NEW YORK

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WBGK-FM
99.7 FM
Newport Village, NY

Time DairyLine can be heard: 5:00 a.m. Mon. thru Sat.

Counties served: Herkimer, Fulton, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida

Number of dairy producers in the area: 1,162

Number of dairy cows in the area: 83,313
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WBUG- FM
101.1 FM
Fort Plain, NY

Time DairyLine can be heard: 5:00 a.m. Mon. thru Sat.

Counties served: Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington

Number of dairy producers in the area: 628

Number of dairy cows in the area: 56,662
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WCJW-AM
1140 AM
Warsaw, NY

Time DairyLine can be heard:
12:30 p.m. Mon.- Fri.
12:15 p.m. Saturday

Counties served: Wyoming, Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans

Number of dairy producers in the area: 594

Number of dairy cows in the area: 99,749
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WHGL-AM
1310 AM
Lancaster, PA

Time DairyLine can be heard: 5:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Counties served: Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga 

Number of dairy producers in the area: 370

Number of dairy cows in the area: 19,825
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WIBX-AM
950 AM
Utica, NY

Time DairyLine can be heard: 5:15 a.m.

Counties served: Oneida, Albany, Essex, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oswego, Ostego, Schoharie, Warren

Number of dairy producers in the area: 1,484

Number of dairy cows in the area: 114,547
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WENY-AM
790 AM
Elmira, NY

Time DairyLine can be heard: *6:20am
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Time DairyLine can be heard: 12:25 pm Mon. thru Sat.

Counties served: St. Lawrence County, Northwestern Franklin County

Number of dairy producers in the area: 1,363

Number of dairy cows in the area: 40,567

In 1997 there were 1,363 farms in St. Lawrence County with a combined acreage of 396,406, which was 22% of the county's total acreage. According to the New York Agricultural Statistics Service the county ranked 2nd in the state for the number of farms and first for the amount of land in farms. The leading agricultural products sold in 1997 were dairy products, cattle & calves, hay & silage, nursery and greenhouse, and corn for grain. The major agricultural product sold was dairy, which made up 83% of total agricultural sales. According to the 1997 Census of Agriculture, 60% of farm operators reported that farming was their principal occupation.(48)

While farming maybe the principal occupation of many farm operators, it can be a difficult occupation to make a living from. But farming is certainly not the only occupation that is difficult to make a living from in St. Lawrence County. In 1989, 17.2% of people living in St. Lawrence county lived at or below the poverty level (this percentage is based on 17,414 people in the county at or below the poverty level from the 100,957 people looked at). For the same year the poverty rate in New York State was 13% and the poverty rate in the United State was 12.9%.(49) In 1996 the US Department of Commerce reported that the average personal income for all wage earners in St. Lawrence County was $15,994.(50)

In 1999 New York State ranked third nationwide for dairy production, and dairy products in the state amounted to 56.1% of all agricultural products sold. This amounted to $1,737,000,000 in sales.(51) In 1999 St. Lawrence County ranked 2nd statewide, behind Wyoming County, for Milk production. During that year St. Lawrence County produced 648 million pounds of milk.(52)

The number of farms in St. Lawrence County decreased by 68% from 1950 to 1998. During this same time period the acres of land in farms decreased by 52.3%. The number of milk cows from 1950 to 1998 declined by 46.1%, and declined 20% during the 20 year span from 1978 to 1998. While the number of milk cows goes down, the total production of milk goes up for the same time periods. Between 1978 and 1998 total milk production rose 19.3%. So fewer dairy cows are now producing more milk (see appendix B, data compiled from St. Lawrence County Farm Statistics).

From 1950 to 1998 beef cows in St. Lawrence County increased 300.8%. Other increases during this 48 year time period include an increase of 3,364.3% in the production of grain corn, an increase of 245.3% in corn silage and an increase of 452% in alfalfa hay production. It should be noted that total hay production decreased by 25.8% during this time period (see appendix B, data compiled from St. Lawrence County Farm Statistics).

While agricultural indicators may fluctuate up or down over several years or between decades, the following chart helps to illustrate a general trend over the 80 year time period from 1918 to 1998.

As can be seen from the above chart the three indicators chosen have declined over 80 years. This decline in number of farms, land in farms, and number of milk cows has occurred while the population of the county has increased 15% from 98,900 in 1950 to 113,688 in 1998.