Radio Catskill - Farm and Country

Inside Beaverkill Trout Hatchery, NY’s Largest Private Trout Farm

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:52:46 +0000

Brook, brown, and rainbow trout are just some of the fish at the Beaverkill Trout Hatchery.

The Shaver family are the owners of this fifth-generation fish hatchery, which also happens to be the largest private fish hatchery in New York state right here in the Catskills.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Sherry and Tyler Shavery of the Beaverkill Trout Hatchery to learn about the simple joys of raising fish.

Inside Beaverkill Trout Hatchery, NY’s Largest Private Trout Farm

Kimberly Izar — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:02:22 +0000

Brook, brown, and rainbow trout are just some of the fish at the Beaverkill Trout Hatchery. The Shaver family are the owners of this fifth-generation fish hatchery, which also happens to be the largest private fish hatchery in New York state in the Catskills.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Sherry and Tyler Shaver, owners and operators of the Beaverkill Trout Hatchery, to learn about the simple joys of raising fish.

Farmers Adapt to Climate Change Amid Year of Extreme Weather Events

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:42:42 +0000

Farmers have had to navigate a series of tornados, flash floods, wildfire smoke, and extreme weather events this past year.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Michelle Proscia, agriculture educator at Sullivan County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension, about how farmers are navigating and adapting to climate change.

Conservation Easements, Explained: How They Work

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:25:16 +0000

Conservation easements are one of the most effective tools to permanently conserve land for agricultural and forestry purposes. But what exactly are they and how do they work?

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Serena Orleski, Easement Program Manager at the Watershed Agricultural Council, about these important conservation efforts.

Meet Chester’s Little Gem Farm, Home to 15 Varieties of Locally Grown Lettuce

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:55:19 +0000

Zoe Friedberg is surrounded by lettuce – about 15 different kinds of lettuce – on her two-acre farm, Little Gem Farm. She’s one of 11 farms leasing land at the Chester Agricultural Center in Chester’s Black Dirt region in Orange County. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

New York Farmer Tariff Relief Program to Close Aug. 11

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:26:26 +0000

Applications for New York’s Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program are still open. The state budget includes $30 million for the program aimed at helping farmers offset federal tariff impacts and rising costs.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Richard Ball, Commissioner of the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets, about how federal tariffs shaped some farmers' latest seasons.

How to Keep Your Summer Produce Fresh with Good Find Farm

Kimberly Izar — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:48:53 +0000

Farmers markets are plentiful in the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania regions, especially during the summertime. But keeping farm fresh produce crisp through the warmer weather and wind can be challenging for some.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Erica Madden, co-owner of Good Find Farm in Damascus, Pennsylvania, about her best tips for keeping farm fresh produce last a little bit longer and crisp through the summer heat.

Meet Little Snail Nursery, Sullivan County’s Newest Garden Hub

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:42:48 +0000

Tucked away in Youngsville is a greenhouse so packed with plants there’s barely space to walk through. Sylvie Wise, owner of Little Snail Nursery, peers into her nursery draped with dozens of hanging potted plants.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar visited Sullivan County's newest nursery and has the story.

Meet Brave Brave Biltong, the Duo Behind a Northeast PA Cured Beef Company

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:11:59 +0000

Alexander Hankoff and Iwan Zwarts are the founders of Brave Biltong, a South African-style beef biltong company made with locally sourced grass-fed beef and all-organic ingredients. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar visited their business in Tyler Hill, PA to learn more about the story and process behind the product.

Callicoon Youth Equestrian Team to Compete in National Horse Riding Competition

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:26:54 +0000

A group of young Western horse riders in Callicoon has qualified for a national competition in Fort Worth, Texas. Some students describe it as a once in a lifetime opportunity. They’re currently raising funds from the community to help make this dream possible for their team.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with some of the young riders at the Diehl Me In Performance Horse barn in Callicoon, New York.

Ulster County Historian Reflects on Visit to Rebuild Relationships with Lenape Descendants

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 26 May 2026 17:50:46 +0000

The Esopus people were a Lenape-speaking Indigenous community native to what is now known as Ulster County before they were forcibly removed or displaced by war, colonization, and broken treaties.

Ulster County has been working on rebuilding its relationships with Indigenous communities. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Eddie Moran, the county’s first full-time historian, about his recent trip to Ontario, Canada, where many descendants live today.

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Hundreds Compete for Crown of King of the Ice, Sullivan County’s Ice Fishing Tournament

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:50:15 +0000

Hundreds gathered on the icy White Lake to compete for the title of King of the Ice, Sullivan County’s annual ice fishing tournament, on Feb. 15. Radio Catskill's Jason Dole reports.

(01:21) - JAY
(03:28) - COLD, THICK ICE
(04:10) - About the Contest!
(04:44) - Chapter 4
(05:35) - Chapter 5
(05:35) - Chapter 6
(05:42) - Chapter 7
(05:50) - Chapter 8
(05:50) - COLD, THICK ICE
(05:50) - Chapter 10
(05:50) - Chapter 11
(08:01) - Chapter 12
(08:01) - Chapter 13
(08:01) - Chapter 14
(08:10) - Chapter 15
(09:19) - Chapter 16
(09:42) - Chapter 17
(10:00) - Chapter 18
(10:00) - Chapter 19
(10:46) - Chapter 20
(10:46) - Chapter 21

Meet the Uku Ladies and Gents, Pike County's Senior Ukulele Musicians

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:20:54 +0000

The Uku Ladies and Gents are a weekly seniors class bringing music, laughter, and community to Pike County. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Catskill Mountainkeeper on Route 17 Expansion, Hochul’s Budget, and 20-Year Anniversary

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:29:46 +0000

Fighting Route 17’s highway expansion and fracking in New York are a few of the biggest fights Catskill Mountainkeeper has championed over the decades. This year, the environmental advocacy nonprofit turns 20 years old. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

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How Sheep Wool Becomes Yarn at Old Long Farm in Callicoon

Kimberly Izar — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:40:32 +0000

Alex Gardner spends a good deal of time tending to his 32 Shetland sheep. Gardner, owner and farmer of Old Long Farm in Callicoon, chatted with Radio Catskill about the joys of turning sheep wool into yarn.

Winter Bald Eagle Watching Returns to the Upper Delaware River

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:08:56 +0000

Known for their striking white heads and dark brown bodies, about 150 to 200 bald eagles migrate down from the frigid temperatures of Canada and New York to the Upper Delaware River each year. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

X-Snow Project Enlists Catskills Residents as Citizen Scientists to Measure Snow

Kimberly Izar — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:31:41 +0000

A NASA-supported snow science project wants residents to help measure snow in the Catskills. X-Snow is an initiative to increase the number of available snow measurements in the Catskill and Adirondacks regions. Project scientist Dr. Marco Tedesco says that to do so, he’ll need the help of local residents.

Groundhog Trouble: Tips from Finca Seremos

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:06:19 +0000

Woodchucks, or groundhogs, can become a year-round headache for farmers, gardeners, and homeowners. Despite their relatively small build, groundhogs can quickly destroy a large amount of farmland.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar sat down with Brenda González and Chris Nickell, co-owners of Finca Seremos Farm in Callicoon Center, who shared how farmers may navigate these furry critters.

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Alpacas, 4-H, and Lumberjacks at the 145th Grahamsville Little World’s Fair

Kimberly Izar — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 23:34:30 +0000

The Grahamsville Little World’s Fair is the longest-running independent fair in New York State. Hosted by the Neversink Agriculture Society, the fair offered live music, shows, and fun from August 15-17 in Grahamsville.

From dairy show hosts to lumberjack champs, Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with the people who make this tiny fair feel larger than life.

Meet Momoglobal Farms, Jeffersonville’s Ikebana Flower Farm

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:08:20 +0000

On a 20-acre farm in Jeffersonville, lisianthus blooms in lavender purples and fuchsia pinks line an open field. Momoglobal Flowers farmer and founder Kaya Abe Magee said her fields are full of blooms at different stages: some nearly widely open, some just starting to reveal their petals.

Magee specializes in Ikebana, a Japanese style of floral arrangements that is over 500 years old and incorporates select blooms to express a feeling or emotion. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar visited Momoglobal Flowers to learn more about Magee's journey to bring Ikebana arrangements to the Catskills.

Meet Pike County’s Watershed Steward: Protecting Pennsylvania’s Waterways

Kimberly Izar — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:03:35 +0000

Did you know that Pike County is home to 18 major watersheds? These watersheds are crucial in providing the Catskills and Delaware River Valley with clean drinking water.

Farm & Country visits the breathtaking Shohola Falls in Shohola, Pennsylvania, to see these waterways up close in action. We chat with Rachael Marques, Watershed Specialist of the Pike County Conservation District, about all things watersheds – from how climate change is impacting them to how to keep a watershed-friendly home.

Sullivan County Eyes Community Preservation Act to Protect Farmland: What You Need to Know

Kimberly Izar — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:09:02 +0000

Sullivan County is considering joining the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act (HVCPA), which would designate funds to land preservation efforts locally through a real estate transfer fee. Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is working with the County Legislature and the Orange County Land Trust to explore how this new policy could help balance growth and conservation in the county.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Michael Sweeton, Community Liaison of the Orange County Land Trust, to learn more about the act and what it means for Sullivan County farmers.

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Time and the Valleys Museum’s Exhibit Honors Stories of Families Displaced by Reservoirs

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 14:40:02 +0000

The Catskills Reservoirs provide more than a billion gallons of fresh drinking water every day to New York City and other parts of the state. But behind this water supply are the stories of families who were displaced when the reservoirs were built.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar visits the Time and the Valleys Museum's newest exhibit expansion, the Lost Catskill Farm, about rural life before the reservoirs.

Q&A with The Catskill Center: How to Detect and Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species This Summer

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:00:32 +0000

More than 100 people are dead after devastating flash floods in central Texas, with more than 160 still missing according to officials. Flash floods can become deadly and devastate entire aquatic ecosystems.

In New York, heavy rainfall is becoming increasingly common.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Sarah Coney, Aquatic Invasive Species Manager, of the Catskill Center about detecting – and preventing – aquatic invasive species. They can often spread during flash floods and ravage our ecosystems. The two talk all about these sneaky critters and plants that can wreak havoc on our waterways and how you can help to stop the spread.

Young Farmers Face Uncertainty After New York Legislative Session Ends

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:54:40 +0000

The New York State legislative session wrapped up in late June. On the table were big issues for farmers in the region – like sewage sludge, school bid contracts, and SNAP benefits.

The bills that did pass now head to Governor Kathy Hochul to sign, but some notable environmental bills failed to pass in the Assembly. Some lawmakers have suggested that the state assembly may come back to session in the fall in response to federal funding cuts.

So what does this all mean for New York’s young farmers?

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Brenda Gonzalez and Chris Nickell, co-owners of Finca Seremos Farm in Callicoon Center and members of the local young farmers coalitions chapters, about how state and federal policies could shape the future of farming.

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How to Stay Safe (And Have Fun): Tips From the National Canoe Safety Patrol

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:33:26 +0000

Farm & Country joins the National Canoe Safety Patrol, whose mission is to promote water safety and responsible padding on the Upper Delaware River, to learn how they’re making sure folks stay safe – and have fun – this summer.

Older Farmers Worry Trump's Budget Cuts Will Devastate Community and Aid in the Catskills

Kimberly Izar — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:09:44 +0000

Farmers market season is officially here in the Catskills, but many farmers are still navigating the combined loss of federal funding freezes, new tariffs on agricultural products, and a broader loss of important community spaces.

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Brenda Miller of Bobolink Farm and Kate Anstreicher of the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming about what the Trump administration’s policies mean for older farmers.

Farm and Country - Saturday, May 30, 2020

Kimberly Izar — Sat, 30 May 2020 15:00:00 +0000