LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Coyne Farms, Inc. upon the occasion of
its designation by the New York State Agricultural Society as a 2011
Business of the Year

WHEREAS, The agricultural industry is part of the foundation upon which
our distinct American heritage is built; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes great pride in acknowledging
outstanding individuals and businesses associated with the agricultural
industry which clearly contribute to the spirit of excellence that so
distinguishes the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Coyne Farms, Inc. of Avon, New York upon the occasion of its designation
by the New York State Agricultural Society as a 2011 Business of the
Year at the Society's 179th Annual Agricultural Forum, held in Syracuse
on January 6, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Agricultural Society was organized in 1832
to foster, promote and improve the New York State food and agriculture
industry; adapting to the changing needs of the industry, the Society
remains true to its mission and each year proudly honors several New
York State farms with its Business of the Year Award; and
WHEREAS, The Business of the Year Award, developed to promote the
State's food system and to recognize the quality, leadership and inno-
vation demonstrated by New York agribusinesses, was first presented by
the Society in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Irish immigrant Malachy Coyne spent $19,000 in 1922 to
purchase a 192 acre farm in Avon for his son William and his new wife,
Mary; in the years since, what began with 20 cows milked by hand, has
grown to a herd of 1,000 milking cows; and
WHEREAS, William and Mary's sons, Dick and Jerry, have been the lead-
ers of much of that growth, and by example have instilled a love of
dairy farming in their families; as evidence of this, Jerry's son,
Malachy, and Dick's sons, Greg and Shaun, are integral to the current
farm management structure and, more recently, two of Dick's grandsons
have become the fourth generation of Coynes to farm in Avon; and
WHEREAS, The attention of the Coynes to detail is unmistakable at this
scenic Dairy of Distinction located on Routes 5 and 20 in Livingston
County; their land stewardship values and farm management led them to
place 1,500 acres of their farm land under contract with New York State
to be permanently protected and available for farming in perpetuity; and
WHEREAS, Manure management is a multi-layered and complex process at
Coyne Farms; manure is separated and a percentage of the solids are
composted by Worm Power, a vermicomposting business, via an earthworm
composting process resulting in a marketable soil fertility product; and
WHEREAS, The liquid that remains after separation is then stored in a
lagoon prior to injection on farm fields and, at this storage stage, the
waste methane gas is flared off through a project funded by Environ-
mental Credit Corp. in exchange for the right to sell the resulting
earned carbon credits; and
WHEREAS, Coyne Farms is also known for marketing excellent Holstein
genetics worldwide through the sale of embryos; most of the cows on the
farm are registered and the Coynes have been long-time active members of
the National Holstein Association of which both Dick and Greg Coyne are
Past Presidents and, in 2001, Jerry and Dick Coyne were honored as Dair-
ymen of the Year at the World Dairy Expo; and
WHEREAS, Members of the Coyne family have, in addition, been active in
local and statewide community organizations, and in the agricultural

industry; over the years family members have served on town, school, and
planning boards; Jerry Coyne has served on the SUNY Geneseo College
Council for several years and Malachy Coyne has similarly served on the
Northeast Dairy Producers Board; and
WHEREAS, Innovation, industry leadership, progressive management and a
true love of dairy farming have kept the Coyne family farming for four
generations, and have justly earned them a New York State Agricultural
Society 2011 Business of the Year Award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Coyne Farms, Inc. upon the occasion of its designation by the New
York State Agricultural Society as a 2011 Business of the Year and to
commend the Coyne family for its commitment to excellence and for proud-
ly continuing New York's agricultural heritage, which remains such an
important part of our great State and nation's economic foundation; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Coyne family, proud stewards of Coyne Farms, Inc., Routes
5 and 20, Avon, New York 14414.