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Agriculture

​​Pa. awarded over $1M in federal grants

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania received $915,758 in federal funds for 10 projects to increase the visibility, quality, and competitive standing of the state’s specialty crops, including fruit, vegetables, mushrooms and nuts. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture received an additional $94,363 to administer the program, bringing Pennsylvania’s total award to more than $1.01 million. The funds are a portion of $72.9 million awarded nationwide through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. “Pennsylvania is a national leader in mushrooms, ...

Mifflin County 4-H Horse and Pony Club competed Aug. 12-13

Sixteen members of the Mifflin County Horse and Pony Club were at the District Show. One member showed in the beginner division, which does not advance onto the State Competition. The 15 riders showing in divisions with advancement to the State Competition did just that. Bringing back 16 District Championships, All 15 members of the Horse and Pony Club will now compete in Harrisburg at the Farm Show Building for the PA State Horse Show, Oct. 24-27, 2024.

Counties designated natural disaster areas

WASHINGTON — The USDA has designated three Pennsylvania counties as contiguous natural disaster areas for drought. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans ...

USDA set to conduct quarterly hogs, pigs survey in September

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting producers for the September Hogs and Pigs survey. This survey is a comprehensive gathering of quarterly data on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions in every state. "Pennsylvania inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2024, was 1.44 million head. This was up 6.7% from June 1, 2023, and down 1.37% from March 1, 2024," said Kevin Pautler, acting director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. NASS mailed ...

2024 Juniata Co. Youth Fair Livestock Auction results

Livestock Sale Owen Jacob’s Grand Champion Market Goat sold to Middleburg Livestock Auction for $1,600.00 Shalelyn Armstrong’s Reserve Champion Market Goat sold to Weis Markets, Inc for $1,600.00 Also sold were… Owen Jacobs, Bryan D Imes Auctioneering, $300; Cassi Parson, T&H Boer Goats/Lazy Hog Farms, $700; MiLee Wynn, Seed Consultants, Inc, $700; Bella Auker, State Representative Perry Stambaugh, $1,050; Jayson Varner, Tom Metz, $950; Conner Schlegel, Lost Creek Ag, $950; Lily Carvell, Juniata Veterinary Clinic, $1,050; Lily Carvell, Pennian Bank/Benner’s Butcher ...

Permaculture, risk management the topic of Extension webinar

UNIVERSITY PARK — For homesteaders or farm-scale operations interested in maximizing land functionality, sustainability and permanent systems, Penn State Extension is offering a webinar, “Living on a Few Acres: Permaculture and Risk Management,” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 12. This session is designed for beginning producers and those with farm-scale operations. It will cover core principles of permaculture and holistic farm design, focusing on sustainable land use and risk management. This event can benefit anyone who is looking for more information about planning out their ...