Jay Matteson's Rural America

A significant focus of the podcast is the impending Jefferson County Agricultural Development Conference, set to occur on April 4, marking over two decades of its inception. The hosts express their anticipation for a program rich in content, featuring esteemed speakers who will provide insights into the current agricultural climate and pressing issues affecting rural communities. Adam Miner, a piv...

This podcast episode delves into the intricate dynamics of agricultural policy and the overarching influence of political developments on rural America. Our distinguished guest, Mike Torrey, founder of the Torrey Advisory Group , provides invaluable insights into the current state of agriculture within the context of recent governmental changes. We engage in a comprehensive discussion regarding th...

This podcast episode delves into the pressing matters surrounding the agricultural landscape of New York State, particularly focusing on the vital role of the dairy industry amidst evolving economic challenges. We engage in an enlightening discussion with Commissioner Richard Ball from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, who articulates the strategic initiatives introduced in...

Jay Matteson brings an important update for listeners regarding a grant opportunity through the New York Farm Viability Institute and the Department of Ag and Markets. The New York State Grown and Certified Infrastructure and Technology Research and Development Program is seeking proposals from farms and businesses eligible for certification in the food or beverage categories. Proposals are due by...

This episode features an insightful discussion on the current state of the beef industry, highlighting the significant rise in cattle prices driven by low supply and strong consumer demand. Hosts Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins welcome Dr. Travis Maddock, founder of Dakota Global Consulting, LLC., who shares his expertise on livestock production and market trends. The conversation delves into the cha...

Cohosts Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins welcome David Fisher, the President of the New York Farm Bureau, to discuss the vital role of grassroots advocacy in agriculture. Fisher emphasizes the importance of member engagement in shaping policies that impact rural communities and the agriculture industry, highlighting the need for farmers to be proactive in voicing their concerns. The conversation delve...

Beef prices continue to soar as cattle numbers reach their lowest levels since the late 1950s, creating a challenging yet lucrative environment for ranchers. Jay Madison and co-host Ron Robbins delve into the latest USDA reports that indicate strong demand for beef amidst fluctuating corn and soybean prices. The discussion highlights the rising popularity of Angus-Holstein crossbreeding among dair...

Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins discuss the recent developments in agricultural policy and funding, focusing on the passing of the American Relief Act and its implications for rural America. They highlight the importance of the $10 billion allocated for economic assistance to commodity crops, which aims to support farmers facing significant losses due to fluctuating market prices and geopolitical fac...

This episode of Jay Matteson's Rural America features a deep dive into the evolving landscape of agriculture in Florida, as Ron Robbins shares his insights following a recent trip to the state. With a growing interest in fruit and vegetable production, particularly cucumbers for pickles, Florida is witnessing a resurgence in agricultural investment after years of decline. Jay and Ron also discuss...

Join Jay Matteson as he welcomes New York State's Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Richard Ball, to discuss the exciting developments in New York's agricultural landscape. With $21 million available through the Dairy Modernization Grant and over $8.5 million for the New York State Grown and Certified program, there are significant opportunities for farmers to enhance their operations and c...

Jay Matteson's Rural America brings to light the impactful story of rural resilience and innovation during challenging times, particularly through the lens of the pandemic. The episode, hosted by Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins, features guests Rick McNary and Stacy Davis, who share their experiences with Shop Kansas Farms and the Border Queen Harvest Hub. As the pandemic disrupted food supply chains...

Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins tackle a critical conversation about the future of agricultural labor in the U.S., focusing specifically on the importance of foreign workers in the farming sector. They detail how these workers are essential to maintaining productivity in dairy farming and other agricultural practices. The hosts discuss the current state of immigration policy, particularly the limitat...

This podcast episode delves into the evolving landscape of economic development in rural America, highlighting the significant projects and initiatives taking place across the country. Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins discuss the recent Advanced Economic Development Leadership Academy conference Jay attended, where Jay explored how rural communities are attracting investment and fostering growth despi...

It's been a very wet growing season in 2024 and who knows when it's going to stop! Cohosts Ron Robbins and Jay Matteson discuss what the summer growing season has been like and the impacts on local agriculture. Luckily many modern dairy barns have lighting systems that compensate for the lack of sunlight, helping cows stay comfortable. But even with that, milk production is tight and having an imp...

In this episode Dr. David Kohl shocks Jay with his analysis of the United States economy. Kohl discusses an upcoming meeting of China, Russia, Iran and other countries that could change our economic standing in the World. Listen in as Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins are joined in the studio by Dr. David Kohl, a global agricultural economist who has traveled over 9 million miles speaking to groups and...

Podcast host, Jay Matteson, is joined by Joe Russo, Economic Developer for National Grid, and Seth Browe, Senior Representative for National Grids Energy Efficiency Program to discuss important grants and financial assistance programs for agriculture. There are many important programs offered by National Grid to assist farms and agribusinesses. Seth and Joe explain the programs and the important p...

Commissioner Richard Ball of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets joins Ron and Jay to discuss growing local food supplies across NYS through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RSFI). RSFI is a new grant program available to farmers and others to provide critical funding to support New York State's food supply chain. Grants will invest in projects to modernize agricultural...

Host Jay Matteson interviews Dawn Cole, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Northern New York about food insecurity in our rural communities and the role United Way plays in assisting people in need. Dawn discusses their food drive coming up on June 5 in Watertown from 8am to 2pm. Jay learns about a great program involving United Way and Jefferson - Lewis BOCES involving the BOC...

Dr. Robert Lynch, DVM, the Dairy Herd Health and Management Specialist for PRO_DAIRY Animal Science at Cornell University, joins hosts Ron and Jay for an in depth discussion about Avian Influenza and how it is impacting the Dairy Industry. How signifcantly does it impact dairy cows? Does it pose a threat with our dairy product supply? We get answers to those questions and more, thanks to Dr. Lynch...

Jay interviews cohost, Ron Robbins while he's on the road returning from Florida. The two have a have broad discussion ranging from the results of the presentation by Dr. Dvid Kohl; the upcoming eclipse on April 8; and agricultural impacts of the bridge collapse in the Port of Baltimore. We finish ut the show with a discussion on Avian Flu and the impacts that will have on the dairy industry.

Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech joins Jay and Ron for a great conversation about sports and business. It's amazing when you think about the 4th quarter, last period, last inning of the game and how you try to overcome a deficit to win the game, and how that compares to running your farm or business succe...

This is a special invitation to attend an upcoming seminar on March28, 2024 at Jefferson Community College with Dr. David Kohl.

in this episode, Jay Matteson interviews Linda Garrett, the New York Regional Director of American Farmland Trust. American Farmland Trust (AFT) is doing a lot of work across New York State to help preserve precious farmland. AFT is working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and County Soil and Water Conservation Districts to provide training to farmers on regenerative agricultur...

Jay interviews Joel Lalone, Director of the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College about the results of the 2023 Survey of the Community on Quality of Life. Joel discusses the work done by the Center, based at Jefferson Community College, to survey the communty in Jefferson, Lewis and St. lawrence Counties on how public opinion has changed on a variety of important community i...

Podcast host Jay Matteson is joined by Mike Nuchols, Ag Team leader and Commercial Horticulture Educator of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County to discuss the results of the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture. The census is completed every five years in the United States and takes a snapshot of agriculture that is valuable in understanding what is happening in our food production. You'l...