Jay Matteson's Rural America

Hosts Ron Robbins and Jay Matteson discuss the potential for "Bessie" to generate renewable natural gas and whether New York's timeline for eliminating fossil fuels is realistic.

In this podcast I chat with Abbey Jantzi, the Dairy and Livestock Specialist from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, about the many things happening in 4H. We cover a lot of ground ranging from the Jefferson County Dairy Parade to the Jefferson County Fair and beyond! It is fantastic to hear about 4H, a n important youth development program!

Jay, Al and Ron interview Dr. Travis Maddock, owner of Dakota Global Consulting and an expert in the beef and meat processing industries. Dr. Maddock talks about what he's seeing nationaiwde in the beef industry and the impacts of of the pandemic, war in Ukraine, inflation, crazy blizzards, droughts, and weather patterns. So many topics are covered it is hard to keep up! Most important is Al Walts...

In this episode Jay Matteson and Ron Robbins interview Shauna Arnold, Hospitality and Tourism Coordinator at Jefferson Community College as she announces the college will be starting a collegiate FFA Chapter! This is good news for the Agribusiness Program at the college and will be helpful to the 6 FFA chapters across Jefferson County. Ron and Jay also talk about The Port of Oswego beginning to sh...

Lyle Wood, a partner with Wood Farnms, LLC in Cape Vincent NY, and a Board member for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), joins cohosts Alan Walts, Ron Robbins and Jay Matteson for a conversation about whats happening in the dairy industry. The broad ranging conversation covers supply and demand issues, world hunger, New York City School District School lunch changes, rising input costs and a variety...

My cohost Ron Robbins and I first say goodbye to a member of NNY's agricultural family, Gerry Wetterhahn. We then interview Jake Ledoux, a team member of North Harbor Dairy Farms, about obtaining a cdl license for his work on the farm. How did he do it and what were the challenges he ran into.

In this episode Jay Matteson and co-hosts Ron Robbins and Al Walts discuss the NYS Dangerous Dogs law within NYS Agriculture and Markets Law. Do farm animals have rights against cruelty from dogs running loose? What is the dangerous dogs law and what is its impact on a situation that is happening on too many farms in Jefferson County and beyond? Hopefully, this podcast will provide valuable inform...

Ron Robbins, a dairy farmer and multi-faceted businessman who watches the markets and the weather with an "Eagle Eye" and I discuss what happened to the world markets for food and fuel within the first 48 hours of the beginning of the Russian Invasion into Ukraine. WE'll talk about the impacts of the INvasion, how the markets responded, and what that means to you the consumer. Ron and I will also...

Steve Winkler, owner of Lucki7 Livestock Company in Rodman NY talks with Jay about what's happening across the United States and local with the supply of beef and pork. First we hear from Jay about a grant program available to food producers in Jefferson County NY and Steve will tell us about his home operation and all the great things they are doing there. It's a great discussion from someone who...

How do you create an edible landscape? What is an edible forest? I interview organic farmer and author Dani Baker about her new book, "The Home Scale Forest Garden: How to Plan, Plant and Tend a Resilient Edible Landscape". We have a great discussion about her experiences starting an organic farm on Wellesley Island in northern New York State and her creating an edible landscape with a one acre fo...

Host Jay Matteson and guest host Alan Walts interview Jefferson County Farm Bureau President and partner at Sheland Dairy Farms LLC, Devon Shelmidine and John Wagner, Director of County Relations for New York Farm Bureau about the proposed changes in the overtime threshold for farmworkers. NYS is considering lower the overtime threshold from 60 hours a week down to 40 hours a week. Our discussion...

In this episode I interview Agricultural Trade Expert Tom Sleight and Farmer Ron Robbins about how tensions with Russia and China may impact agricultural trade. Why does Ukraine matter to your dinner plate?

In season 1, episode 1 I share a short story of what Jay Matteson's Rural America is all about. I discuss my 20 years of hosting an agricultural talk show on AM radio stations and my agricultural economic development background. I also give you a brief idea of what to expect in our future shows and who my guest co-hosts are. Make sure you check out future episodes with lots of great interviews!!!