New York Extends Deadline for Dairy Promotion Nominations

By Blake Jackson

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has announced an extension to the nomination deadline for the New York Dairy Promotion Order (DPO) Advisory Board.

The board’s upcoming three-year term will begin on May 1, 2026, and nominations must now be submitted by Friday, February 20, 2026.

The New York Dairy Promotion Order Advisory Board supports the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets by helping administer the Dairy Promotion Order and by providing guidance on dairy marketing, promotion, education, and research initiatives across the state.

Any individual milk producer who markets milk in New York State is eligible to be nominated for board membership. Nominations may only be submitted by individual New York milk producers and must be completed in writing using the official nomination form.

Each nomination must be signed by the nominating producer. While cooperatives and farm organizations are not permitted to submit nominations directly, they may endorse producers who are nominated.

Nominations should include the nominee’s name and address, cooperative or organizational affiliation, and additional relevant information such as herd size, milk market, involvement in farm organizations or programs, and experience related to dairy marketing activities. These details will be used by the Department to assess each nominee’s qualifications for board service.

Completed nomination forms must be received by the Department no later than Friday, February 20, 2026. Requests for nomination forms and completed submissions should be sent to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services, Attn: Elizabeth Peila, 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235, or via email at NYDPO@agriculture.ny.gov.

The Advisory Board provides recommendations on the annual allocation of more than $16 million in producer-approved funds collected through the Dairy Promotion Order. These funds support dairy promotion, nutrition education, outreach efforts, and innovative dairy research projects. The first Advisory Board was established in May 1972 at the request of New York dairy producers.

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