Kitty O'Neil

2 weeks ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Kitty O'Neil |Monica Sandreczki |Catherine Wheeler

North Country farmers are starting new plants and birthing new calves, lambs and kids. "It's one of the busiest times on a livestock farm and everyone can be run ragged, but it's also a pretty wonderful and happy time, too," said Kitty O'Neil, agricultural climate resiliency specialist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension. "It's hard not to smile and laugh watching goat kids romp around a pasture or piglets race around a pen playing with each other.

1 month ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Kitty O'Neil |Monica Sandreczki |Catherine Wheeler

North Country farms are busy in springtime. Produce farmers are starting seedtrays of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers; livestock farmers are caring for new calves, kids and lambs; and fruit growers are wrapping up pruning as trees start to blossom. Kitty O'Neil, agricultural climate resiliency specialist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, shared an update of North Country farms with Northern Light co-hosts Monica Sandreczki and Catherine Wheeler. Listen to their conversation below.

2 months ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Kitty O'Neil |Monica Sandreczki |Catherine Wheeler

This time of year, many farmers in the North Country are starting seeds in their greenhouses or preparing to get seeds in the ground. Maple producers will soon wrap up tapping for sap. Livestock farmers may soon have new lambs and calves to care for. As they prepare for the upcoming season, many farmers are also grappling with how to budget under threats to cut USDA staff and federal farm funding.