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Agriculture

Houser named Penn State Extension associate director

UNIVERSITY PARK — Chris Houser, Penn State Extension assistant director for agronomy and natural resources programs, has been named the organization’s associate director for programs. He has been serving in the associate director role on an interim basis since June 2024. As associate director for programs, Houser will provide leadership for the development and delivery of high-quality, relevant and impactful extension educational programs, products and services through a variety of formats. “Throughout his time in Penn State Extension, Chris Houser has proven to work ...

Penn State Extension offers home food preservation workshops

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension will offer in-person food preservation workshops in State College this fall. Instructors will present research-backed information to help dispel food preservation myths, point out unsafe practices and offer practical tips to ensure a positive experience when preserving food at home. The two-hour workshops will help attendees, whether seasoned experts or beginners, to gain valuable food-preservation skills, organizers noted. Workshop topic, time, date and location are as follows: Home Food Preservation: Wild Game. Learn the basics of ...

Pa. invests $8.8M to protect 33 farms

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is investing more than $8.8 million to purchase development rights for 2,017 acres on 33 farms in 16 counties. The joint investment between state and local government protects the farms forever from residential or commercial development, ensuring that Pennsylvania farmers will have the high-quality land they need to continue feeding our families and supporting our economy. Since the Shapiro Administration began, Pennsylvania has invested $134 million to preserve 448 new farms and 37,194 prime acres of farmland across the state. “When farms are replaced ...

Honoring buffalo, growing tribal futures

BELCOURT, N.D. — Tribal producers, conservationists and community members gathered Sept. 16 for ‘Honoring Buffalo, Building Tribal Agriculture: Turtle Mountain Field Day’, a free, in-person event hosted by the North Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Great Plains Region. The event celebrated the sacred role of buffalo in Indigenous traditions while promoting sustainable agriculture, conservation practices and partnership-building. Held at the Sky Dancer Casino and Resort Event Center in Belcourt, the field day began ...

Mifflin County Forever Farm receives $140K

LEWISTOWN — A Mifflin County farm owned by Jeffrey A. and Melody A. Ranck was the recipient of state grant funds to protect against residential and commercial development. According to a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Bratton Township farm received $143,451 — with $90,785 coming from state funds and $52,666 from county funds. The farm contains 101 acres of land. The grant includes $5.7 million to purchase developmental rights for 2,079 acres on 24 farms in 14 Pennsylvania counties. The joint investment between state and local government is aimed ...

Workshop for greenhouse and nursery growers set

UNIVERSITY PARK — Greenhouse growers, nursery operators and garden center managers and employees interested in learning about the latest research-based information and management practices for their businesses can attend an upcoming Penn State Extension workshop. The “Central Pennsylvania Greenhouse Meeting” will be Dec. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bread of Life Restaurant, 30644 Rte. 35 N., McAlisterville. The workshop is designed to deliver research-based guidance on producing and managing annuals, bedding plants, perennials and houseplants with practical insights ...