Thunder Country Ag Report

MIke Sakell checks in with NYS Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball to talk about hightlights at the Great NY State Fair, plus an update on Farm Bill issues and the recent executive order from Governor Kathy Hochul at the Great New York State Fair directing State agencies to increase the percentage of food sourced from New York farmers and producers.

Thunder Country Ag Report this week features Interim Director of the Great New York State Fair Sean Hennessey talking about everything Agriculture during the 18 day 2023 fair. Saturday Morning at 6:30 Thunder 102 and on the Thunder Country Ag Report podcast.

It's just about time for the 143rd Annual Grahamsville Little Worlds Fair next weekend! Mike Sakell chats with Barbara Moran 4-H Youth Development Program Manager for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County about the Youth Fair, with 4-H activities and plenty of fun.

Thunder Country Ag Report host Mike Sakell focuses on private garden tours with guest Amy Murray Open Days Program Manager at The Garden Conservancy. The Garden Conservancy is pleased to announce the first Open Day—self-guided tours of otherwise private gardens--in Sullivan County happening today. Find out more at gardenconservancy.org/open-day

The Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report focuses on farming and mental health. Mike Sakell checks in with guests Heather Chauncey, LCAT Clinical Case Manager & Therapist with New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and Elaine Eaton Family Consultant and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with NY FARMNET. Both guests discuss the stresses and isolation sometimes associated wi...

This week the Thunder Country Ag Report spotlights all the great incentive programs at the @sullivanfreshfarmersmarkets to help you save plus get great ideas on healthy cooking lifestyles! Guest this Saturday with Mike Sakell is Joy Leon, Nutrition and Physical Activity Educator. Hear it at 6:30am Saturday or on the Thunder Country Ag Report podcast at RadioBold.com

Rep Marc Molinaro (NY_19) has an update on Farm Bill 2023. Rep Molinaro has been hosting listening session throughout his district and talks about priorities for the next Farm Bill. The congressman is a member of the House Agricultural Committee.

This weeks guest is Sonya Hedlund from Apple Pond Farm with an update on their tornado recovery.

Host Mike Sakell checks in with Douglas Schindler of The Black Library about their Black Agriculture Weekend event at Denniston Hills in Glen Wild on July 1st. It's an opportunity to learn about growing and cooking healthy foods here in Sullivan County.

It's National Dairy Month and the Thunder Country Ag Report visits with Rianne Erlwein of Myers Century Farm, focusing on their dairy and ice cream business.  

Host Mike Sakell checks in with Hope Farm at SUNY Sullivan with Head Farmer Megan Greene speaking about the operation of the three acre farm on campus that provides organic product for New Hope Community as well as the culinary program at SUNY Sullivan.

Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report Host Mike Sakell speaks with New York State Farm Bureau Communications Director Steve Ammerman has an update on issues affecting the agriculture community following adoption of the New York State Budget, Labor Costs, Guest Worker Visas, the Environment including the recent SCOTUS decision on the Clean Water Act.

Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report this Memorial Day weekend features host Mike Sakell speaking with Town of Bethel Supervisor Dan Strum and Mareen Lerner of Bethel Local Development Corp and the Kauneonga Lake Farmers and Makers Market talk about everything happening through the summer season.

Host Mike Sakell checks in with Sonja Hedlund and Dick Riseling of Apple Pond Farm and Renewable Energy Education Center with an update as they rebuild after extensive damage from an EF-2 tornado on April 22th. The conversation includes information on resources utilized in the process. Information at applepondfarms.com

Host Mike Sakell focuses on the new Cornell Cooperative Extension Beginner Farmer Program with guest Taylor Adam Beginner Farmer Program Manager. Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCE) has received funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to create a Beginner Farmer Program. The Beginner Farmer Program will aid beginner farmers in the Catskills-Hudson Valley Re...

Thunder 102 Ag Report Host Mike Sakell speaks with USDA Farm Service Agency County Executive Director Brian Sheridan on Tornado damage assistance avaiable through two FSA programs. The Emergency Forest Restoration Program and Emergency Conservation Program. For info contact Brian Sheridan at his Walton NY office 607-865-4005 or email Brian. Sheridan@usda.gov

Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report host Mike Sakell speaks with Erika Scott, PhD, Deputy Director for the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety. NYCAMH is facing serious cuts in farm safety programming and trainings if state budget funding does not increase after more than a decade of stagnation. Recently a long list of agricultu...

Host Mike Sakell discusses negotiations and progress on the 2023 Farm Bill with Rep Marc Molinaro of NY 19th Congressional District, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture.  Topics include SNAP food assistance, conservation and environmental issues, hemp and cannibis.  

Host Mike Sakell speaks with Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County’s Horticulture  Program Coordinator Katie Gasior about the upcoming educational program through  Zoom, on plants to foster a love of gardening in children. The program will take  place on Tuesday, March 28th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report Mike Sakell speaks with Guest Dan Brey about Breys Egg Farm, those crazy egg prices and other challanges including avian flu and more! 

Host Mike Sakell speaks with Marcus Hanley of Hudson Valley Foie Gras and Sergio Saravia of La Belle Farms following the recent decision by NYS Ag and Markets regarding NYC Local Law 202 which would ban the sale of foie gras in New York City.  The ruling says you can not "unreasonably restrict farmers operations with an agricultural district" with a local law.  This saves a large Sulliva...

Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report host Mike Sakell talks turkey (and much more) with Joseph and Dimora Galli from Galli Family Farm .

Rianne Erlwein of Myers Century Farms talks about dairy farming and her new line of Ri's Farm Made Ice Cream.

Thunder Country Ag and Garden Report Guest is Mark McLewin Chariman of the Board at the Catskills Food Hub with an update on operations and new programs including company partnerships to give employees an opportunity to have access to fresh local food.

Elizabeth Clancy-DiBartolo Sullivan Fresh Program Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County talks about upcoming Farmers Markets, schedules and incentives including Sullivan Fresh On The Move.