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Agriculture

Rural communities impacted by closings

UNIVERSITY PARK — All communities rely on physical spaces that are vital to the well-being of their citizens, such as grocery stores, recreational facilities and pharmacies. But what happens when these places are lost, especially in rural areas where no alternatives exist? Two new studies led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Health and Human Development — one published in the journal Wellbeing, Space and Society and the other in the Journal of Rural Health — analyzed the experiences of residents in one such rural Pennsylvania ...

Winter gardening webinar set for Jan. 11

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension Master Gardeners will share practical winter gardening insights in an upcoming webinar. “Come Grow With Us: Winter Sowing and Harmful Plants” will occur Jan. 11 from 8:50 a.m. to noon . The webinar is designed for homeowners, beginning gardeners, intermediate gardeners and landscapers. This year’s program focuses on practical methods for winter gardening, strategies to identify beneficial versus harmful plants, and the importance of incorporating native plants to support local insect populations. Attendees also will learn about managing ...

USDA accepting fellowship program applications

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) is accepting applications for the 2025 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. These fellowships introduce faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts to the vast array of USDA resources available to them. The fellowships take place during the summer of 2025, and applications are due by March 6, 2025. “This fellowship was designed to introduce faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions to the many USDA programs and ...

Patriotic voices to start each day at 2025 PA Farm Show

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania performers will sing the National Anthem daily and at special events during the 2025 Farm Show. Finalist nine-year-old Cadence Kline from Barnesville, Schuylkill County got the most social media fan-votes in the 2025 PA Farm Show National Anthem contest, Oh, Say Can You Sing? She will sing live to kick off the 109th PA Farm Show at 8 a.m. on Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. "The 2025 Farm Show theme, Powering Pennsylvania, highlights the strength and vitality of our agriculture industry and its role in driving our state forward," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, ...

Pa. invests $10.2 million to ensure 31 farms stay farms

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is investing $10,215,541 to purchase development rights for 2,842 acres on 31 farms in 13 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development. In 2024, Pennsylvania preserved 167 new farms and 13,847 prime acres of farmland across the state, investing more than $50.6 million. These joint investments by state and local governments ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs. “Saving farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses ...

USDA invests $6.3 billion to strengthen rural infrastructure

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (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 administration invests in rural America, because we know strong communities are rooted in their people,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “These investments will build modern infrastructure that will attract employers to the nation’s smallest towns and most remote communities, creating jobs, vibrant Main Streets, and lasting ...