PA Farm News

4-H Regional and Open Draft Driving Clinics Open Registration
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Well-known driving judge and clinician Samea Baker will conduct a series of 4-H regional horse driving clinics throughout Pennsylvania in June. Clinics are open to the general public as space permits.

Producer-Funded Export Efforts Help Drive Dairy Market Growth
PHILADELPHIA -- Through their promotion investment in the U.S. Dairy Export Council® (USDEC), dairy producers are helping to drive demand for sales of U.S.-produced dairy products and ingredients by serving the needs of international customers.

Governor's Task Force Seeks Public Input on PA's Water Infrastructure Needs
HARRISBURG -- With aging and deteriorating water systems across Pennsylvania in need of critical investments, members of Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force are setting out to gather the public’s ideas on how to address the challenge.

4-H’ers Take Over During Capital Days
LANCASTER -- Lancaster County 4-H Members, Lisa and Luke Hershey, of Kirkwood, PA and Jonathan Bensing, of Ephrata, PA, recently participated in the Pennsylvania State 4-H Capital Days event, an annual citizenship awareness event, held April 13 through the 15 at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers, Harrisburg.

Northeast Dairy Leadership Team Discusses Dairy's Role in Sustainability Movement
HARRISBURG -- The Northeast Dairy Leadership Team discussed national efforts to assess the dairy industry’s ‘carbon footprint,’ or its impact on the environment, at a recent meeting in Binghamton, N.Y.

New Research Announced for 'Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder'
HARRISBURG -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said Tuesday that the commonwealth will increase funding to continue research on the potentially devastating “Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Farmers Market to Open at Farm Show Complex
HARRISBURG -- Colorful, flavorful, and nutritious, locally grown produce returns to the Pennsylvania Farmers Open-Air Market at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center today, May 6.

Nominations for Obie Snider Award Being Accepted This Month
HARRISBURG -- The All-American Dairy Show is now accepting applications for the 2008 Obie Snider Award through May 30. The award recognizes a dairy industry leader that exemplifies Snider’s character, leadership, professionalism, ethics and service.

State Conference to Focus on Agricultural Nutrient Balance
By Gary Abdullah, PSU Ag Science News
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Developing new and innovative approaches to managing farm nutrient run-off and protecting water quality is the goal of an upcoming working conference sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

2008 4-H and Open Draft Driving Clinic to be held in June
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Bill and Laureen Knapp of KnappTyme Percherons will conduct a 4-H Draft Driving clinic in June. The clinics are open to the general public as space permits. Clinic participants will learn how to prepare, harness and drive draft horses and ponies, with emphasis on proper turnout and safety techniques for handling and driving. Current 4-H driving rules and procedures also will be included as well as industry standards.

Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network presents Pastured Lamb Production Workshop
HARRISBURG -- Learn how farmers John & Sukey Jamison produce 5,000 lambs a year on their 210-acre farm. The Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network will present Pastured Lamb Production Workshop on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Jamisons offer on-site butchering and sell to some of the finest restaurants in the world. Sukey, a talented chef, prepares and sells value-added products such as lamb stew.

Low-Cost Dairy Facility Modernization Options Highlighted at DART Meetings
HARRISBURG -- Dairy farm families can find low-cost ways to modernize their dairy facilities, according to agricultural engineer Dr. David Kammel of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who shared his insight at the April Dairy Advocacy and Resource Team, or DART, meetings.

Agricultural Mosaic Unveiled at W.B. Saul School of Agricultural Sciences
HARRISBURG -- Commuters driving along a busy city street may develop a greater appreciation for agriculture thanks to a highly-visible mosaic created by students at W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences in Philadelphia, unveiled Friday, April 25, by Agriculture Executive Deputy Secretary Russell Redding.

Corn Utilization and Technology Conference Announces Keynote Speaker
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The National Corn Growers Association Corn Utilization and Technology Conference announced today that Thomas Dorr, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development, will give a keynote address at the conference grand opening on Monday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m.

Still Seeking a Cause of Colony Collapse Disorder
By Kim Kaplan, ARS Public Affairs Specialist
BELTSVILLE, MD -- The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Apiary Inspectors of America have conducted a combined survey of beekeepers to get a snapshot of how well managed colonies made it through the winter of 2007-08.

Raw Milk Sales Legal in PA With Permit
HARRISBURG -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff reminded Pennsylvanians that sales of raw milk and aged, hard cheeses made from raw milk are legal in Pennsylvania with a permit and inspections for public health.

Spraying to Begin to Combat Damage Done by Gypsy Moths
HARRISBURG -- Bracing for a spring that could be marked by increased gypsy moth infestations and heavy defoliation in some areas of the state, the state Bureau of Forestry announced plans today to triple its aerial spraying effort to suppress the woodland insect pest.