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Agriculture

USDA update on combatting avian flu

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins hosted a stakeholder update recently to provide the first progress report on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) five-pronged strategy to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and lower egg prices. Less than a month after the plan’s rollout, USDA reports significant advancements across all five areas. “Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting the relief they need, and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,” said Secretary Rollins. “USDA is making targeted investments ...

Southwest Beef Cattle meetings slated for April, May

UNIVERSITY PARK — In April and May, Penn State Extension will host three Southwest Beef Cattle Meetings, aimed at beef cattle producers, packers and industry professionals. The workshops, which are free to attend, will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 22 and May 6 and 13, at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 2151 N. Main St., Washington. Each event includes dinner and will cover a different topic: • April 22: “Mineral Nutrition for Beef Cattle.” Tara Felix, beef cattle extension specialist and associate professor of animal science in Penn State’s College of ...

Small-group cattle producer gatherings planned

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension will host small-group gatherings at two locations in April for cattle producers to network and discuss industry needs. These informal, educational meetings will focus on local cattle production and future programming. One meeting will be April 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mercer County office of Penn State Extension, 463 N. Perry Hwy., Mercer. The second meeting will be April 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Adams County Agricultural Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Rd., Suite 201, Gettysburg. The meetings are aimed at cattle producers, ...

USDA set to measure quarterly bee colony loss

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting information about colony loss in the honey industry throughout the United States. The next Quarterly Colony Loss survey will be conducted during April of 2025. This survey collects information about colony inventory and loss from more than 400 producers with honeybee colonies in the Northeastern Region of the United States. “The information from these surveys directly impacts our region’s beekeepers and honey producers,” said David Knopf, regional director of ...

Small-group sheep, goat producer gatherings planned

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension will host small-group gatherings at two locations in April for sheep and goat producers to network and discuss industry needs. These informal, educational meetings will focus on local small-ruminant production and future programming. One meeting will be April 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mercer County office of Penn State Extension, 463 North Perry Hwy., Mercer. The second meeting will be April 23 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Bedford County office of Penn State Extension, 120 W. John St., Bedford. Both sessions are open to producers at ...

Pa. invests nearly $6.7M to protect farms

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is investing $6,699,378 to purchase development rights for 1,837 acres on 19 farms in 16 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development. These joint investments by state and local government ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs. “Food security is national security,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land, and saving that land to produce food is one of ...