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Agriculture

USDA to conduct annual potato processing survey

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is encouraging potato producers and agribusinesses to respond to the Annual Potato Processing survey. Potato Processors make up a significant share of the United States economy. In recent years, the majority of potatoes grown within the U.S. were utilized for processing, and most potato exports consisted of processed potatoes. The results of this survey will be used to establish final USDA statistics about the 2023 potato crop processing for official processing states. Data collected ...

Hyde to take reins for Penn State Extension

UNIVERSITY PARK — Jeffrey Hyde, most recently a professor and administrator at Texas A&M University, has returned to Pennsylvania to become director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences. He started in his new role April 25. Hyde takes the reins from Katherine Cason, professor of food science and former associate director of extension, who had been the interim director since June 2023. As director, Hyde will oversee program planning; budget, facilities and human resource management; and government, industry and constituent relations. He ...

FSA seeks nominations for county committees

WASHINGTON — Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2024. “Serving on a Farm Service Agency county committee is your chance to ensure that other producers who share your interests, your production practices, and your perspective are represented. County ...

Mifflin County Beef Club meets

REEDSVILLE — The Mifflin County Beef Club held its monthly meeting at the Mifflin County Youth Park in Reedsville on June 13. Members brought their 4-H steers and heifers to participate in hoof trimming and a mock show. Animals’ hooves were trimmed by Paul Neer Hoof Trimming. The mock ...

Forest, grazing landowners to receive NASS survey

WASHINGTON — This summer, the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey (CPAMS), a joint project between USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will be mailed to 43,000 forest and grazing landowners and managers across the nation. The CPAMS gathers information to understand why people choose to use different conservation practices, and whether they continue to use practices over time. The data will help improve voluntary conservation programs. NASS will mail questionnaires on July 8 with the option for survey ...

USDA partnership to increase equitable healthy foods access

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to help organizations strengthen local food financing programs and improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the country. Through funding made available through the American Rescue Plan, Reinvestment Fund has selected 16 public-private partnerships to receive $40.3 million in grants under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program to expand access to nutritious and affordable foods in 20 states and ...