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Agriculture

Appreciate your food, farmers at Christmas

Christmas. A season of hot cocoa, presents under the tree, and delicious food at the dinner table with friends and family. My name is Kera Bentz. I am a dairy ambassador on the Juniata Dairy Promotional Court. Christmas time is one of my favorite times to be on the dairy court and you might be wondering why? The Juniata Dairy Promotional Court is committed to educating and supporting the dairy industry, but not only that. We also commit our time showing our appreciation and giving back to our dairy farmers. A little tradition we have is our yearly pizza party. Every family on the ...

Conservation District offers farm plan development help

MIDDLEBURG — Any Snyder County farmer interested in having necessary plans to follow PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations can apply with the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) to help pay for development or update of a manure management plan (MMP), nutrient management plan (NMP), agricultural erosion and sedimentation (Ag. E&S) plan, and/or NRCS style conservation plan. All farms are required to develop and implement a written plan that covers their operation under the current regulations to maintain compliance. This will also help farmers thinking ...

NASS survey results 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 Dave 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. The survey ...

Bee, honey production to be measured

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact beekeepers during the Bee and Honey Production, Disposition, and Income Inquiry to gather information on colony numbers, honey production, stocks and sales. The information helps evaluate conditions from year to year, and promote programs designed to ensure the viability of beekeepers and agricultural pollination services. This survey occurs in January and February of 2025, collecting data from more than 9,000 producers nationwide. “The survey results provide a ...

$6.3B investment by USDA made to strengthen rural infrastructure

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and Tribal communities across 44 states to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, provide safe drinking water and create good-paying jobs. “The Biden-Harris Administration invests in rural America, because we know strong communities are rooted in their people,” Secretary Vilsack said. “These investments will build modern infrastructure that will attract employers to the nation’s smallest towns and most remote communities, creating jobs, ...

Central Juniata 4-H Livestock Club meeting notes

MEXICO, Pa. — The Central Juniata 4-H Livestock Club held its November and December meetings at the Walker Grange Building in Mexico. During the November meeting, there was a reorganization of officers. The club also talked about 4-H fair dates and tagging dates for project animals. At the December meeting, the club had its Christmas meal and finalized fair dates for July 20-24, 2025. Members worked on a community service project, making Christmas ornaments for local nursing homes. Tagging dates: Jan. 25: Market beef March 29: Dairy feeders and market rabbit does May 3: ...