Project Retained More than 100 Employees and Supports Over 500 Agricultural Jobs in the Region
Governor Issues Proclamation Recognizing June as Dairy Month
New York Remains Leader in Dairy, with the State Producing Nearly
16 Billion Pounds of Milk in 2022
Governor Kathy Hochul today, during Dairy Month, announced the completion of Agri-Mark's nearly $30 million expansion and modernization project at its cheese manufacturing facility in Chateaugay, Franklin County. The expansion, which was a multi-phase project, is retaining more than 100 full-time jobs, supporting more than 500 agricultural jobs in the region, and helping to boost the state’s dairy industry in Northern New York. Agri-Mark’s North Country facility produces award-winning Cabot and McCadam cheese products.
“The successful completion of Agri-Mark's state-of-the-art cheese production facility comes at the perfect time as we celebrate Dairy Month this June,” Governor Hochul said. “Not only will it support hundreds of jobs in the region, but it will ensure that New Yorkers and people around the globe can enjoy the award-winning cheeses coming straight from the dairy farmers of Upstate New York.”
Today’s ribbon cutting marked the completion of a 9,600 square-foot expansion. The most recent addition was a state-of-the-art cheese production room, which has improved the facility’s efficiency. The expansion project also included the rebuilding of the 110,000 square-foot manufacturing center, reconfiguring the layout of the facility, and purchasing new equipment and machinery. View photos of the new facility here.
Agri-Mark CEO David Lynn said, “This is a special day for Agri-Mark, our plant and its employees, and especially for our 174 dairy farm families in the North Country. This modernization project solidifies our long-term presence in Chateaugay. It ensures that we’ll have a sustainable facility that can process the milk our farmers produce, provide a safe, modern workplace for our employees, and continue to produce the award-winning cheeses our customers and consumers have to come to expect from our McCadam and Cabot brands. We appreciate the support from the Governor Hochul and the team at Empire State Development plus the many community leaders that have championed this project to make it a reality. We are thrilled to have you all here to celebrate with us today.”
Empire State Development is supporting the dairy processing facility’s expansion with $6 million in funding, including $4 million in Economic Transformation Program funds.
Empire State Development President Hope Knight said, “Supporting the expansion of one of Agri-Mark’s most established facilities into an even greater presence in the North Country marks our resolve to promote innovative businesses that cherish their deep New York State roots. The jobs and investment created by this project will help grow the region’s dairy industry with high quality products, all part of Governor Hochul’s plan to strategically grow key industries in every corner of the state.”
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The completion of this modernization and expansion project is great news for Agri-Mark and for the hundreds of New York dairy farmers Agri-Mark sources their milk from to make their award-winning cheeses. During Dairy Month, and all year long, it’s important to recognize the contributions our dairy industry makes to the New York economy, and with more than 100 direct jobs and 500 agricultural jobs impacted, Agri-Mark’s modernization efforts are providing a boost to the North Country communities it serves. I want to thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for their support of the agricultural industry and congratulate Agri-Mark on this milestone, which will ensure that they can continue to produce some of very best New York dairy products for years to come.”
Assemblymember Billy Jones said, “For over 100 years, North Country dairy farmers have been part of the Agri-Mark dairy cooperative right here in my hometown of Chateaugay, producing high-quality cheese products to put on our dinner tables. This plant is deeply personal to me. During a time when many farmers are struggling to make ends meet, North Country farmers continue to persevere. Agri-Mark is the fabric of our community and with this modernization and expansion, generations will continue to have the cheese plant as the backbone of the community. We are here today due to the hard work and dedication of local dairy farmers who continue to produce the best dairy products and I want to thank all the farmers, Commissioner Ball, the Executive, local leaders, and the Agri-Mark team for their steadfast support that made this project possible.”
The Agri-Mark dairy cooperative is one of the largest suppliers of fresh milk in New England, marketing more than 376 million gallons of milk each year for 575 of the region's dairy farm families. Agri-Mark's membership is made up of dairy farms in communities across six states, including 290 farms in New York State. In addition, 100 percent of Agri-Mark's profits are distributed to the dairy farms it serves. The dairy cooperative makes award-winning Cabot and McCadam products and is a participant in the New York State Grown & Certified program. More information about Agri-Mark is available here.
The dairy industry is New York’s largest agricultural sector and accounts for approximately one-half of New York’s total agricultural income. New York has nearly 3,200 dairy farms that produce over 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making it the fifth largest dairy state. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), New York continues to be the leading producer of milk in the Northeast.
In addition, Agri-Mark’s expansion project further builds on the expansion of the dairy manufacturing sector in New York, which has recently celebrated recent successes including future construction of a fairlife production plant in Webster and Great Lakes Cheese packaging and manufacturing facilities in Franklinville.
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has been lending additional support to farmers across the State. The FY 2024 Budget makes the 20 percent Investment Tax Credit for farmers refundable for five years. The credit will be available to farms regardless of their profitability, and it will apply in the year the investment is made. This crucial support provides an incentive for additional on-farm production investment such as the purchase of equipment, including state-of-the-art anaerobic biodigesters that can decrease emissions. Following a period where New York farms have faced many challenges, including supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, uncertainties in the marketplace, and increased labor costs, this tax credit will help New York's producers of all sizes modernize their farms' equipment and practices to better compete in the future.
James McKenna, North Country Regional Economic Development Center Co-Chair and CEO of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism said, “Agri-Mark is a critical part of the North Country’s economy, and we’re excited to see its expansion come to fruition after a lot of hard work by so many. We at the North Country Regional Economic Development Center look forward to working with Agri-Mark and the Department of Agriculture and Markets to continue to grow the dairy industry and support jobs across the North Country.”
David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President said, "It is a great day for New York dairy and agriculture as a whole with the expansion of the Agri-Mark plant in Chateauguay. It demonstrates what is possible when the company, local and state officials, and the farming community all work together to capitalize on what we do so well here in New York. I would like to thank Governor Hochul and her team for all of their support on this project. By increasing production and targeting the needs of our customers, we can supply fresh dairy products throughout the northeast, the country, and the world while also supporting local jobs and our economy right here in the North Country.”
President Nathan Pistner and Secretary Alex Solla of the New York State Cheese Manufacturers’ Association said, “A project such as this increases the access to quality made-in-NY cheese. New facilities mean several things: safer food, workforce stability, sustainable manufacturing, and the opportunity to improve the market for the farmers involved in the business. Agri-Mark has been part of the New York State Cheese Manufacture’s Association for some time and are enormous supporters of our mission. The project completion I’m sure brings a sigh a relief to all those involved.”
Keith Kimball, Chair of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association said, “The Northeast Dairy Producers Association appreciates the investment by Governor Hochul and Empire State Development in New York's dairy industry through this expansion and modernization project in the North Country. Expanding processing capacity provides opportunity for family dairy farm businesses and supports hundreds of local jobs in their community. Strengthening our rural communities is critical to positioning New York's dairy industry as a continued leader in dairy production and sustainability for the future. We congratulate Agri-Mark and their dairy farms on their modernization project to help sustain markets and continue to produce delicious, wholesome dairy products under the award-winning Cabot and McCadam brands.”