Breaking News

Agriculture

Solar leasing webinar offered

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension is offering a solar information webinar. The online seminar is free and will take place at noon on Thursday, June 20. Pre-registration is required. Register ASAP. Space is limited to 500 participants. Registered participants will receive a recording. You can register at the following website www.bit.ly/solarJune2024. Questions about the seminar can be directed to Daniel Brockett at dlb14@psu.edu. Discover one of the newest trends in solar leasing with an approach that could empower landowners and farmers. Say goodbye to leases of hundreds of ...

Ag producers reminded to file crop acreage reports

HARRISBURG — Agricultural producers in Pennsylvania should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete. "Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline in order to receive program benefits," said Heidi Secord, State Executive Director in Pennsylvania. "Once planting is complete, call your local FSA office to make an appointment to report your acreage. We also encourage you to take care of any other FSA-related ...

USDA invests $7M in wetland mitigation banking program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $7 million to support the development of wetland mitigation banks for agricultural producers through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). Through wetland mitigation banks, wetlands are restored, created or enhanced, generating credits that can be purchased by producers looking to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands at another location. The funding is available to Tribes, government entities, nonprofits and other organizations. "Wetlands provide important ecosystem services, like storing ...

USDA to measure Northeast production of milk

HARRISBURG — Thousands of milk producers across the country will receive surveys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as the agency collects information for the 2024 Milk Production reports. NASS conducts the Milk Production survey in the region every January, April, July, and October. The survey asks milk producers to provide the number of milk cows in the herd, number of cows milked, and total milk production for the first day of the month. The dairy industry relies on monthly Milk Production reports to make decisions about ...

USDA measures quarterly bee colony loss

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting information about colony loss in the honey industry throughout the United States. The next Quarterly Colony Loss survey will be conducted during July of 2024. This survey collects information about colony inventory and loss from more than 400 producers with honeybee colonies in the Northeastern Region of the United States. "The information from these surveys directly impacts our region's beekeepers and honey producers," said Kevin Pautler, acting director of the NASS ...

Dairy Maid promotes National Dairy Month

Hi. My name is Ella Zimmerman, and I am a Dairy Maid for Juniata County Dairy Promotion. Did you know June is National Dairy Month? Dairy products are some of my favorite foods — milk, cheese and ice cream are a few of my favorites. Because I have so many dairy products that I like, I can ...