Debra J. Groom / The Post-Standard
About Me:
I've worked at The Post-Standard for 10 years after spending 21 years at the Utica newspaper. I've covered agriculture since 1985, education for about 24 years, was a business reporter and editor for 15 years and a religion reporter for five years. I'm a grad of OCC and SU. I love writing about agriculture. My hobbies: reading, studying the English royal family, and fishing. Blog: blog.syracuse.com/farms/
All Activity by Debra J. Groom / The Post-Standard RSS
What fracking means to New York farmers
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 21, 2012, 10:55AM
Check out this story from The Associated Press. Full story »
NYS Beef Industry Council conducts veal/dairy tour
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 21, 2012, 2:20AM
Read about the recent veal and dairy tour hosted by the New York State Beef Industry Council. Full story »
2 new raspberry varieties offered by Cornell University
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 20, 2012, 2:32AM
Cornell University has added a couple of new varieties to its list of raspberry offerings. Check out the story here. Full story »
Fort Ontario's General Brown retires to a dog's life
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 19, 2012, 10:40AM
The fort's cocker spaniel-poodle mascot is in his 60s in dog years. Full story »
Oswego County seeks candidates for dairy princess contest
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 19, 2012, 2:26AM
Candidates must be a resident of Oswego County between the ages of 16 and 21, never been married, nor had a child. She must be the daughter of a dairy farmer, farm employee, agribusiness employee or be personally affiliated with the dairy industry through 4-H or FFA. Full story »
Celebration of 150th anniversary of USDA
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 18, 2012, 11:17AM
Go to to check out a video on the 150th anniversary for the USDA. Full story »
Oswego's H. Lee White Marine Museum open for free this weekend
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 18, 2012, 9:33AM
The museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. every day through the end of June. Full story »
Dairylea cuts pay to its farmers
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 18, 2012, 9:28AM
Check out this story concerning payment to farmers made by Dairylea, the large farm cooperative based in Syracuse. Full story »
Justice dismisses lawsuit against Oswego County clerk
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 18, 2012, 9:18AM
The lawsuit, brought by APS Information Services and Aaron P. Smith, dealt with how criminal record searches are done at the county clerk's office. Full story »
Farmers cut back on planting crops due to immigration concerns
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 18, 2012, 2:02AM
Check out this story from the Associated Press concerning farmers cutting back on crops because they fear they won't be able to find enough workers during the harvest season. Full story »
New director named for New York Agriculture in the Classroom program
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 17, 2012, 2:14AM
Katie Elliott-Engel grew up in Northern New York and received a bachelor's degree in agricultural business management from the State University of College at Cobleskill. Full story »
V-V-S FFA takes its maple industry education on the road to NYC
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 17, 2012, 2:10AM
The three-day trip included visits to inner city schools in Manhattan and the Bronx to promote agricultural literacy and educate students about maple production. Full story »
Lysander FarmFest set for Saturday May 19
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 17, 2012, 1:53AM
Lysander, NY -- Sponsored by Lysander Parks & Recreation - The Town is pleased to be able to coordinate & highlight the wonderful farming community in Lysander! We hope that you will visit each of the farms on May 19th to see what they have to offer - a wonderful family day! Look for updates on our website at www.townoflysander.org... Full story »
Auburn budget passes; all paper ballots now counted
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 16, 2012, 5:02PM
The budget passed by more than the needed 60 percent of those who voted on the budget, or 2,550 votes. Full story »
Absentee ballots counted in Oswego; election results do not change
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 16, 2012, 1:48PM
Lynda Sereno and Thomas DeCastro won the two open school board seats. Full story »
Fulton woman whose baby died in overheated camper released from prison
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 16, 2012, 12:14PM
Sara E. Landers, 24, was sentenced Jan. 28, 2011 to 1 1/3 to four years in state prison for causing the death of her 9-month-old daughter by leaving the infant alone inside a camper with no air conditioning during 90-degree weather. Full story »
Workshops about insurance, marketing set for late May
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 16, 2012, 12:06PM
The program in Watertown is 6 to 9 p.m. May 29. Full story »
Deadline Monday to be included in the Oswego County Harvest Guide
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 16, 2012, 2:28AM
The cost is $30, which includes your business being printed in the Oswego County Harvest Guide, listing on the website and receipt of an official Oswego County Harvest Brand Member sign. Full story »
Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York to meet in Southern Tier in July
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 16, 2012, 2:20AM
The two-day program offers information for those in the Christmas tree business for years and those just starting out. Full story »
School vote 2012: Cayuga County school districts
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 15, 2012, 5:35PM
Residents went to the polls Tuesday to vote on budgets. Here are the results: Full story »
School vote 2012: Oswego County school districts
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 15, 2012, 5:33PM
Residents went to the polls Tuesday to vote on budgets, elect school board members and, in some districts, vote on spending propositions. Here are the results. Full story »
Happy Birthday, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 15, 2012, 2:11AM
President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill that established the USDA in 1862. Full story »
Arise, Oswego church volunteers to raise money to build ramps for the disabled
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 15, 2012, 2:00AM
A Ride for Ramps fundraiser on June 7 will help raise funds to build ramps for disabled people in Oswego County. Full story »
Candidates run for school boards in Oswego County
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 14, 2012, 9:41PM
The election is Tuesday May 15. Full story »
Mild winter = a couple extra days off for Oswego County schools
Posted on Neighbors News on May 14, 2012, 12:02PM
Oswego County schools didn't use all their snow days so they are adding a day or two to the Memorial Day weekend. Full story »
Oswego County Legislature chairman explains efforts for fighting EEE
Posted on Neighbors News on May 14, 2012, 2:47AM
During the past 40 years, there have been five fatal human cases of the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus in Central New York, including Maggie Wilcox, a young girl from New Haven, Oswego County, who died last year. Full story »
Renovations coming to Oswego State's Romney Field House
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 14, 2012, 2:38AM
Oswego State is accepting bids for the work to be done on the field house. Full story »
Videoconference features poultry expert
Posted on CNY Farms Blog on May 14, 2012, 2:07AM
Dr. Jarra Jagne will address poultry producers’ questions about the best way to transport flocks to the new USDA-approved Mobile Poultry Processing Unit purchased by North Country Pastured, LLC with North Country Economic Development Project funding. Full story »
Aaron Sorkin tells tales of his Syracuse University days to SU's graduating students
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 13, 2012, 7:20PM
The award-winning screenwriter, producer and playwright recalls failing a class at SU, but learning from his mistakes. Full story »
Aaron Sorkin tells Syracuse University, ESF graduates: 'You ain't seen nothing yet'
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on May 13, 2012, 12:10PM
Famed playwright and screenwriter, a 1983 SU grad, remembers wind chills 'powered by jet engines.' Full story »
