2025 4-H strawberry plant sale underway

LEWISTOWN — Mifflin and Juniata Co. 4-H are taking orders for high quality strawberry plants. These plants come from virus indexed, tissue cultured mother plants. Plants come in bundles of 25. Each bundle contains a single variety. The cost is $12 per bundle (sales tax included). Orders and payment are due by Friday, March 21, 2025. Strawberries will be available for pick up at the Penn State Extension Office, where you placed your order, on Thursday, April 17 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Strawberry varieties included in the 2025 sale are Earliglow, Honeoye, Jewel, Cabot, and Evie 2. Contact either extension office for an order form. For additional information, call Emily Shoop, 4-H educator at (717) 436-7744.

Penn State Extension to host ‘Winter Beef Meetings’ in February

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Extension will offer a three-part workshop series covering pertinent topics for beef cattle producers, including industry trends, forage options and profitability. Each workshop will be held twice at different locations in western Pennsylvania. Participants can attend one workshop or all three.

The following workshops are scheduled:

“Winter Beef Meetings: New Dynamics in the Beef Industry.”

• 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 12, at the Penn State Extension Westmoreland County office, 214 Greensburg-Donohoe Station Road, Greensburg.

• 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 13, at the Penn State Extension Mercer County office, 463 N. Perry Highway, Mercer.

This session will focus on the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in cattle health. A distinguished national expert will discuss the evolving dynamics shaping the beef industry today.

“Winter Beef Meetings: Novel Forages for Beef Cattle Operations.”

• 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 19, at the Penn State Extension Westmoreland County office, 214 Greensburg-Donohoe Station Road, Greensburg.

• 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 20, at the Penn State Extension Mercer County office, 463 N. Perry Highway, Mercer.

This workshop will explore diverse forage options to enhance feed resources and optimize land use for a beef cattle operation. Presenters will discuss Penn State’s sorghum research.

“Winter Beef Meetings: Dynamics of Markets and Health.”

• 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 26, at the Penn State Extension Westmoreland County office, 214 Greensburg-Donohoe Station Road, Greensburg.

• 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 27, at the Penn State Extension Mercer County office, 463 N. Perry Highway, Mercer.

Participants can learn strategies to protect their cattle investment, enhance profitability and navigate the challenges of rural veterinary shortages.

The Pennsylvania Beef Producers Working Group sponsors this series.

Organizers encourage attendees to register for each event in advance. Registration deadlines vary by event. Each event carries a $10 registration fee.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/2025westernbeef.