Dairy Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellows Jennifer and Chris Koval worked together as advisor and farmer pair to better prepare their farm for extreme weather events.
Wife and husband duo Jennifer and Chris Koval operate a dairy farm milking 500 cows in Saratoga County, New York. The couple participated in the 2024 Dairy Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellowship (Dairy CAMF). Dairy farmers are paired with agricultural advisors as part of the program, guiding them in decision-making and identifying challenges. The Kovals had a unique partnership: Jennifer served as the advisor fellow for her husband, Chris, the farmer fellow. For Chris, having Jennifer as his advisor made the course especially helpful. “We’ve got to talk about goals and work through challenges together, daily.”
Jennifer works part-time supporting farmers at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Saratoga County, and Chris runs their dairy farm with his brother Adam, and their son Jack has recently joined the operation full-time. Jennifer reasoned that the only way she could get her husband to join Dairy CAMF was if she could play his other half, as an advisor. During the program, she got to wear two hats, serving as Chris’s agricultural advisor, but also learning as a dairy farmer herself. Her role as an advisor was not only helpful to her farm but also influential in her work with Cooperative Extension. Jennifer shared that Dairy CAMF enabled her to better support farmers with the climate issues facing the agricultural community she is a part of.
Cattle on the Koval’s dairy farm. Photo from Jennifer Koval
At the Koval Dairy, most of the challenges they face relate to extreme weather events: too much rain or too little rain. In the spring of 2025, they had difficulty planting corn on time because of muddy conditions. Then in early July, they had dry conditions, receiving no rain at all for two weeks. “We’ve had sort of a boomerang effect, too wet then and now too dry,” Jennifer said. Dry periods, coupled with significant heat, have been a consistent concern. This summer, periods of heat have caused significant stress on the cattle.“With all the fluctuations in heat and rain this summer, it’s a little nerve-racking watching the weather,” Jennifer said, describing the ways extreme weather has impacted the farm.
As a dynamic team, Jennifer and Chris worked together to find solutions for the farm. “We brainstormed different ways to build resilience into the farm. I mostly thought about the farmstead while Chris thought about cow comfort,” Jennifer said. Together, they found ways to keep their farm cool during heat waves. They increased shade cover by planting trees near barns and installing more energy-efficient fans to keep their cattle comfortable. For water, they plan to build a water catchment system and a retention pond to be better equipped to handle both wet and dry conditions.
When reflecting upon their experiences, Jennifer and Chris both hold an appreciation for the program. Because Chris was busy operating the farm, Jennifer handled the Dairy CAMF activities, like the workbook and planning homework. She said that many of the plans were in Chris’s head, and she helped write them down. Jennifer found it helpful to hear from other farmers, learning about new ways she can help their farm adapt. Chris said that working with other farmers was a huge benefit, “I enjoyed the people in Dairy CAMF, because the conversations are what really lead to changes.”
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellowship (CAMF) is a program of Cornell University and the USDA Northeast Climate Hub. It supports farmers with climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The program trains farmers and ag advisors to develop and implement resiliency plans for their farms.
Read the full story: Jennifer Koval Success Story