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Hello and Happy New Year from the Juniata County Farm Bureau! While things might finally be cold outside (at least on the day I’m writing this), things are heating up with the Farm Bureau; the Winter months are always a busy time of meetings and activities! I’ve come to term February “Farm Bureau Month” because there’s so much going on!
First, on Feb. 3, is Farm Bureau Day at the Shippensburg University Conference Center. Our Regional Organizational Director (ROD), David Zimmerman has several exciting topics planned including sessions on promoting agriculture and the unveiling of the 2016 FARM-tastic Book of the Year. Also included in the day is an update on legislative issues affecting farmers. Anyone is invited to attend, although it is especially important for those serving on legislative committees. Contact me, Jackie Matter, at 444-9928 for more information.
The following week is Farmers Care, on Feb. 9at the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. This event highlights and celebrates how much farmers care about the food they produce, the animals they raise, and the community they live in. Farmers Care, formerly known as Food Checkout Day, has been in existence since 1998 and, over that period of time, statewide, has raised over $900,000 for the Pennsylvania Ronald McDonald Houses. We are hoping to surpass the million-dollar mark for donations this year. Drop boxes, for your donations to help meet this goal, have been placed throughout the county at Century 21 Above and Beyond, the Juniata County Library, the Lion’s Den, and Curves. In addition, you can always drop off your glossy paper at the Farm Service Agency, just off the Arch Rock exit of 322. The county FFA’s also help so if you are or know an FFA-er, you can also donate through him or her as well. A complete listing of the needs for the Hershey House can be found at www.rmhc-centralpa.org. So many rural families have benefitted from the services the Ronald McDonald Houses offer, including my own. Please give generously! For more information, contact Selina Hoffman at 463-9305.
For all the farmers out there between the ages of 18 and 35, the Annual Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Conference will be held February 20 and 21 at the Ramada Inn in State College. The deadline for registration is Jan. 21. Thanks to the generosity of those who donated items for the YF&R Auction during the PA Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, the Juniata County Farm Bureau is able to sponsor two couples this year. This conference is a great way to learn how to improve your own farm business, while meeting other farmers from across the state with similar interests as you, and have a great time, too! For more information, contact Jim and Rachel Shenk at 436-6409.
In addition to all these activities, there are always a lot of other things going on as well. January alone brought with it the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) meeting in Orlando, Florida, where national policies were adopted, much similar to the format of the PA Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Hershey. In addition, you may have also had the opportunity to talk to PA Farm Bureau staff members and volunteers at the Keystone Farm Show or PA Farm Show. And there’s always something going on legislatively involving agriculture. While the Winter months may be slow in the fields, things are hopping with the Farm Bureau and there are endless opportunities for you to be a part of it. For more information on how you can get involved, contact Board President Matt Matter at 444-9928 or any Board member. Don’t forget to read the county newsletter that just came out and your “Country Focus” each month or “Keystone Country” every other month if you’re an Associate member.
Did you know??
One other thing the county Board works on each winter is a list of priority issues they feel are most important for Juniata County, involving agriculture. This year, the Top 10 issues the Board felt were the top priorities is as follows:
1.Wildlife control as it relates to too many deer in Area 4B
2.Consistency of paperwork at organic mills
3.GMO’s as they relate to the streamlining of new products into foreign markets
4.FSMA audits for produce farmers
5.Healthcare regulations
6.Ever changing Inheritance/Succession planning regulations
7.Immigration as it applies to the Ag Worker Provision
8.Dairy regulations, especially PI counts
9.Utility easements
10.Nutrient management regulations
Thanks for reading and, until next time, remember to thank a farmer!