Hope for the Future: Strategies for Success: 26th Annual NODPA Field Day

Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533, September 24 & 25, 2026

Let’s face it, 2025 was a very difficult farming year for Northeast dairy producers when excessive spring rain and extreme drought made it a challenging time to produce high quality, abundant feed, to keep cows in tip-top shape, and remain financially afloat. It has given farmers pause, re-assessing current strategies and considering tweaking them for greater stability and success in the face of unpredictable weather conditions and supply chains this farming season. Unlike other annual conferences, the NODPA Field Days moves to different locations—to where the farmers are, instead of a fixed location requiring time and travel away from the farm. This year’s 26th Annual NODPA Field Days is returning to Pennsylvania. On September 24th and 25th, we will be at the Berks County Agricultural Center in Leesport, PA, and, as the title suggests, the educational program will focus on strategies for a successful future, with a special awareness of last year’s challenges.

Workshops, described in more detail below, include pasture management as a key component of success; the importance of minerals and vitamins in cow and calf health; renewable energy strategies to save money and build self-reliance; and the benefits of adding trees to pastures.

Beginning Thursday morning, we will visit the Nelson Martin family’s Country Sunrise Creamery and Farm Store, 48 Mountain View Rd. Myerstown, PA 17067. While this grass-based farm isn’t certified organic, it employs organic practices, using no pesticides and herbicides, and has an on-farm processing facility. They produce milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and grass-fed beef, all of which are sold in their on-farm store.

Following the farm tour, the meeting convenes at the Berks County Agricultural Center in Leesport, PA, with registration and lunch at noon, and workshops beginning at 1:00pm, with opening remarks and welcomes. Not all questions get asked or answered on a busy farm tour, so Nelson Martin will answer questions about the morning farm tour and, for those that couldn’t attend, describe their farming operation.

We are very fortunate to have a line-up of distinguished and highly qualified presenters on both days that are eager to share their expertise.

• Big Things from Little Packages: The Important Role of Minerals and Vitamins in Cow and Calf Health Presenter: Dr. Robert Van Saun, DVM, Professor of Veterinary Science, Pennsylvania State University Thursday, 1:30pm

Mineral and vitamin requirements are relatively minor compared to other dietary nutrients. Although required in small amounts, minerals and vitamins can have a large effect on disease prevention and maintaining calf health. Mineral and vitamin nutrition during late pregnancy through breeding is critical to having a successful, disease-free calving with a healthy, vigorous calf. This presentation will discuss the importance of minerals and vitamins relative to immunity and disease prevention. Proper feeding of the late pregnant cow is essential for minimizing disease conditions of mastitis and uterine infections. Additionally, the pregnant cow transfers minerals and vitamins to the developing calf, which will complement colostrum in preventing early calf diseases.

• Silvopasture: Challenges and Benefits of adding trees to pastures, Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees for Graziers Thursday, 3:15 pm

While many graziers would like to have access to more shade for their dairy herd, there seems to be dizzying array of questions to be answered and practical problems to be solved in order to plant trees in pastures. Join Joshua Greene, director of education at Trees for Graziers for a look at the plans and techniques many graziers are using for strategic, effective tree establishment in actively-grazed pastures.

In addition to these workshops, a representative from the National Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) program will share new program information and updates on this growing program.

Following Thursday’s workshops, we will have time to visit the trade show vendors and enjoy refreshments during social hour. Last year, we were fortunate to spotlight a number of locally produced cheese products, and we are hoping to make it an annual tradition. Social hour is followed by a delicious buffet banquet dinner and brief NODPA Annual Meeting featuring the NODPA Board Co-presidents, Roman Stoltzfoos and Kirk Arnold, and executive director, Ed Maltby.

Then it’s on to our keynote presentation, and we are thrilled to have Ted LeBow, Good Roots founder and CEO (formerly Kitchen Table Consulting), return for this very timely presentation:

Stop Farming like You’ll Never Leave: Rethinking profit, reinvestment, and retirement

For many farmers, success has meant putting everything back into the operation. While that mindset drives growth, it can also limit long-term financial security. Good Roots CEO Ted LeBow challenges this pattern by making the case that every farm needs an exit strategy, just like any other business. He explores how decisions around cash, profit, and reinvestment shape what's possible later and why it pays to plan early.

In a discussion-driven format, this session brings together farmers at different life stages to reflect on real-world experiences. From younger farmers who have an opportunity to build savings, to those approaching transition and succession, the discussion connects financial planning to the broader goal of resilience. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for balancing today’s demands with a future that supports both the farmer and the next generation. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion before we wrap up for the evening at 8:30.

Friday starts early, with a Continental Breakfast at 6:30 am, followed at 7:00 by the Producer-Only meeting, where producers can safely discuss the pressing issues of the day without fear of reprisal for sharing their questions and concerns about the industry.

At 9:00 am the morning workshops begin and feature the following:

• Renewable Energy: Strategies to address the rising cost of energy on the farm. Klaas Martens, Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens Farm, Penn Yan, NY Friday, 9:00 am

  

Klaas will discuss emerging opportunities to increase efficiency and energy independence while decreasing costs on your family farm, and he will describe the current energy projects on his farm.

• From Pasture to Profit: How Grazing Management Drives Intake, Milk Yield, and Efficiency

Presenters: Leoni F. Martins, Assistant Clinical Professor of Precision Dairy Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University and James Lawhead, DVM, Extension Associate, Dairy Science, The Pennsylvania State University Friday 10:15 am

• This workshop frames pasture management as a key component of precision nutrition. We will discuss how grazing decisions influence forage quality, cow behavior, and nutrient supply, and how these translate into milk yield and system-level efficiency.

The morning sessions conclude with a preview of the afternoon’s farm tour of Spring Creek Farms, The Stricker Family’s Farm, hosted by Greg and Forrest Stricker, 3880 North Church Street, Wernersville, PA 19565. Forrest Stricker has been one of the pioneers of organic and grass-based dairy in the US, and he and Greg, who’s the main farm operator these days, will share the wide variety of innovative practices they use on their 600 acre (combination of owned and rented) grass-based farm. Readers might recall that Spring Creek Farms was the featured farm in the March 2026 NODPA News.

Following lunch and the always fun door prize drawing, featuring the generously donated products from our sponsors and trade show vendors, Field Days ends as everyone heads out to the afternoon farm tour, a short 10 minute drive away.

There is always a lot to share with fellow attendees-both old and new friends; a time to catch up on farm and family news, as well as industry gossip! The NODPA Field Days webpages will be online in the next couple of weeks and information for sponsorship and trade show participation will be going out via emails. If you have questions or would like information now, please contact Nora Owens, NODPA Field Days Coordinator, at 413-772-0444, or by email, noraowens@comcast.net. More information about Field Days will be available online and in the July NODPA News, including a full schedule, lodging options, directions and more. So for now, mark your calendars and plan attend the 26th Annual NODPA Field Days in Leesport, PA.

Posted: to Field Days on Fri, May 8, 2026
Updated: Sat, May 9, 2026