Breaking News

Agriculture

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 ...

Study: Fireflies at risk due to climate change, urban development

UNIVERSITY PARK — Catching fireflies is an iconic summer experience for many people living in North America, but the flickering beetles are on the decline. New research has identified factors that may be contributing to declining populations. The study, which is available online now and will be published in the June 15 issue of Science of the Total Environment, suggests that fireflies are sensitive to various environmental factors, from short-term weather conditions to longer climatic trends. The team — including researchers from Penn State, the University of Kentucky, Bucknell ...

Big Valley FFA competes at state convention

UNIVERSITY PARK — Big things are happening for the Big Valley FFA Chapter, which attended the 2024 PA FFA State Convention and Activities Week, held June 11-13 at the Pennsylvania State University. Nearly 2,000 FFA members, advisors, supporters and guests gathered throughout the three days ...

Juniata FFA earns high placings

UNIVERSITY PARK — Members of the Juniata FFA Chapter traveled to Penn State University, June 11-13 to compete in the State FFA Convention. Over 1,500 FFA members from across the state competed in Career and Leadership Development Events. J. Charles Telfer earned a 9th place finish in the ...

USDA readying to conduct annual mushroom survey

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be conducting the annual Mushroom Inquiry to document the past growing year. All mushroom growers in Maryland and Pennsylvania will be contacted about growing area, production, and value of sales for the 2023-2024 season as well as growing intentions for the coming year. “It is important that all mushroom growers participate in the inquiry so that accurate statistics are published,” said Kevin Pautler, acting director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. ...