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Agriculture

$3M investment to fight hunger, support apple growers

PEACH GLEN, Pa. — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft visited Knouse Foods in Adams County recently to see how a $1 million state investment is turning surplus Pennsylvania apples into applesauce and apple juice to feed hungry families across the state. The Shapiro Administration's investment of $1 million of Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) funds, and $2 million of federal funds offered apple growers a tangible solution to meet the challenge of keeping a bumper crop of apples from going to waste. "Pennsylvania ...

USDA to measure quarterly bee colony loss in honey industry

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 April 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 Charles Butler, acting director of ...

Varner named fellow of CCAP

UNIVERSITY PARK — Jill Varner, Penn State Extension food, families and communities educator, was appointed as the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Extension Fellow, effective Jan. 1. During her two-year term, Varner will work with the association in Harrisburg, providing expertise to commissioners in the state's 67 counties to enhance the statewide partnership between the association and Penn State while learning more about county and state agencies and offices. "This fellowship is an opportunity to continue to foster a collaborative relationship between Penn State ...

Soil Health Bucket service offered

MIDDLEBURG — The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is offering an on-farm soil health service to Snyder County farmers. This is a free opportunity for farmers to bring the "Soil Health Bucket" and conduct soil health tests and discuss opportunities and options for future improvements. While the SCCD is willing to help, the technician with the "Soil Health Bucket" is not a substitute for your local agronomic consultant or Extension field crops educator.) If you are interested in having a SCCD technician stop by on your farm with the "Soil Health Bucket," contact Barry ...

Pennsylvania ranks third in national trout value of sales

HARRISBURG — The total value of fish sales received by trout growers in Pennsylvania totaled $7.39 million for 2023, a slight increase from 2022. Pennsylvania accounted for 7% of the total value of fish sold in the United States, ranking Pennsylvania third nationally behind Idaho and North Carolina, according to Charles E. Butler, Acting Regional Director of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northeastern Regional Office. The number of trout 12 inches and longer sold during 2023 totaled 870 thousand fish, down 20% from the previous year. The average price per pound was ...

Pa. wine production reaches fourth in nation

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has released findings from its 2023 study, Economic Impact of the Pennsylvania Grape and Wine Industry. The study, funded by the department’s Wine Marketing and Research Program, found that the industry supports 10,756 jobs, paying wages of $518.2 million, and directly contributing $1.77 billion to the state economy annually. Pennsylvania ranks 4th in wine production in the nation, up from 5th in 2018. Grape production in PA has grown by about 970 tons per year in that period. Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget provides ...