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Agriculture

Research finds WIC vital — but is vastly underutilized

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, is vital to the health and well-being of nearly half of our nation’s babies, along with millions of young children up to age five and their mothers. Yet, recent research based on 2021 data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service shows more than six million of those who are eligible for the program are missing out on its proven health benefits. The just-released study reports that an average of 12.13 million moms, babies, and young ...

Select microgreens in custom diet may help deliver desired nutrients

UNIVERSITY PARK — A diet including a carefully selected assortment of microgreens may help address an individual’s nutritional deficiencies, according to a Penn State researcher who led an international team that evaluated the mineral content in young specimens of many different plant species. “Under controlled environmental conditions, we grew 17 different species of microgreens — which are simply the young seedlings of edible plants — belonging to seven different botanical families, and we analyzed those for their yield performance,” said Francesco Di Gioia, assistant ...

Diet with dairy products important for busy schedule

Hi! My name is Ella Zimmerman and I am a Juniata County Dairy Maid. I am “on the go” all the time! I am in 4-H, Girl Scouts, play several instruments and play several sports. The recipe I am sharing is great for a busy schedule because it can be made ahead of time and bakes in about half an hour when you are ready for it. It also has several dairy products in it. It is important for me to eat dairy products because the nutrients in milk keeps my muscles, bones, teeth, skin and vision healthy. Also, the nutrients in milk releases energy from foods to reduce tiredness and ...

USDA to collect final 2023 crop production and stocks data

HARRISBURG — As the 2023 growing season officially comes to an end, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseeds they store on their farms. At the same time, NASS will survey grain facility operators to determine year-end grain and oilseed stocks. “These surveys are the basis for the official USDA estimates of production and harvested acres of all major agricultural commodities in the United States and year-end grain and ...

HARRISBURG — PA Farm Link has completed a new informational leasing resource, now available free to the public. Funded by the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Program, PA Farm Link’s comprehensive long-term leasing booklet contains case studies of farmers actively farming with a lease agreement, lease agreement examples, and useful resources. The case studies included in “Long-Term Leasing on Farmland” consist of farm history, pros and cons of long-term leasing, advice for those interested in pursuing a long-term lease agreement and future plans. The booklet also includes two ...

USDA to conduct end-of-year hogs and pigs survey

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting producers for the December Hogs and Pigs survey. This end-of-year survey is a comprehensive gathering of quarterly data on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions in every state. “According to the most recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report in September, there were 74.3 million hogs and pigs in the United States,” said King Whetstone, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. “The December survey and ...