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 information to all of the farmers who encounter these situations.

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 look at weather trends for North American and what impact that may have on the Spring planting season

We tie all of that into how your dinner plate may be impacted.

It's a great conversation so sit back and grab a cold glass of milk with a "spritz" of fresh maple syrup and enjoy!

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 gets his hands dirty everyday farming and marketing his livestock.

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 forest. Dani and I discuss her book which I absolutely love. Hope you enjoy the interview!

Dani's farm is Cross Island Farm located on Wellsley Island in beautiful Thousand Islands region on northern New York State. Check out her website www.enchantededibleforest.com

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 willfocus on what the proposal is, how you can speak out about it and what some of the impacts of this change will be.

Will this change impact your dinner plate? Listen to the show and find out!

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!!!