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Agriculture

USDA invests up to $1B to combat avian flu

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced a $1 billion-dollar comprehensive strategy to curb highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), protect the U.S. poultry industry, and lower egg prices. This is in addition to funding already being provided to indemnify growers for depopulated flocks. As the Secretary detailed in the Wall Street Journal, the five-pronged strategy includes an additional $500 million for biosecurity measures, $400 million in financial relief for affected farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research, action to reduce regulatory ...

USDA to measure milk production in northeast

HARRISBURG — Thousands of milk producers across the country will receive surveys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as the agency collects information for the 2025 Milk Production reports. “The dairy industry is an important component of the Northeast’s agriculture, and it is crucial for us to have accurate data about this key sector,” said Director David Knopf, regional director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. NASS conducts the Milk Production survey in the region every January, April, July, and October. ...

Livestock experts to discuss artificial insemination

UNIVERSITY PARK — An upcoming Penn State Extension workshop aimed at beef producers and new and beginning farmers will explore the advantages and challenges of artificial insemination versus natural service in beef cattle breeding, with insights from a breeder who has worked with both methods. The “Northern Tier Beef Meeting: No Bull About Breeding Season” will be offered at three locations on different dates in April: • Montrose: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 15, Susquehanna County Library, 458 High School Road. • Towanda: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 16, Bradford County office of ...

Central Susquehanna Valley Beef producer meeting set for Thursday

UNIVERSITY PARK — An upcoming Penn State Extension workshop aimed at beef producers and industry professionals will cover novel forage options, beef cattle nutrition and the latest Penn State research. The Central Susquehanna Valley Beef Producer meeting will occur Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bonanza Steakhouse, 300 Commerce Park Dr., New Columbia. This event is designed for beef cattle producers of all operation sizes, individuals currently raising beef cattle, those interested in starting beef cattle operations, and professionals working in businesses that support the beef ...

FFA members attend ACES conference

LEWISTOWN — The Big Valley FFA chapter learned that “Agricultural Cooperation Establishes Success” during a conference that helped them work on leadership and conversation skills recently. That lesson is abbreviated to ACES, which is a conference that FFA members attend during their ...

2025 Snyder County tree sale underway

MIDDLEBURG — The Snyder County Conservation District is currently holding its annual seedling and plant sale. All proceeds from the seedling sale go directly to educational outreach programs such as trout in the classroom activities, 2nd and 5th grade school events, outdoor education, Snyder- Juniata Enviro Camp, and the Susquehanna Valley Envirothon. Seedlings sold in bundles of ten offered this year include: Norway Spruce, Eastern White Pine, American Persimmon, Red Oak, American Hazelnut, Silver Maple, Chinese Chestnut, Domestic Apple, Common Pear and Black Elderberry. Fruit ...