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Agriculture

Penn State Extension to offer ‘Beef Cattle Short Course’

UNIVERSITY PARK — Beef cattle producers, beef cattle nutritionists and small meat packers interested in learning about the cattle meat production process may want to attend “Beef Cattle Short Course,” a two-day workshop hosted by Penn State Extension with support from the Pennsylvania Beef Producers Working Group. The event will occur from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, and from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at various locations within Penn State’s University Park campus, including the Snider Agricultural Arena and the Penn State Meat Laboratory. Tara Felix, ...

USDA to measure chemical uses on fruit crops

HARRISBURG — Interviewers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will interview nearly 600 Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York fruit growers to gather information for the 2023 Fruit Chemical Use Survey this fall. The survey will collect information on bearing acreage, pest management practices, including acres treated and application rates, and pesticide application, including acres treated and rates applied, to more than three fruit crops. In addition to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, fruit growers in nine other states ...

USDA to measure northeastern milk production

HARRISBURG — Thousands of milk producers across the country will receive surveys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as the agency collects information for the 2023 Milk Production reports. The dairy industry relies on monthly Milk Production reports to make decisions about the marketing of milk. By participating in the survey, milk producers can ensure that NASS provides timely, accurate and useful data that all sectors of the U.S. dairy industry use to make sound business decisions. NASS will mail the questionnaires to all ...

Pa. 4-H competes in Scotland, Ireland

TIPPERARY, Ireland — A team of four Pennsylvania 4-H members recently competed in dairy judging contests in Scotland and Ireland, placing first at the Clonmel Agricultural Show in Ireland. Team members included Morgan Smoker, of Mifflin County; Sara Haag, of Berks County; Madelynn Hoffman, of Lancaster County and Ellie Curtis, of Warren County. The team qualified to represent the United States at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Scotland, after winning the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo, held last October in Madison, Wis. The team was selected ...

Conservation District offers cover crop program

MIDDLEBURG — Farmers know cover crops keep their soils covered to prevent erosion. Cover crops can also help with weed suppression. When planted year after year, cover crops improve the soil’s water holding capacity. However, you may have been leery in planting a cover crop for the first time because of a lack of equipment, experience, never tried after a summer grain harvest, or some other concern. The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is offering a program to encourage county farmers to plant cover crops for the first time within the Middle Creek Watershed. ...

Organic food sector expects 15% growth

The organic food market continues to expand despite a higher price tag compared to conventional foods. The sector is expected to grow by $310 billion U.S. dollars from 2022 to 2027, an increase of nearly 16% per year, according to a 2023 Technavio report. Some experts disagree that organic foods provide increased health benefits, prompting the question, is it worth paying higher prices for organic foods, especially during a time of significant inflation? The Higher Cost of Organic Foods and Beverages When checking the price tags at a grocery store, it’s clear that organic food ...