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Agriculture

Advanced Beef Cattle Nutrition course upcoming

UNIVERSITY PARK — Advanced cattle feeders and consulting nutritionists who would like to learn more about feeding beef cattle may want to attend the Advanced Beef Cattle Nutrition course, hosted by Penn State Extension. The workshop will occur from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16, in the Founders Lounge of the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State’s University Park campus. This event is targeted at practicing nutritionists who work with producers to feed beef cattle. Discussions will focus on fed cattle for beef production. The workshop will cover topics such as protein contributions and ...

Juniata County Dairy Miss offers healthy calf pointers

Hello, my name is Natalee Zug. I am 12 years old and a Juniata County Dairy Miss. I live on my family’s dairy farm in Van Wert. On our farm, and on most farms, cows give birth to a calf every fourteen months. For two or three months before giving birth, the cow rests and does not produce milk. Before giving birth to a calf, the pregnant cow is housed in a pen filled with soft dry bedding such as straw, sand or sawdust. She is given individual care and attention. During the birth, farmers and their employees keep a close eye on the animals to ensure a healthy birth. Calves are ...

USDA’s FSA loan programs available to assist farmers

MIFFLINTOWN — Robert E Zeigler Jr., farm loan manager for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Juniata/Mifflin/Perry/Dauphin County, reminded producers recently that FSA has funding reserved specifically for use by Targeted Underserved Groups and Beginning Farmers. These loan programs are designed to help farmers purchase and operate family farms. “With these loan programs, FSA hopes to help reverse the declining number of farmers and ranchers across the United States and especially here in Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Dauphin County,” Zeigler said. “These loans help to encourage and ...

$4.8M funding opportunity for Pennsylvania’s food supply chain

​HARRISBURG — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has invited applications for $4.8 million in federally funded grants to purchase equipment needed to strengthen the middle of the food supply chain – between the farm field and the consumer’s table. Funds are part of $26 million awarded to Pennsylvania through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which aims to boost capacity to meet food supply needs in grocers, restaurants, and institutions like schools, hospitals, and universities. Pennsylvania leads the nation in sales ...

USDA to conduct maple syrup inquiry

HARRISBURG — USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the 2024 Maple Syrup Inquiry in the Northeastern Region. The survey will collect information from approximately 1,900 Northeastern producers. Maple syrup producers, processors and commodity markets rely on the data from this survey to make informed business decisions and help promote the industry. Survey recipients are encouraged to respond securely online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail or fax. To ensure all participants have an opportunity to respond, NASS interviewers may contact producers who do ...

$1.5B to help farmers in conservation

MANKATO, Minn. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the availability of an historic $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting project proposals now through July 2, 2024, that will help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. These projects in turn can save farmers money, create new revenue streams and ...