Kate McDonald Polakiewicz
Farm Business Management SpecialistCCE Erie County
21 South Grove Street
East Aurora, NY 14052
cell 716-640-0522
email Kate
Areas of Interest
Business planning, profitability, grants and finding funding, beginning farmer support
Kate is a production and extension systems specialist with 15 years of experience working in federal government, private sector, academic, and international settings. She comes to CCE from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) where she managed the Farmer-to Farmer program, a longstanding agricultural extension program that provided short-term technical assistance from US-based farmers to other farmer communities abroad. She also managed agricultural research awards in horticulture, agronomy, aquaculture, and in scaling new technologies. Before USAID, Kate worked on agricultural programs while living in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Her work in research and extension also brought her to lead education on soil fertility and plant pathology in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. Kate holds a master's degree from the University of California, Davis, and lives with her young family in Amherst, NY.
Field Crops
Dairy
Business
Livestock
Grains
Upcoming Events
NY Beef Producers Association Region 4 Annual Meeting
April 4, 2026
Alfred, NY
Open to all interested beef and dairy producers!
Presentations:
- Tube Feeding 101
- Early Calf Care Tips
- Handling Livestock Safely
Membership in the beef producer association is not required to attend. New memberships and renewals will be accepted at the meeting; drawing will be held for 1 free membership or renewal.
MILKING IT: Moving Milk Quality Forward
April 14, 2026
Springville, NY
***SAVE THE DATE***
More details to come!
April 14th from 11am-1pm
Education sessions by:
- CCE SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops
- Springville Veterinary Services, P.C.
- Quality Milk Production Services
New York Application for Dairy of Distinction
April 15, 2026
Purpose of Program
Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages public support of the dairy industry. The award gives recognition to the dairy farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.