John Mason reports in the Register Star farmers from throughout the region came together for the Hudson Valley Farmers Forum at Columbia-Greene Community College, Mon., Aug. 20. During a Q&A with a panel of government officials that included U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, state Sen. Roy McDonald and Assemblywoman Didi Barrett, the obstacles faced by young farmers became apparent, according to Mason. Concerns raised during the discussion included: Problems with the federal certification program for seasonal, non-immigrant foreign workers, the challenge of finding viable, affordable farm land in the Hudson Valley, buying local, the pressure of increasing tax rates and the importance of passing the federal Farm Bill. The panel was moderated by Lindsay Lusher Shute, a founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition. Read the full story in the Register Star.