Breaking News

Agriculture

Penn State mobilizes to prevent avian flu in dairy cow herds

UNIVERSITY PARK — With nine states to date reporting dairy herds affected by a syndrome thought to be caused by a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, animal health experts and extension educators in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences have mobilized to provide dairy producers with information that can help protect their herds from infection. The rapidly evolving situation began in March, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that dairy cows in Texas and Kansas were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. Although the virus is generally ...

Penn State Extension offers syrup webinar

UNIVERSITY PARK — For those interested in the fundamentals of beekeeping or maple syrup production, Penn State Extension is offering a webinar, “Living on a Few Acres: Maple Syrup Production and Beekeeping,” on June 13 from 6-8 p.m. This session is designed for the beginning producer or homesteader and for those looking to become more self-sufficient in maple syrup production or beekeeping to extract honey. Participants can learn the techniques and skills that will enable them to begin maple syrup production, beekeeping and honey production. The “Living on a Few Acres” ...

Penn State Extension offers phone line for poultry, dairy information

UNIVERSITY PARK — For those with limited or no internet access, Penn State Extension poultry and dairy educators are offering an alternative educational method — timely production-related information via telephone. By calling (888) 665-2407, producers and hobbyists can listen to five-minute messages with tips on dairy or poultry production, the latest industry issues, and upcoming extension events. Extension educators cover various topics, such as food safety, feed management, health and disease. The phone line also will include new and emerging animal-agriculture industry ...

Penn State Extension offers dairy workshop

UNIVERSITY PARK — Youth interested in dairy or livestock industries can learn about these fields by attending "Youth Dairy and Livestock Day," a Penn State Extension workshop offered in three locations in June. Huntingdon County. The workshop will occur from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, at the Huntingdon County Fairgrounds, 10455 Fairgrounds Access Rd., Huntingdon. York County. This event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the York 4-H Center, 771 Stoverstown Rd., York. Crawford County. This session is slated for 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ...

Penn State Extension to offer food safety certification courses

LEWISTOWN — The ServSafe Food Safety Manager course, conducted by Penn State Extension, will be held at Penn State Extension Mifflin County, 152 East Market St., Suite 100, Lewistown, Pa. The course will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 3, and from 9 a.m. to noon, June 10. The exam will begin at 1 p.m., June 10. These in-person trainings, taught by certified ServSafe instructors, will help participants learn how to prevent contamination of food by properly receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cooling and serving the food, as well as proper methods of sanitizing food service ...

Penn State Extension announces inclusion of new canine program

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has announced the recent hire of Abby Hodder as the assistant clinical professor of canine behavioral welfare in the Department of Animal Science. Hodder's onboarding marks the beginning of a Penn State Extension canine program designed to support professional dog breeders through education, outreach and applied research focused on canine behavior and welfare. The canine program is available to all dog breeders — whether private or commercial — regardless of their breeding goals, whether for service, companionship, ...