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Agriculture

Plant seeds of success with ‘Starting and Improving Farms’ Conference

UNIVERSITY PARK — Interested in starting a farm, diversifying an existing farm or beginning an agritourism business? To help participants explore new business and production practices, Penn State Extension will hold the “Starting and Improving Farms” Conference Sept. 19-20 at Toftrees Golf Resort, 1 Country Club Ln. in State College. This event is designed for anyone who is considering starting a farm, those who began farming within the past five years, existing farms considering diversification, team members on existing farms, women farmers, providers who support farmers, and ...

USDA to measure small grain production

HARRISBURG — Starting in late August, a sample of producers around the country will receive Agricultural Survey questionnaires from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The agency is taking a comprehensive look into the 2023 production and supply of small grains, including wheat, oats, barley, and rye. “The small grains industry is an important part of United States agriculture. It is crucial for all involved to have accurate data about this key sector of the economy,” King Whetstone, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional ...

Goat farmer uses YouTube to document herd

By Will Geschke The News-Review MELROSE, Ore. — Sylvia Smith has been around goats for a long time. Her parents started raising goats when she was just 5 years old. At a young age, she started raising sheep, but found her true passion in goats, first at the age of 12. “I felt like sheep were kind of dumb,” Sylvia said. “They didn’t have as fun of personalities as the goats, and I decided I really, really liked them.” Over the past four and a half years, Sylvia, now 16, has grown her herd into a group of ten Kiko goats — on top of working a job, taking school ...

Juniata County 4-H Horse and Pony Club meets

By Lilyann Shelley McALISTERVILLE — The Juniata County 4-H Horse and Pony Club met July 18 at the Double B Ranch in McAlisterville. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The president was not present so the vice-president led the meeting. Old news was discussed before a presentation on hot-blooded and cold-blooded horses and a working horse. Members celebrated during a horse show at the Mifflin County Youth Park on July 15 by eating hotdogs, cheeseburgers, and other delicious food. Afterward, members went swimming in the pool and took a lap around the pond. The ...

HARRISBURG — PA Farm Link, in collaboration with Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, are offering a hybrid continued education program on Medicaid 5-Year Look-back. The program will be offered Oct. 25, 2023 from 1- 3 p.m. with in-person and online options available. Educator for the program is MacGregor Brillhart, attorney at Stock and Leader. Ag professionals will learn about long-term care expenses and related asset planning strategies to ensure farms are not encumbered by Medicaid liens. Through increased ...

Agriculture Counts: USDA monthly report

by King Whetstone USDA conducts Pennsylvania custom rates survey for first time since 2016 We have contacted Pennsylvanian farmers and agri-businesses for the 2022 Custom Rates Survey. The survey is a comprehensive assessment of custom crop and livestock service work offered in the state during 2022. The most recent crop and livestock custom rates data available are from 2016. This year, persons involved in agriculture in Pennsylvania can show how hiring custom services on farms has changed. We have contacted about 4,000 farmers and agri-businesses in Pennsylvania starting in early ...