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Agriculture

Novel method to measure root depth may also lead to more resilient crops

UNIVERSITY PARK — The search for ways to capture and store atmospheric carbon causing the phenomenon has intensified. Penn State researchers have developed a new high-tech tool that could spur changes in how crops withstand drought, acquire nitrogen and store carbon deeper in soil. In findings recently published in Crop Science, they describe a process in which the depth of plant roots can be accurately estimated by scanning leaves with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, a process that detects chemical elements in the foliage. The method recognizes that roots take up elements they ...

USDA to gather farm labor data

HARRISBURG — USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in April. More than 2,000 Northeastern U.S. farmers and ranchers will be asked to participate in the survey online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The survey is an opportunity for producers to provide accurate information about hired farm labor, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of Jan. 7-13 and Apr. 7-13, 2024. "We ask about two separate time periods each time we collect these data in order to ...

Workshop to focus on feeding management

UNIVERSITY PARK — Dairy farmers and dairy farm employees can learn about effective feed bunk and rumen management for cows at an upcoming Penn State Extension workshop. The "Dairy Nutrition 101: Feeding Management Workshop" will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 4, at Sugar Valley Volunteer Fire Company, 24 W. Anthony St., Loganton. Participants can learn how to communicate better with nutritionists about rations. The workshop will cover: — Feed bunk management. — Rumen anatomy and function. — Feeding protocols. — Types of feedstuffs and why they are included ...

Pa. Farm Bill invests in state agriculture

HARRISBURG — As the agriculture industry grows and changes, it must be supported in new ways to ensure its future success. The Pennsylvania Farm Bill is a bold, aggressive, and necessary investment in Pennsylvania agriculture to grow opportunities and resources, remove barriers to entry, and inspire future generations of leaders within agriculture. The PA Farm Bill provides support for the commonwealth's leading industry in six funnels: Resources for Agricultural Business Development and Succession Planning • The Agriculture Business Development Center supports business ...

USDA March agriculture counts

Become a crop weather reporter If you are knowledgeable about crops across your county and have Internet access, you qualify to be a weekly crop reporter. It only takes about 10-15 minutes each week to alert USDA of the crop situation in your county using the Internet report form. We will use that information to generate the weekly report of Crop Conditions across the Northeastern Region. This report is issued weekly during the growing season, April to November, and lists planting, fruiting, and harvesting progress and overall condition of selected crops in major producing states. ...

Mushrooms possible key to sustainability

The global mushroom market is projected to reach $102.6 billion by 2032, according to Global Market Insights, but that's not the most fantastic fact about this beneficial fungus. Mushrooms Are Hot Right Now, a documentary produced by travel publisher Matador Network and featuring biochemist and mushroom educator Dr. Gordon Walker, examines how fungi of all types could help solve many of the issues facing the planet today. From food to fuel to medications, fungi are already on track to becoming important allies as scientists search for sustainable solutions.