Mar 19, 2003 — New York lawmakers will hear firsthand from farmers about agricultural issues in a series of town meetings held across the state. The first will be held this Friday at SUNY Canton at noon. David Sommerstein talks with Assemblyman and dairy farmer Darrel Aubertine about the issues facing the dairy industry.  Go to full article

Jan 29, 2003 — Cornell Cooperative Extension officials in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence county say the time is ripe to start serving more North Country-grown produce in local schools. Cooperative Extension started its first farm-to-school pilot programs last summer in Canton, Massena and at SUNY-Potsdam. The aim this year is to get more farmers and schools involved. Request program information. Todd Moe reports.  Go to full article

Dec 11, 2002 — Some scientists are being threatened because they're investigating pollution from farms. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Lester Graham reports.  Go to full article

Dec 05, 2002 — The company that plans to buy McCadam Cheese says cheese manufactured in New York will help it expand its markets. Agri-Mark is a cooperative owned by 1400 farmers throughout New England and New York. David Sommerstein reports McCadam's Chateaugay plant will join Agri-Mark's two processing plants in Vermont and one in Massachusetts.  Go to full article

Oct 15, 2002 — Farmland in New York faces some of the most intense development pressures of any state in the nation. That's according to a study by the American Farmland Trust. The group says that from 1992 to 1997, New York lost an average of nearly 18-thousand acres of farmland each year. Officials at the American Farmland Trust say the problem is getting worse in New York, the state is losing its best farmland the fastest. Martha Foley talks with Jerry Cosgrove, Northeast Regional Director of American Farmland Trust, based in Saratoga Springs.  Go to full article

Sep 18, 2002 — The North Country dairy industry is built on manufacturing. Most of the milk cows produce is turned into something else - cheese, butter, yogurt, milk powder. The relationship between dairy farmers and the processing plants they sell their milk to is a symbiotic one. But like all close relationships, there can be tension, even outright feuds. In the second part of our series on dairy in the North Country, David Sommerstein looks at the relationship from one processor's point of view, who says the future lies in the two groups becoming one.  Go to full article

Sep 18, 2002 — Small dairy farms have been in steady decline in the North Country for decades. Commentator Jill Vaughan's farm is one that had to go out of business. But she says she's never stopped being a dairy farmer.  Go to full article

Sep 17, 2002 — In this first part of our series on the dairy industry in the North Country, David Sommerstein looks at the price of milk as seen through the eyes of one mid-size dairy farmer.  Go to full article

Jul 18, 2002 — David Sommerstein takes us on an audio tour of the St. Lawrence County fair in Gouverneur. The fair runs through Saturday night.  Go to full article

Jun 14, 2002 — The legislature in Albany is taking up its last issues of the session, which could end next week. A bill restricting "burn barrels" and other kinds of garbage burning has passed the Assembly the past two years. But it continues to languish in the Senate. There's little dispute burn barrels pose a health and environmental hazard. But the issue still draws strong passions. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article