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Agriculture

USDA grant to support training for beginning farmers in Pennsylvania

UNIVERSITY PARK — A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will enable Penn State Extension to offer a program designed to bring together beginning and retiring farmers in Pennsylvania, with an eye toward facilitating the transition of farms from one generation to the next. The $50,000 award is part of USDA-NIFA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which supports a wide range of professional development activities and topics, such as managing capital, acquiring and managing land, and learning effective business ...

Free Ag mentorship program available to the public

Free Ag Mentorship Program HARRISBURG – In 2022, Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry received a new resource to help farmers. The PA Agriculture Mentor Program Pilot included five mentors with extensive agricultural backgrounds to assist beginning farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs and farmers in troubleshooting new strategies and ideas for their farm businesses. The program pilot proved to be a valuable asset to PA farmers, resulting in 124 sessions and over 127 hours of service. In 2023, 104 clients received a total of 318 hours of free mentoring already. Spearheaded by a ...

Dairy farms participate in Calving Corner at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show

HARRISBURG — Area dairy farms will be participating in the Calving Corner at the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show, which started Saturday and runs through Jan. 13. Cows representing these four farms will calve on site during the entire length of the Farm Show, so visitors can witness the dairy birthing process and meet newborn calves. Dairy industry volunteers will be volunteering at the Calving Corner exhibit throughout the week to answer questions about Pennsylvania dairy. The Calving Corner is part of the “Destination Dairy” Northeast Hall at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. The ...

MC Conservation District sets grant application period

BURNHAM — Farm operations can now apply for funding through the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) to install best management practices such as waste storage facilities/mortality composters, forest and grass buffers, stream and wetland restoration, and heavy use area protection to name a few. Funding for the ACAP Program was created through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Clean Streams Fund and was established with the goal of reducing nonpoint source pollution to surface and groundwater supplies. The program is administered by the State Conservation Commission ...

Ag Department warns poultry owners about avian influenza

HARRISBURG — The Department of Agriculture reminds all poultry owners – backyard flocks and commercial producers – to keep their guard up to protect their birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza. After a lull in detections for several months, Pennsylvania has detected a new case of avian influenza in a game bird flock in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County. Samples from this detection are being forwarded to the USDA National Veterinary Services lab for confirmatory testing. However, the Department has worked with the premises operator to respond immediately ...

Fill a Glass with Hope sends fresh milk flowing in state

HARRISBURG — On Friday at the PA Farm Show, 2024 Fill a Glass with Hope® (FGWH) charitable milk distribution program got a big boost with $135,500 in donations thanks to its annual Feeding Pennsylvania fundraising campaign launch. Joining Feeding Pennsylvania to announce the kickoff were program supporters: Two-time Pittsburgh Steelers and Super Bowl Champion and Former NFL quarterback Charlie Batch; Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding; Feeding PA CEO Julie Bancroft; PA Dairymen’s Association Executive Director Dave Smith; Lolly Lesher, Pennsylvania Dairy ...