into meeting the capital needs of rural America in such areas as rural housing, critical community facilities, fishing industry support, and increasing the limit on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan guarantees, an important tool for Farm Credit East to support beginning farmers and customers overcoming financial challenges. We will continue to work on getting them included in the eventual farm bill.
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 has been extended twice and is set to expire on September 30, 2025. There are several hurdles in passing a new farm bill this year, including the challenges of building a coalition of rural and urban supporters and other legislative priorities, such as the FY 2026 budget.
The positive note is that congressional leadership, including Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator John Boozman (AR); Senate Ranking Member, Amy Klobuchar (MN); Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA); and House Ranking Member, Angie Craig (MN), continue to have a strong working relationship and are committed to getting a new farm bill.
MAHA Report
The “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment” (MAHA) has faced criticism for its lack of input from farmers and agricultural workers. The report, developed without public hearings or interviews, has sparked significant discussion within the agricultural community.
Over 250 agricultural groups have criticized the MAHA Commission for its lack of transparency and public engagement in creating the report. The groups point to inaccuracies
WASHINGTON Update
Dave Lane Senior VP for Public Relations and Sustainability
and lack of scientific accuracy that could be detrimental to the agricultural community, further creating unfounded fears about the safety of the U.S. food supply.
The MAHA report specifically calls out certain crop protection products, such as atrazine, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate. This has raised concerns among farmers about the future availability and use of these products.
Farm Labor
The administration’s mass deportation policies have created significant challenges for farms, as many undocumented workers fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. There has been somewhat of
a rollercoaster with on-again, off-again enforcement on farms.
In response, President Trump has proposed a new type of work permit for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. Under this plan, workers could stay in the U.S. and continue to work under the farmer’s responsibility.
Tariffs
While the Administration is set on using tariffs as a trade negotiating tactic, the agricultural community remains divided on the effectiveness. While some see them as necessary for protecting domestic industries, others argue that they disrupt trade and harm the broader economy. Tariffs have a significant impact
on the agricultural sector, affecting trade dynamics, commodity prices and costs of inputs and machinery.
The outcome so far is a trade deal with the United Kingdom that expands market access and a limited agreement with China. Negotiations continue with several countries, including most notably Canada, Mexico, India and the European Union.
Each Earned $2,000 Toward Higher Education
Farm Credit East congratulates our 40 scholarship winners, all aspiring to make a difference in their agricultural communities. In addition to this year’s Farm Credit East “Futures” recipients, students earned a collective $88,000 in scholarships to help them on their way to becoming the Northeast’s future leaders.
CONNECTICUT
Chloe Bombero Norfolk, Conn.
Kansas State University
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Livestock nutritionist
Laurelin Boyer North Franklin, Conn.
University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Major: Pre-veterinary science
Career Path: Large animal veterinarian
Madelyn Syme South Windsor, Conn.
University of Connecticut
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Large animal veterinarian
Our scholarship supports students with a diversity of agricultural career aspirations and backgrounds from across our eight-state territory. Congratulations to these deserving students and best wishes for a successful educational experience.
MAINE
Natalie Brennan Penobscot, Maine
Texas Tech University
Major: Agricultural communications
Career Path: Agricultural communications
Willis Rienhardt Exeter, Maine
South Dakota State University
Major: Precision agriculture
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
Ryan Wright Littleton, Maine
University of Maine – Presque Isle
Major: Agricultural science and agricultural business
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
MASSACHUSETTS
Sarah Ashley East Freetown, Mass.
University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Livestock veterinarian
Miru Kunst West Boylston, Mass.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Major: Industrial engineering
Career Path: Agricultural engineer
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
Charlotte Dill Deerfield, N.H.
University of New Hampshire
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Large animal veterinarian
NEW YORK
Jillian Brewer Oakfield, N.Y.
Cornell University
Major: Agricultural science
Career Path: Horticulturalist
Elsie Donlick Cortland, N.Y.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Dairy cattle management
Aaron Finn Holland Patent, N.Y.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural accountant
Hailey Bradbury Bridgeton, N.J.
Delaware Valley University
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Large animal veterinarian
Pierce Groblewski Far Hills, N.J.
Cornell University
Major: Agricultural science
Career Path: Agricultural consultant
Lydia Kilinski Flemington, N.J.
Delaware Valley University
Major: Crop science
Career Path: Agronomist
Robyn Skeete Cranbury, N.J.
Rutgers University
Major: Plant science
Career Path: Agricultural environmental consultant
Trinity Stockel Manalapan, N.J.
Rutgers University
Major: Agriculture and food systems
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
Vanessa Grant Middleport, N.Y.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural educator
Hannah Holmes East Concord, N.Y.
SUNY Alfred
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural business
Lauren King Schuylerville, N.Y.
Cornell University
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Agricultural business
Madelyn King North Java, N.Y.
Kansas State University
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural consultant
Adam Li Valley Stream, N.Y.
University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Major: Sustainable food and farming
Career Path: Agricultural accountant
Amelia Mastalerz
Hicksville, N.Y.
Cornell University
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Large animal veterinarian
Alexander McCarthy Hornell, N.Y.
SUNY ESF
Major: Natural resources management
Career Path: Logger
Laura Mills Greenwood, N.Y.
SUNY Alfred
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural business and consulting
Garrett Phelps Copenhagen, N.Y.
SUNY Morrisville
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural education
Kaitlyn Putman Lisbon, N.Y.
St. Lawrence University
Major: Biology
Career Path: Veterinarian
Caylene Russell Plymouth, N.Y.
Cornell University
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Large animal veterinarian
Alexis Schultz Marion, N.Y.
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Major: Dairy Food and animal management
Career Path: Agricultural business
Elaina Wells Fort Plain, N.Y.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Dairy producer/manager
VERMONT
Gianna White Vernon, N.Y.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Veterinarian
Blanche Wolf Lyons, N.Y.
SUNY Morrisville
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Agricultural accountant
Stephanie Youngers Dansville, N.Y.
SUNY Morrisville
Major: Agricultural science/agronomy
Career Path: Crop consultant
Zachary Johnson Tunbridge, Vt.
The Ohio State University
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
Kellon Mencucci East Hardwick, Vt.
Paul Smith’s College
Major: Environmental studies
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
Natalie Michaud Greensboro, Vt.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Animal science
Career Path: Dairy nutritionist
FARM CREDIT EAST “FUTURES” RECIPIENTS
Farm Credit East awarded an additional $2,000 scholarship to students committed to careers in production agriculture, forestry or commercial fishing. This scholarship was awarded upon a secondary, in-depth review of the applications and is in addition to the $2,000 Farm Credit East scholarship.
Allison Dunning Jackman, Maine
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Agricultural business
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
Drawing from her family’s multigenerational involvement in the dairy industry, Allison grew up breeding and raising her own dairy cattle. Through her education, Allison aims to refine her understanding of agricultural sales and plans to become a member of her family’s maple and livestock operations.
Nina Dejnak Deerfield, Mass.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Animal science and wildlife management
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
With a passion for supporting local food and farmers, Nina works to help educate her community about the agriculture industry. Nina plans to diversify and improve the environmental impact of her family’s farm.
Peter Mueller Clifton Springs, N.Y.
Cornell University
Major: Agricultural science
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
ROYAL W. SMITH JR. SCHOLARSHIP
Hailee Allen New Haven, Vt.
SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Dairy management
Career Path: Farm owner/manager
Peter plans a career in the dairy industry following years of experience working alongside his family on their dairy farm. Peter is particularly interested in labor relations in agribusinesses and hopes to apply what he learns in college to his family’s multigenerational farm.
Hailee’s experience working on a local farm and years of showing dairy cows, gave her a passion for taking care of animals. Hailee plans to manage and eventually own a dairy operation.
FINANCIAL PARTNER is for the customers, employees and friends of Farm Credit East. Farm Credit East is a customerowned lending cooperative serving the farm, commercial fishing and forest products businesses in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Part of the national Farm Credit System, Farm Credit East is a full-service lender dedicated to the growth and prosperity of agriculture.
HOW TO REACH US: Whether you want to praise us, complain, ask our advice or just let us know what’s on your mind, we’d like to hear from you.
WRITE: Kristie Matuszewski, Editor, Farm Credit East, 240 South Road, Enfield, CT 06082-4451 CALL: 860.741.4380
E-MAIL: kristie.matuszewski@farmcrediteast.com
©2025 by Farm Credit East, ACA. All rights reserved. Farm Credit East is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.
FINANCIAL PARTNER is printed on recycled paper.
Farm Credit East
240 South Road
Enfield, CT 06082-4451
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Crop Insurance from Farm Credit East
HAY QUALITY SUFFERING DUE TO UNTIMELY PRECIPITATION?
Unsure of how to supplement these losses? Whether you source better quality hay for your own use, or suffer through lack of sales due to quality issues, Crop Growers can help.
Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) coverage insures against a lack of rainfall, so in a dry year, you can have supplemental revenue to cover your bottom line. Our goal is to protect your investment, and PRF coverage offers protection when you need it most.
Contact your local Crop Growers