Lake Placid, NY, Sep 19, 2012 — The new director's cut of the local Adirondack film, Small Farm Rising, will be shown at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Lake Placid this weekend. The 10th annual festival, hosted by the Placid Lake Foundation, will be held at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts on Friday and Saturday. Todd Moe talks with Placid Lake Foundation Executive Director Christian Weber, who says the film series is the largest environmental film festival in North America.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 31, 2012 — Saranac Lake's Farm 2 Fork Festival will celebrate local farms and bounty on Saturday. The annual end-of-summer event includes workshops, cooking demonstrations and, of course, a chance to eat locally grown food. Adirondack Green Circle founder Gail Brill, who's organizing the event in Riverside Park, says it's a user-friendly festival and a place to learn new skills. She spoke with Todd Moe about the event's featured guest, Maryland chicken farmer Carole Morison, who will give a special presentation tonight at the Harrietstown Town Hall.  Go to full article

Ottawa, ON, Aug 24, 2012 — Plowing contests have been a popular feature of agricultural life in Ontario for well over a century. The gatherings put key skills on display, with different classes, based on age or equipment used. Horses, tractors and techniques are part of the show too, for the pleasure of interested crowds.

Retired dairy farmer Ray Dedman is this year's president of the Ontario Plowman's Association, which hosts an International Plowing Contest and Rural Expo this September, near Waterloo. Ontario's 44 regional plowing associations typically hold smaller contests in August as well.  Go to full article

Aug 17, 2012 — The Adirondack Park Agency approved a new 1,300 acre subdivision Thursday in an area that borders the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness. The proposed development could eventually mean construction of 27 new homes.

The APA approved the project despite the fact that developers didn't include a plan to protect views and open space on the parcel, which is considered some of the most iconic farmland in the Adirondacks.

But state officials did include a provision that will require more planning before most of the homes were built.  Go to full article

Jun 27, 2012 — Unusual weather this spring took a heavy toll on fruit growers across the region. Industry observers estimated crop damage to Ontario's apple crop at well over 80%. Smyth's Apple Orchard in South Dundas, Ontario was planted in the mid-1800's, very near where the first McIntosh Red apple was discovered in 1811. About 90 acres of apples are still grown at the 5th generation family operation. Smyth Orchard's Dean Beckstead told Lucy Martin it's going to be a very difficult year.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jun 05, 2012 — The new federal Farm Bill reaches the Senate floor this week. The farm bill includes a myriad of policies that will affect farms and food over the next five years. It's been the subject of public hearings and committee reviews in the House and Senate.

The conversation about the future of agriculture never stops in farming areas like the North Country. Yesterday afternoon, Congressman Bill Owens came to Canton Central School to speak with students of FFA.

Tasha Haverty reports.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Apr 27, 2012 — The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee approved the Farm Bill Thursday, by a vote of 16 to 5. The bill is expected to cut agricultural spending by almost $25 billion over the next decade.

It ends direct payments to farmers, and replaces them with federal crop insurance. The farm bill also authorizes federal nutrition programs, such as food stamps. Those programs will see a $4 billion cut over the next decade in the Senate bill.

That's a major reason why New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand voted against the bill yesterday.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Apr 27, 2012 — The US Labor Department has scrapped safety regulations designed to protect teenagers working on farms.

North Country Congressman Bill Owens worked hard to pressure the Obama administration to withdraw the rules.  Go to full article

Ottawa, ON, Apr 20, 2012 — The Ottawa Valley Farm Show recently marked its 85th year with a three-day run at the new CE Centre next to Ottawa's main airport. This event started as a seed fair in Pembroke and grew into the largest farm show in Eastern Ontario.

As you'd expect, a lot of the space is devoted to pitching shiny new machinery. Lucy Martin stopped at the Hakmet display to ask vendor Jeff Lancaster how these big shows work from his side of the booth.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Apr 09, 2012 — The dairy industry in Northern New York and Vermont relies heavily on migrant labor. A lot of the farm workers are undocumented. That causes problems when the workers have to do simple tasks that involve driving, like going to the grocery store or visiting the doctor. But Vermont legislators are discussing a bill that may change that. Sarah Harris reports.  Go to full article