Dairy Programming Team
Sara Kelemen | USDA Northeast Climate Hub | Project Coordinator
Sara Kelemen is an ORISE Fellow with the USDA Northeast Climate Hub, and Project Coordinator for all USDA Northeast Climate Hub projects. Previous to joining the Climate Hub, Sara gained an MS in Plant, Soil and Environmental Science from the University of Maine, and assisted in developing the on-farm mitigation curriculum for the Climate Adaptation Fellowship pilot program for vegetable and small fruit producers in the northeast. Farm resilience in the face of a changing climate has always been a key driver of Sara’s research interests. Sara has worked on farms for the past 7 years
Allison Chatrchyan | Cornell University
Allison Morrill Chatrchyan is a Research Associate in the School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Soil & Crop Sciences Section, at Cornell University. Her work focuses on the interactions between social, legal, environmental, and agricultural systems. Dr. Chatrchyan facilitates interdisciplinary research and extension teams and develops resources, tools, and training programs on climate change science, impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and synergies, including the Cornell Climate Smart Farming Program and Extension Team. Before coming to Cornell, Dr. Chatrchyan worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension system in Dutchess County, NY, working with their Environment and Agriculture programs. A native of Hamilton, NY, she received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Maryland College, and her B.A. from Colby College in Waterville, ME. She is passionate about teaching, working with stakeholders on climate change, traveling, and going on walks/kayaking in New York.
Janice Degni | Cornell Cooperative Extension
Janice Degni has worked as a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator for 30 years. She is an agronomist with an MPS in plant protection and BS in agronomy, both from Cornell University (CU). She is the Team Leader and Field Crops Specialist for the South Central NY Dairy and Field Crops Team. The regional team serves 6 counties. Her work addresses management and production issues that farmers face in crop production and environmental stewardship. Currently her educational efforts are focused in the following areas: Integrated Crop Management, Environmental Stewardship, and Forage Quality. She provides resources, workshops and applied research. Throughout her tenure with CCE she has collaborated on applied research projects with Cornell faculty.
Curtis Dell | USDA Northeast Climate Hub
Dr. Curtis Dell has been a Research Soil Scientist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service at University Park, PA since 2001. He is also a Co-Leader of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub. His research in PA focuses on carbon and nitrogen cycling in manure-amended and pasture soils. He studies the impact of nutrient management on water and air quality with an emphasis on measurement of nitrogen gas emissions (nitrous oxide and ammonia). He received a PhD in soil microbial ecology from Kansas State University in 1998), where his research addressed impacts of fire on soil N cycling in tallgrass prairies. He received his M.S. in soil microbiology from Purdue University in 1991, and BS in agronomy from Purdue University in 1985.
Sarah Ficken | Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship
Sarah Ficken is the Grants Project Manager for DGA. She is also a first-generation dairy farmer in Madison County, NY. With her husband Chris. The thing she enjoys most about farming is getting to be an active part of the ecosystem. Her favorite cow is named Plum and her favorite chore is moving cows to fresh grass. She has a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University and a M.S. in Agriculture from Washington State University. Sarah is passionate about building just and resilient food systems. She has 10 years of experience supporting farmers through her roles at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County and NOFA-NY. When not farming, Sarah enjoys picnics "up the hill" with her family, embroidering, and drinking coffee.
Lindsay Ferlito | Cornell Cooperative Extension
In 2011, Lindsay completed her MS in Animal Science from the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program, with a thesis focused on dairy cattle welfare and feeding behavior. Lindsay joined the Cornell Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team as a Regional Dairy Specialist in 2016. The regional team covers the 6 counties in NNY. Her passions and areas of focus include cow comfort, lameness, cow behavior, and facility design. She has also been a member of the Cornell Climate Smart Farming Team since 2019.
Erin Lane | USDA Northeast Climate Hub
Erin Lane is a soil carbon researcher, and the Coordinator of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub. She has 8 years of experience working with farmers, agricultural advisors, and researchers on climate and agriculture, and 25 years of federal service. She served in the leadership and education teams of the CAF pilot (2021-2022).
Kitty O’Neil | Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dr. Kitty O’Neil works to improve the yield and production efficiency of field crops and forages – a goal that requires smart crop management and a keen understanding of climate-related risks and long-term soil health. A field crops and soils specialist, she leads the North New York field crops team, which designs crop and soil management programs to serve the region’s farms. Kitty’s research has included cropping systems and the effects of soil amendments and cover crops on soil health on potato farms. She earned a B.S. in animal science from Cornell University, an M.S. in animal nutrition and plant biochemistry, and a Ph.D. in sustainable plant and soil cropping systems, both from Michigan State University.