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About CAO
The Council was formed to enable its members to develop a united effort on fundamental economic, social, legislative/regulatory and other state and national issues affecting agriculture in New York State. CAO is built on collective strength and policy statements that are unanimously adopted by its entire membership, representing numerous facets of New York’s agricultural industry.
Congratulations to our 2020 Board of Directors
Chairman: Tom Cosgrove
Vice Chairman: Mary Jeanne Packer
Secretary: Maureen Marshall
Treasurer: Michael Maffei
Past Chairman: Bruce Krupke
Director: Elizabeth Wolters
Director: Sam Filler
Executive Secretary, Elizabeth Seme
January 2020 Annual Meeting
Members of the Empire State Council of Agricultural Organizations (CAO) joined together with industry representatives at the 2020 CAO Annual Meeting January 10, 2020. Thank you to everyone who attended. After a morning session that included addresses from NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball and Cornell University Dean Kathryn Boor, Catharine Young, Executive Director of Cornell AgriTech's Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture, gave an update on the Center of Excellence and presentation on the recent Grow NY Summit. CAO Chair Tom Cosgrove then presented outgoing Dean Boor with a token of our appreciation.
Members reviewed and voted on policy changes for the 2020 Policy Book. Attendees were joined in the afternoon by Senator Rachel May, Assemblyman Al Stirpe and Senator Jen Metzger's Agriculture Liaison, Deborah DeWan. All three guests made brief remarks to the attendees.
February 2020 Lobby Day
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 11, 2020 for CAO's Lobby Day. Lobby Day issues were identified during the Annual Meeting and our issue papers can be found here: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b2c1f881-cd85-49f3-9dc4-07ea261ba25b/downloads/2020%20CAO%20Issue%20Papers.pdf?ver=1581518018583