CAMP HILL – Celebrating the 4th of July with a cookout will cost significantly more than two years ago, although prices have fallen slightly from record highs in 2022. Nationally, families will pay an average of $67.73 to host an Independence Day cookout with 10 family members or friends, ...
WASHINGTON, D.C — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it is implementing a multi-step effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims. This action builds on the significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels. “Consumers should be able to trust that the label claims they see on products bearing the USDA mark of inspection are truthful and accurate,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, said. “USDA is taking action today to ensure the integrity of animal-raising claims and level the ...
by King Whetstone Regional Director, USDA-NASS, Northeastern Regional Field Office Editor’s Note: This is a monthly column from the Northeastern Regional Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS-NERFO). The website is www.nass.usda.gov; for the reports mentioned below, click on the “Publications” tab. Northeast hay stocks Pennsylvania hay stocks on farms totaled 390 thousand tons, up 15% from the previous May. Disappearance from December 1, 2022 – May 1, 2023 totaled 1.24 million tons, compared with 1.10 million tons for the same period ...
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 the first quarter of 2023 alone, 34 clients received a total of 48.25 hours of free mentoring already. Spearheaded by a group ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency released its final Renewable Volume Obligations for 2023, 2024, and 2025, which sets annual biofuel blending targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Soy growers are expressing disappointment, as the rule does not accurately reflect the growth expected in the industry and falls far below the industry’s current production. The 2023 finalized rule made zero increases to the 2023 volumes compared to the draft rule. For 2024 and 2025, EPA made modest increases compared to the draft rule. The total volumes for 2025 represent ...
UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State Extension Grape and Wine Team is calling on farmers and vineyard owners in the mid-Atlantic region to participate in a survey aimed at tracking the spread and severity of spotted lanternfly populations during the 2023 season. The data collected will provide insights into the distribution patterns of both nymph and adult spotted lanternfly within and outside vineyards, enabling growers and researchers to better understand this invasive pest’s potential impact on mid-Atlantic agriculture. The survey, which takes approximately one minute to ...
