Rensselaer, NY, Mar 13, 2013 — New York Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine finds a lot to like in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's vision for the state.

The governor's State of the State and budget messages in January put farm country squarely under the administration's economic development tent.
Cuomo called the agriculture sector of the economy "vibrant," with growing yogurt, and wine, beer and spirits industries.

And he said there's much more to be done to promote and market New York products.

Aubertine toured the region recently to talk about the budget. He sat down with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Aug 16, 2012 — Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to ease a key environmental regulation so that smaller dairy farmers can keep more cows, more easily. The governor says he'll also seek ways to help farms get lower cost energy, and help farmers sell energy back to the electrical grid.

The news that the threshold requiring farms to follow strict Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) rules will be raised came at the "yogurt summit" convened by the governor Wednesday at the State Capitol.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jul 05, 2011 — With the legislative session wrapped up, state leaders are assessing where they've come and where they plan to go.

Agriculture commissioner Darrel Aubertine has been on the job for little more than half a year, after losing his Senate seat to Republican Patty Ritchie.

Aubertine is a lifelong farmer from Cape Vincent in Jefferson County. He's shifted from dairy farming to raising beef cows. And he tells David Sommerstein his sons are taking over.  Go to full article

Nov 01, 2010 — The 48th Senate district race between incumbent Democrat Darrel Aubertine and Republican Patty Ritchie is one of a handful in New York that will determine who controls the State Senate. A new poll shows the race remains locked in a near dead-heat. Ritchie goes into the final day of campaigning riding the momentum of two key endorsements. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Fulton, NY, Oct 28, 2010 — The 48th State Senate district is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races in New York State on Election Day. Republican Patty Ritchie's effort to unseat Democratic Senator Darrel Aubertine could tip the balance of power in the Senate back to the GOP.

State campaign committees of both parties have spent more than a million dollars in the 48th just since October 1st. Most of that money went to TV ads.
Darrel Aubertine is seeking his second full term in the Senate after several years in the Assembly. He's the legislature's only farmer. And he's running as a bipartisan lawmaker who lives rural issues and knows how to get things done. David Sommerstein has this profile.  Go to full article

Jun 21, 2010 — New York's state Senate is expected to vote on Gov. David Paterson's latest budget bill today. It includes controversial revenue-raiser: an increase in the sales tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products that would make New York's tax rate the highest in the country, and action to collect taxes on Native cigarette sales (see related story). State Budget Director Robert Megna expects the bill to pass, despite the failure of earlier proposals to tax Native cigarette sales.
That would be a relief to two North Country communities -- it would save the Ogdensburg Correctional facility, and the Moriah Shock Camp, saving hundreds of jobs in the North Country. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

May 06, 2010 — A bill that would make the popular Power for Jobs program permanent has passed the State Senate. The program offers low-cost electricity to companies in exchange for hitting job retention or creation benchmarks. A companion bill in the Assembly close to passage. North Country Democrat Darrel Aubertine is the Senate bill's sponsor. He says it currently protects 250,000 jobs statewide. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Apr 21, 2010 — Governor David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are speaking out against demands by Senate Democrats that the budget include property tax relief. State Senator Darrel Aubertine says he wants a "responsible" budget for education and health care. The Democrat says Albany is tied up over deep differences on how to close the state's $9 billion budget gap. Paterson says borrowing money to provide a tax break is bad policy. Senate Democrats say tax breaks will help the economy. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Mar 31, 2010 — Patty Ritchie says she's running to unseat Darrel Aubertine. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Alexandria Bay, NY, Mar 04, 2010 — About 60 people braced the chilly winds coming off the St. Lawrence River yesterday to urge River Hospital not to close its nursing home and adult day care unit. The hospital says it can't sustain the home's financial losses. But the demonstrators believe the community can raise the money needed to keep open the place their elders call home. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article