Jefferson County Agricultural Development Conference

Keeping Up with the Evolution of Agriculture!

📅 Friday, March 27, 2026
📍 Hilton Garden Inn
1290 Arsenal Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Hosted By

Jefferson County Economic Development
Jefferson County, NY
Jefferson County Farm Bureau
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County

About the Conference

Agriculture continues to evolve as new technologies, economic forces, and policy decisions shape the future of the industry. The Jefferson County Agricultural Development Conference brings together industry leaders, researchers, and agricultural professionals to explore key topics that will influence the next generation of farming and agribusiness.

This year’s conference will focus on three major themes:

• Agricultural economic development across New York State
• The economic impact of agriculture in Northern New York
• How artificial intelligence is transforming the agricultural industry

Through expert presentations and interactive discussions, attendees will gain valuable insights to help strengthen the agricultural economy, inspire innovation, and prepare for future challenges.

Conference Agenda

8:30 AM Check in & Networking

Check-in begins.
Light refreshments will be available while attendees connect with colleagues and industry professionals.

8:50 AM Welcome & Opening Remarks

Jay Matteson
Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator

Adam Miner
New York Farm Bureau

9:00 AM Agricultural Economic Development in New York State

Honorable Richard Ball
Commissioner
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Commissioner Ball will discuss statewide initiatives and strategies supporting agricultural growth, sustainability, and economic opportunity across New York State.

10:00 AM The Economic Impact of Agriculture in Northern New York

Dr. Todd Schmit
Professor and Faculty Director
Cornell Agricultural Marketing Research Program

Dr. Schmitt will present research examining the economic contributions of agriculture in Northern New York and its role in supporting regional communities and businesses.

11:00 AM Panel Discussion - How Artificial Intelligence is Impacting Agriculture

Experts will explore how artificial intelligence is shaping modern agriculture—from marketing and communications to farm management and animal health systems.

Kelsey O’Shea

Industry Relations Specialist
American Dairy Association Northeast

Kelsey focuses on developing farm-focused educational media and coordinating farmer participation in consumer outreach initiatives. Her work highlights how AI tools can strengthen agricultural communications and public engagement.

Paul Barton

Founder and Fractional Chief Revenue Officer
Barton Consulting Group

Paul will discuss how AI-powered revenue operations and business intelligence tools are helping organizations improve performance, streamline operations, and accelerate growth.

Dr. Julio Giordano

Director, Dairy Cattle Biology and Management Laboratory
Cornell University Dr. Giordano leads research focused on integrating animal biology, engineering, and data analytics to improve dairy cattle health, reproductive performance, and farm profitability. His work with the Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed (CAST) explores technology-driven solutions for climate-smart agriculture.

12:00 PM - Complimentary Lunch - "The Burger Shop" featuring salads, fries, beef patties, grilled chicken breasts and all the fixins to go with a good burger or chicken breast! A free buffet lunch will be available for all attendees.

12:30 PM Agriculture Town Hall Discussion

Facilitated by:

Jay Matteson
Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator

This interactive discussion will allow attendees and presenters to engage directly, exploring ideas presented during the conference and discussing how they can be applied to strengthen the agricultural industry in our region.