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USDA announces $7.5 million in grant funding to increase access to real food

Agriculture

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced $7.5 million in grant funding available through the Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Program will fund projects to support cold chain equipment investments that help food assistance entities temporarily store, effectively package, and distribute fresh, frozen, and minimally processed foods. “The Trump Administration continues to prioritize providing Real Food for Americans. Over the past year and a half, we have worked hard to incentivize healthier options for Americans and today’s ...

Chobani to establish its first dairy operation in Pennsylvania

Agriculture

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger and Department of Revenue Secretary Pat Browne recently announced the Commonwealth has secured a historic $1.2 billion investment from Chobani to establish its first dairy product manufacturing operation in Pennsylvania. This project, the largest ever private investment in Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, will create 900 full-time jobs over the next five years in the Lehigh Valley and greatly expand ...

Farm Bill grants to help farms pursue growth opportunities

Agriculture

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Agricultural Business Development Center is accepting applications for up to $15,000 in Farm Vitality Planning Grants. The 2026-27 budget includes $500,000 for the PA Farm Bill grant program which supports strategic business planning to expand, diversify, or transition farms to new owners. The Shapiro Administration secured an eighth year of funding for PA Farm Bill initiatives at $13.8 million in a 2026-27 budget that grows Pennsylvania agriculture through smart investments in economic development, job creation, and innovation. “Pennsylvania farmers ...

Juniata County Dairy Promotion pointers

Agriculture

Hi, my name is Gabriella (Brie) Zug and I am a Juniata County Lil’ Dairy Miss. My favorite flavor of ice cream is strawberry, but I also like vanilla with sprinkles. I have one cow, that is red and white. I like helping with the promotions that give out ice cream, and I liked riding on ...

Birth Announcements

Local News

MARIA BETHANY PEACHEY Maria Bethany Peachey was born at 4:55 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at home to Omar and Ariann Peachey of Belleville. Maria was 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 20 inches. ANDREW CRIST HOSTETLER Andrew Crist Hostetler was born at 12:52 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at SMBC to Abie and Betsy Hostetler of Reedsville. Andrew was 8 pounds, 6 ounces and 20 ¾ inches. JAMES ALVIN ALGYER James Alvin Algyer was born at 11:52 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 to Daniel and Rachel Algyer of Howard. James was 8 pounds, 6 ounces and 20 ½ inches. ARLIN NEIL ...

Outdoors

Local News

OUTDOORS: Young game warden on her own checks old-time hunter By David Thompson Even though only one game warden was assigned to the region that I was about to hunt on the first morning of dove season, Sept. 1, that officer showed up as I was walking away from my parked truck en route to the dove field. Because the field was on state game land owned and managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the warden’s presence didn’t catch me by surprise. What surprised me was that the warden was a lady. Actually, that didn’t come as a shock since she had replaced the ...