Latest Blog Posts

My 4-H Beef Experience

By craines from . Published on November 23, 2009.

Listed in my “top searches” for this blog, I noticed the search: “how do 4-h raise beef.” Ironically, there’s been a letter circulating that questions the program and what it teaches children. I am going to comment on my own 4-H experience with beef cattle, inclusive of how those cattle were raised and what other [...]

When’s the Turkey Done?

By craines from . Published on November 23, 2009.

Shortly after Aunt Bethany recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Clark had the whole family excited about the turkey. After Cousin Eddie requested the neck, the carving knife touched the bird’s crispy skin and the turkey unfolded into some sort of proteinaceous bloomin’ onion, steam erupting. And Cousin Catherine said, “I told you we put it in [...]

White vs. Dark Meat – from the #DailyMeatLesson

By craines from . Published on November 23, 2009.

I try to provide a #DailyMeatLesson to the Twitter world, and that 140 character quip gets read, re-tweeted, and hopefully people learn a different little factoid about meat every day. Per the fantastic suggestion (albeit anonymously) of a dutiful Twitter follower, I am going to (hopefully I can keep up daily) expand on the daily [...]

Timber Tax Tips for 2009

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on November 23, 2009.

The USDA Forest Service has release their annual Tax Tips for Forest Landowners quick fact sheet for the 2009 tax year. The big change for 2009 is that all timber sales now require the landowner receive a 1099S. To view the tax tip sheet click here.

For all your timber tax management questions for forest landowners go to the National Timber Tax Website.

Food for the Festivities

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on November 23, 2009.

The holiday season are here! These celebrations often involve time with family, friends and food. For most of us, food plays a significant role in our celebrations. Food may also even be part of a tradition, like that famous fruit cake recipe passed down through my mother's family. Even in challenging economic times, most of us will have more than enough food for our holiday celebrations. So, during the hectic pace of the season, I challenge you to take a moment and think about how fortunate we are to be served by farmers and others in agriculture who assure us nutritious foods. Whether it is getting out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to go milk cows, or spending seemingly endless hours in the field growing crops for human or animal consumption, Pennsylvania agriculture has a diverse workforce of farmers all unified by one common goal: producing high quality food for those living in the state and around the world.

Pennsylvania is also home to a wide variety of agricultural products. Our state's number one product is dairy, with product valued at over two trillion dollars. The next most valuable agriculture product is cattle and calves followed by mushrooms, corn and greenhouse/nursery products (USDA ERS 2007). Chester County, in Southeastern Pennsylvania, produces over 50% of all the fresh mushrooms grown in the United States. White button, shitake and oyster mushrooms are all produced by Pennsylvania mushroom growers. Pennsylvania agriculture will be well represented on your holiday table from the butter used in those delicious cookies, to the corn that fed the turkey, and the mushrooms in the hors d'oeuvres and salad.

So over this holiday season take a moment to appreciate the local farmers in your community. If you know them, thank them. If they make their food production available for retail sale on their farm, support them with your purchases. But most of all take a moment to think of how much time, effort and love went into preparing your holiday treats before they even reached your kitchen.

Greetings from Lilongwe - Half Way Around a Flat World

By bam10 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on November 23, 2009.

Christopher Columbus demonstrated an important principle more than 500 years ago – that the world is round. In those ensuing 500 years, changes in society have changed that globe. Author Tom Friedman has stated the case clearly: the world is flat.

Lovely Lavender: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 20, 2009.

Lavender is probably the most easily recognized and widely grown cultivated herb, and deservedly so – its delightful fragrance, and many uses have been enjoyed for centuries. It was the Romans who named the plant after the verb ‘lavare’ – to wash – as they were fond of adding it to their bath-water in those days before deodorants and gentle, scented soaps.
It was also the Romans that introduced the herb to England where it was grown in many a monastery garden.
In the days of Henry VIII, lavender was one of the ‘strewing’ herbs (strewn on the floor where the hems of ladies’ gowns and strolling feet released the perfume and sweetened the otherwise un-sweet air). It was also thought to ward off the plague, and was carried in nosegays (small bouquets held under the nose to mask unpleasant smells – pre-deodorant once again!)
Most of lavender’s finer qualities have been proven by modern science and it continues to be one of our most valuable herbs.

This is an herb from the Mediterranean region, so this should give you a hint about its cultural requirements – full sun and well drained soil. Fertile soil will promote the best growth, but a poorer soil produces the finest perfume. Lavender can be grown from seed, but it may not come true to type so it is best to purchase plants. There are many varieties on the market so do your homework before purchasing; the ‘English’ varieties are reliably hardy in this area, but the French or Spanish varieties are not, but can be overwintered as house plants in sunny, cool windows – just go easy on the water!

Lavender maintenance is minimal: spring trim to tidy up the overall plant, being careful not to trim back into old wood, trim again after flowering (just the flowering stems). Lavender does not appreciate a ‘hard’ pruning so be prepared for a ‘not-so-neat’ appearance after a few years.

To harvest lavender for use in sachets or pot-pourri, gather the flowering stems as they begin to open, tie into small bunches and hang up-side-down in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry, dark area. When dried rub the flowers off the stems. To make a sachet:
Cut a circle of muslin or other open-weave fabric, place a small amount of dried lavender on the center of the fabric; draw up into a bundle and fasten with a ribbon. These sachets will perfume your underwear drawer and also repel insects. (You may draw your own inferences).
The anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties of lavender are as valuable as its commercial use in perfumery, but did you know that just inhaling the fragrance can calm a headache, and the perfume can induce sleep?
But I bet you didn’t know that it flavors a great cookie recipe:

About 2 dozen cookies:
1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
Lavender oil (6-8 drops)
Mix, drop on cookie sheet, by tablespoons (I think)
Bake @ 350* 12-16 minutes (check often)
Thanks Cheryl for the recipe!

On the Road Again - Dean's Tour

By bam10 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on November 20, 2009.

What do honey, hydroponics, biofuels, veterinarians, and ketchup have in common? Sure, they are all components of agriculture, but more specifically they were the focus of tour stops on our most recent two-day Dean’s Industry Tour into southwestern Pennsylvania.

It’s Time for Farmers to Tweet

By craines from . Published on November 19, 2009.

In addition to farmers, the social media interface can allow all others involved in animal agriculture to tell their stories. Seedsmen, veterinarians, butchers, traders … the list goes on! The article below was written by Sarah Hubbart of the Washington, D.C.-based Animal Agriculture Alliance and appeared in their most recent letter (posted with permission). ———————– IT’S [...]

What is #meatcamp?

By craines from . Published on November 19, 2009.

The hashtag feature with Twitter allows Twitter users to search for topics or keywords marked with a hash/pound mark. The #meatcamp is exactly such a designation we are using to organize questions and answers anyone has about meat. Questions about cuts? Flavors? Tenderness? Cooking? You can ask them at an online weekly forum if you’re [...]

Clean field dressing

By craines from . Published on November 19, 2009.

The image below is of a poorly handled field-dressed deer. As you can see, the body cavity is heavily contaminated with leaves, dirt and sticks. A few ticks were noticed crawling about, feasting. Such extreme contamination can be minimized with more careful handling. The reason I’m posting this is that, with deer season approaching (or in [...]

Overcoming the Meat Language Barrier

By craines from . Published on November 19, 2009.

Farmers and butchers sometimes speak different languages, especially when it comes to how meat is cut. There are a variety of common names for the same cut which can lead to miscommunication and consequently, frustration for everyone involved. To overcome this language barrier, a reference guide can be used. One such guide is the NAMP [...]

Addressing Logging Aesthetics

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on November 16, 2009.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering a great November and December line-up in the ForestConnect webinar series on logging aesthetics. November will bring a presentation by Dr. Andy Egan, Paul Smith's College, on the technical aspects of timber harvesting aesthetics from a woodland operations perspective. December will bring a presentation by Drs. Shorna Broussard Allred, Cornell University, and Shannon Rogers, Purdue University, on owner and public perceptions about timber harvesting aesthetics.

A free, one-time ForestConnect registration is required to receive notice of the connection details. Registration assures notice of the connection details, but "seating" is available first-come first served. Details on the webinar series, access to archived webinars, and registration information is available by clicking here. Webinars are live at noon and 7PM (eastern) the dates listed below.

November 18th: Timber Harvesting Aesthetics Part 1. Timber harvesting options to improve aesthetics. Presented by Andy Egan, Paul Smiths College.

December 16th: Timber Harvesting Aesthetics Part II. Perceptions of woodland owners and the general public about harvest aesthetics. Presented by Shorna Broussard Allred, Cornell University, and Shannon Rogers, Purdue University.

A great publication for professionals and landowners entitled "A Guide to Logging Aesthetics: Practical Tips for Loggers, Foresters, and Landowners" can be ordered for $7.00 per copy through the Natural Resource, Agricluture, and Engineering Service (NRAES). This publication was awarded a blue ribbon in the 1993 ASAE Educational Aids Competition. The publication addresses planning and conducting a timber harvest to minimize the disruptive effects of cutting and removing trees on a forest. Topics covered include concerns, solutions, truck roads, landings, skid trails, tree felling, administration and planning, and costs. Also included are fifty full-color photos. I highly recommend it if you are planning on conducting a timber harvest. To order publication click here.

Need a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report?

By noreply@blogger.com (Robert J. Thee) from Families Living Well. Published on November 16, 2009.

You’ve probably heard stories about a company’s records being compromised and Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other personal data being stolen. If your information was among the stolen data, what would you do?

Well, after you’ve finished fussing and fuming about how it could have happened, there are options available to preclude or minimize any possible damage.

Placing a Fraud Alert

You could place a fraud alert. A fraud alert can help prevent the identity thief from opening an account in your name. There are two primary types of fraud alerts to consider.

An initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. During that time, creditors must use “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. An initial fraud alert may be sufficient if you suspect that you have been, or may about to be, a victim of identity theft if your wallet or computer has been stolen or if you’ve been a victim of a phishing scam. The initial fraud alert also allows you to get a free copy of your credit report.

The second type, an extended fraud alert, stays on your credit report for seven years. If you’ve been a victim of identity theft you can ask for an extended alert. You will need to provide the consumer reporting company with an Identity Theft Report accompanied by a copy of a report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. This type of alert requires potential creditors to meet with you or contact you before issuing you credit.

An extended alert entitles you to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. The consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for up to five years or until you ask them to put your name back on the list if earlier.

If you are a member of the military and away from your usual duty station, you may place an active duty alert on your credit report to help minimize the risk of identity theft while you are deployed. When a business sees the alert on your credit report, it must verify your identity before issuing you credit. The business may try to contact you directly, but if you're on deployment, that may be impossible. As a result, the law allows you to use a personal representative to place or remove an alert. Active duty alerts on your report are effective for one year, unless you request that the alert be removed sooner. If your deployment lasts longer, you may place another alert on your report.

Whichever type of alert you place or remove, you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity such as your Social Security number, name address, and other personal information.

You can place a fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit reporting agencies. The agency you contact is required to contact the other two to place an alert on their version of your report.

Equifax: 1-877-576-5734; http://www.alerts.equifax.com/
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/fraud
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; http://www.transunion.com/

Placing a Credit Security Freeze

A more restrictive option is a credit security freeze. Most states have laws allowing the consumer to freeze their credit. A freeze restricts access to the credit report. Potential creditors won’t be able to access your report unless you temporarily thaw the freeze using a PIN so legitimate applications can be processed.

The charges for placing a security freeze on your credit vary by state. There may be a fee to place the security freeze, to temporarily lift it, or to remove it. Pennsylvania has set a maximum fee of $10 to place or temporarily lift the freeze and it is waived for victims of identity theft. Persons 65 years of age or older are also exempted from the fee to place a freeze. There is no cost to remove the freeze in Pennsylvania. The three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) or your state’s Attorney General’s office can provide information pertaining to your state.

If you wish to open a new account while your files are frozen, you can lift the security freeze for a temporary period of time or with a specific creditor.

Unauthorized Credit Card Use

The above options all relate to the opening of a new account. None will stop someone who has obtained your credit card number from going shopping. If that is the case, contact the issuing bank or credit union immediately. Your monthly statement will have the toll-free phone number. Follow up with a letter including your account number, when you noticed the card was missing, and the date you first reported the loss.

The maximum liability for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50 per card if reported within 60 days. If reported before the card is used, you are not responsible for any charges. If the card was not stolen or lost, but the number was used, you have no liability for unauthorized use. Always review your billing statements carefully and watch for any questionable charges.

For additional information on placing a fraud alert or credit freeze, go to:
Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/
Pennsylvania Attorney General at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/
Consumers Union at http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/financialprivacynow/learn.html
Bankrate .com at http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20060911b1.asp

Baxter Black Speaks About Beef Checkoff

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on November 16, 2009.

Baxter Black, famous Cowboy Poet supports the beef industry by explaining the Beef Checkoff in this televison commercial. If you want to learn more about the Beef Checkoff read my July post: http://bit.ly/2WZDQa or go to www.mybeefcheckoff.com

Wildlife in Your Backyard

By Wendy Gloffke from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on November 15, 2009.

No, this popular seminar isn't about those summer pool parties...it's about habitat, habitat, habitat. Gary San Julian, A Penn State Extension Wildlife Specialist walks you through the process of making your property attractive to wildlife. First, figure out what your...

Technology Anyone?

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on November 15, 2009.

As I was driving to State College yesterday for a meeting I passed an interesting site on my way through Big Valley. It caught my attention enough to stop and be a tourist on the way home, clicking a few pictures. One of these accompanies this post. At first this caught me off guard since it is an odd clash of modern technologies coupled with a very old practice. Does this mean one or the other doesn't belong? Maybe, maybe not, I'll let you decide for yourself. However as I thought about this I thought each farm has this mixture to some extent, new practices and technologies mixed with remnants of the past. The only step is then to identify each. I think this may be an interesting practice for all of us to look at both on and off the farm. What are areas we are excelling in and what areas could use a little polishing. I'm not stating we have to all be immediate adopters of everything that comes down the road, nor am I stating that we leave everything Dad and Grandpa taught us and move on, we simply need a balance that moves us steadily forward. Maybe it's a good time for all of us to think hard about why we do things. Consider what changes may be made, do a small trial and your farm see how it performs. Just like this photo shows, anyone can implement technology on their farm.

What will be the last tree standing?: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 13, 2009.

I just don’t know how much more bad news Pennsylvania’s trees can take. Just last week, it was announced that the emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Juniata County.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has desperately tried to contain the isolated EAB outbreaks from becoming more widespread but it seems an exercise in futility. There was a comprehensive EAB Action Plan that was created in 2006 to eradicate/suppress this insect when it came across our borders. Came across the Ohio/Pennsylvania borders it did in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. It was first found in western Pennsylvania in Butler and Alleghany counties that year and has spread to nine additional counties in western and central Pennsylvania.

Each red dot on the map represents an emerald ash borer has been located in that area. The blue lines around the states and/or counties represent an area that has been quarantined. Map as of November 2009

I think our ash trees have a short future in Pennsylvania. Lest you think I am a pessimist, look at the following activity and fact. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has started the National Ash Tree Seed Collection Initiative in which seed is collected from ash trees throughout the U.S. in the growing regions of ash trees. If the ash tree populations are completely decimated by the ash borer, the stored seeds can be used as the genetic base for work to re-establish ash trees for future generations. Scientists are preparing for the worst. And why not? The following fact is enough to make me go buy a wood burning stove. Over 50 million ash trees have been killed by the EAB the past several years in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin. I think the ash tree will go the way of the American chestnut.

According to Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources, ash make up 3.6% of the forests in Pennsylvania, with more than 300 million trees throughout the state. What’s that you say? Ninety-six percent (96.4%) of the trees are unaffected by EAB and our forests will be fine.

Let’s look at the number of pests that are taking aim at our other trees.
• Gypsy moth –We see the immediate impact, defoliation, but the aftermath is more of a problem. Tree death can occur as leaf loss causes stress to infested host plants. Secondary organisms such as the two-lined chestnut borer and shoestring root rot successfully attack stressed trees causing mortality. They’ll feed on over twenty different types of trees.
• Hemlock wooly adelgid – Will we have to find a new state tree? This insect inserts their piercing-sucking mouthparts into the base of hemlock needles and removes plant sugars. Low infestations may cause a reduction in tree health while high infestations may result in premature needle drop, reduced twig growth, dieback, or death of trees.
• Butternut canker – Although the butternut tree has never dominated our forests and landscapes, they are an important tree for its value for wildlife and forest diversity. The fungal organism has infected 90% of the remaining butternut New Hampshire. The USDA Forest Service estimated that 77 percent of the butternuts in the Southeast were dead. Most butternut trees die within 15 years of infection
• Other problems, just to name a few are maple decline, beech bark disease, and oak wilt

Our forests and landscapes can only hope that they are not visited by what appears to be a “monster” of a problem, the Asian longhorned beetle. That will be a scary story that you can tell kids sitting around the campfire.

Think AGain - Our Students Are!

By bam10 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on November 12, 2009.

There are many ways to measure the quality of offerings in the College of Ag Sciences, but few are as significant as the number of students who are drawn to our academic programs. And the picture that's emerging this fall is encouraging indeed.

iPhone Pix: Entomology Portraits

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on November 11, 2009.

Eric Bohnenblust, graduate student in Entomology, let me take his picture for the blog. I've been making portraits for their Web site in a small conference room in ASI Building. During a break I found graduate Jason Smith studying at the tables situated by the windows with a view looking...

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Strategies to Improve Venison Safety

By craines from . Published on November 10, 2009.

The “first rule of food safety” is: KEEP IT CLEAN. The average field dressed deer when it makes it to the garage or to camp site is never nearly as clean as it could be, yet there a few things you can do to help improve its cleanliness and subsequent safety (remember, deer can harbor the [...]

Ash Borer Found in Juniata County Pennsylvania

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on November 10, 2009.

This one is hitting close to home. Pennsylvania has added another county to the list that have discovered emerald ash borer infestations. The insect has now been identified in Milford Township, Juniata County, bringing to 11 the number of Pennsylvania counties where the ash tree-destroying pest has been identified. To read the full story go to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's web site news release: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?Q=153457&A=390

I realize this is kind of late notice since the first webinar in the series has already run on November 5th, but the USDA Forest Service, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, and Purdue University are collaborating to present a series of webinars about Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

Dubbed Emerald Ash Borer University, this is a series of webinars that will offer people the opportunity to learn a great deal of information about EAB without the costs of travel. All of the webinars are free, although registration is required to access them. Names and contact information can be found on the home page if you have questions.

To register and learn more visit: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/eab_university.cfm

Slowing Down the Holidays

By noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Stevens) from Families Living Well. Published on November 10, 2009.

Holiday decorations are already filling the stores and many parents feel their blood pressure rise with just the thought of the stresses and expectations that the “joyous” season brings. This year try to take a step back and think about what memories you are creating for your children. Will they recall Thanksgiving and other holidays as a warm fun time surrounded by family, friends or neighbors? Or will their recollection be a horror story of how mom or dad “exploded” when the turkey burned?

Think about your own childhood holiday memories. Is it the perfect place settings or the number of casseroles that you recall? More likely it was the games you played with cousins or the hike the family took after dinner or some other simple pleasure that comes to mind. Maybe you can recreate these fun times for your kids and focus a little less on achieving perfection with your dinner or decorations. You might find that you are all a little happier as a result.

Think of ways you can involve your children in the preparations for the holidays. Can they make place cards for everyone, create table decorations, and help make the pumpkin pie or set the table? Perfection is not necessary – keep in mind the pride they will have when they tell others that they helped. The same is true if you are expecting a crowd for the holidays – leave them some tasks to do so they feel part of the event. I have used a “job jar” before and let my family members draw slips of paper that assigned them responsibilities for Thanksgiving dinner. The suspense of the “luck of the draw” made it fun for everyone. What creative ideas have you used to de-stress the holiday season?

Do You Raise Cattle or Beef?

By craines from . Published on November 09, 2009.

That’s an interesting question, isn’t it? Do you raise cattle or beef? I recently completed the Master’s of Beef Advocacy program (so much very good information in those training modules) and noticed that a three-part mantra was reiterated over and over: Beef is – Safe Wholesome Nutritious Then I paused and thought: More often than not, farmers produce cattle, [...]

Opinion: The Luxury to Criticize!

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on November 09, 2009.

Harold Harpster, Professor of Animal Science Department of Dairy & Animal Science Penn State University I stop at the end of the lane to retrieve the day’s mail and folded around the usual stack of bills is my latest issue of TIME magazine. Before driving into the farm I take a quick look at the cover. [...]

Minimizing Equine Costs in Tough Times

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on November 09, 2009.

According to some Equine Specialists, the annual cost of raising a horse could reach up to 1000 dollars or more. For some, 1000 to 2000 dollars is just not feasible in today’s tough times. Below are just a few ways to cut costs while still enjoying the pleasure of having a horse.

The largest co

st of caring for a horse always seems to be the feed bill. Is your horse receiving grain, nutritional supplements, hay, and pasture or is the horse just on pasture? Evaluate your current feeding plan as well as your horse’s condition. If your horse is overweight, it might not have a balanced diet. Also the feeding plan is determined by the use of your horse, if it is a mature pleasure horse not being exercised frequently it requires approximately 20 to 50 percent less feed. Your best option is to simplify the feeding plan by evaluating each ingredient that is being consumed. Sometimes it is not necessary for your horse to consume both grain and hay. Grain tends to be much pricier than hay. Most horses do very well on just consuming hay or being out on the pasture. This could be a cost saving tactic as well as a much healthier option for your horse. Remember if you switch to a forage diet make sure you know the quality of hay they are eating. An easy way to determine your hay quality is to send a sample of your hay to a lab for testing. Once you find a high quality hay source, buy in bulk to lower your cost per bale.

Utilize your pastures when available. Pastures are a great option instead of feeding hay during the spring and summer months. Before you put your horses on your pasture, test the soil to see if you need to fertilize. Soil testing is important so you do not waste money putting extra fertilizer on your pastures or by putting it on soil with a low pH. Setting up a rotational grazing system will also be beneficial for your pastures, horses, and your pocket. Rotational grazing moves horses to different paddocks every few days. This is the most economical way to feed animals. Rotational grazing allows the pasture to rest and re-grow and in turn allow for quality pasture throughout the entire grazing season.

Another high cost are your veterinarian bills. It is necessary to have your v

eterinarian do a check up on your horse once a year to determine if it is good condition. This could reduce your bills throughout the entire year. Giving your horse vaccinations may also reduce your costs. A veterinarian can show you how to give a proper injection and save him a trip and you a large bill. You will still be able to purchase the proper vaccinations from your veterinarian or you can obtain them from an animal health store. Another option to reduce your bills is to take your horse to the veterinarian instead of having to pay for a farm visit.

It is very important that you perform daily care and maintenance for your horse. Be sure to check hooves, teeth, and change water buckets daily. Keeping the stable area dry and clean is also imperative for horse health. Remember it is less expensive to do preventative then emergency care.

On the Environmental Sustainability of Food Production

By craines from . Published on November 09, 2009.

This morning via Meatingplace.com I learned of an academic paper that addresses the some challenges animal agriculture faces in regard to the environmental sustainability of food production. The manuscript was written by professors at Washington State and Cornell Universities and an individual that works for Elanco Animal Health. It’s aim is to help answer [...]

Saturday Morning at University Park Before the Ohio State Game

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on November 09, 2009.

Things were looking pretty nice this past Saturday morning at 7:15am at Old Main. Seemed like a good day to dispatch Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. Oh well... My dog Junior yielded his squirrel interest long enough for me pull the iPhone out of my pocket to make this picture. He's not really all...

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Plant Yer Own Patch! An Introduction to American Ginseng Forest Farming

By Wendy Gloffke from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on November 08, 2009.

Interested in native plants? Check! Like walking in the woods? Check! Looking for a way to diversify farm income? Check! Interested in plant and forestland conservation? Check! A potentially profitable activity that supports vulnerable plants and forestland? Sign me up!...

Sunday Schmoozing: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 08, 2009.

Did you go to the Green Energy Fair last Sunday at the Central Mountain Middle School? If not you missed a wealth of information on saving energy, winterizing your house, new products that are environmentally friendly and lots more. In fact, you missed a chance to chat to three Clinton County Master Gardeners about rain barrels and composting; indeed, Karen, Cheryl and I talked up a storm on a variety of subjects so I thought to share with you what is on the minds of some of our local gardeners.

One couple wanted to find out if it was too late to plant a redbud tree that somehow was still in its pot by the back door, looking sad. ‘Get that red in the bed’ said I; fall is a great time to be planting - the cooler temperatures and plentiful moisture will result in a less-stressed tree, and there is ample time before the soil freezes for new root growth to occur.

The subject of skunks came up, especially their nocturnal digging for grubs in the lawn. The larvae of the Japanese beetles are still close to the surface of the soil where the skunks can find them, but as colder weather approaches the grubs will tunnel deeper to spend the winter, and Mr. Polecat will have to dine on other fare or take a long winter nap.

Wood-ash in the compost pile was on another gentleman’s mind, and I advised it may be better to sprinkle directly on the soil surface where a very light application can be controlled. Adding ashes to the compost pile may result in uneven distribution throughout the pile.
A soil test would reveal the pH balance of your soil and whether or not you even needed to add wood-ashes at all. This brought up a discussion on where to obtain soil-test kits, and after finding out that the person was from Centre County I directed him to the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte (3rd floor).

The dreaded late blight on tomatoes came up in conversation many times and there was some gnashing of teeth, but for the most part it was a ‘Oh well, there’s always next year’ kind of thing. I did stress a thorough clean-up and to send the debris to the landfill emphasizing that the organism that causes late blight does not over-winter here.

I heard mention of the Asian lady beetle, and hemlock wooly adelgid, magnolia scale insects, cover crops and trellising vegetables to save space. There were questions on growing vegetables in containers and in unheated greenhouses, and Commissioner Bossert waxed positively lyrical about organic gardening!
It was a very interesting day and I don’t think I sat down for 4 hours – a fact that my poor, tired feet will attest to!

I did get to speak with the organizers of the Fair – Senator Wozniak and Representative Hanna – and determined that the Senator still relied on the faucet for watering his landscape, but Mr. Hanna claimed to have water barrels. I would like to offer my congratulations to the ‘real’ organizers of the Fair – Mitzi and Julie – for a job well done!

I Love Penn State!

By Wendy Gloffke from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on November 07, 2009.

I love Penn State! No, not their football team...I love Cooperative Extension and the College of Agriculture. The wealth of resources they make available to the public at no cost is AMAZING! Over the next month I'm going to blog...

Marketing on the mind?

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on November 06, 2009.

Does anyone have any idea what to think about the price of corn right now? It seems that the market place is quickly shifting between bullish and bearish views of the crop. Over the past weeks to even the past days we have been seeing large fluxes in prices anywhere from a few cents up to 14-15 cent changes in a day. All of this brings to mind marketing. As many of you know this time of the year becomes filled with days of meetings for me as well as planning for the upcoming winter meeting season. This week has been no different (hence the blog isn't getting updated quite as often). However today at a meeting I was talking with one of our educators from risk management and it looks like we will can get a marketing class to come to the county this winter. For some of us marketing seems foreign since commodities are kept on farm and fed to livestock, however, even if you only feed livestock chances are you are largely effected by the market since you need to decide when to buy and not to buy additional feeds. Hopefully we will get a meeting together for this winter and we can all cut through a little bit of the haze surrounding marketing.

ASI Building on a Fall Morning

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on November 05, 2009.

A digital image processed on the iPhone as output from a toy camera. Peering through a stairwell window in the Ag Administration Building I wondered why I let so much of the fall slip by without venturing out with a camera. Now the leaves are almost downand winter whispers across campus. For now...

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Mental Placement

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on November 04, 2009.

Anybody who has ever sat through a marketing class has heard of the 4 Ps of marketing: product, price, promotion, and placement. Placement, of course can be thought of as where is your physical product going to be sold or where is or service going to be provided. However, there is a different way of thinking about placement that is especially important for small scale entrepreneurs who compete on quality more so than on price.

Mental placement refers to how you and your business are positioned in the customer’s mind. For instance, if you pride yourself on being able to answer any production question and value the role in education in sales you will be viewed by your customers as the place to go for whatever it is you produce as well as a free education. There are other strategies to achieve a positive mental placement in the eyes of consumers but it all comes down to creating a mix of quality products and exceptional customer service. The most important question to ask yourself is: how will customers remember you and your products?

Ornamental Peppers: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 04, 2009.

Lil’ Pumpkin plants produce unique black foliage and orange pumpkin-like fruit.

I was thumbing through the October 2009 issue of Agricultural Research by the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture when I came across their story on ornamental peppers.

It appears we have completed a full circle on peppers. Peppers were more prized for their ornamental characteristics than as food in 15th century Europe. No doubt, when peppers are mentioned, people mostly think of it them as a food source today. Scientists are now closely looking at peppers for their ornamental qualities again. See the following story for more information.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct09/garden1009.htm

Pepper Jack bears greenish-black foliage and a mix of both orange and black, small, cone-shaped fruit, similar to the ever-popular Halloween treat, candy corn.

Forest Management and Regeneration Webinar

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on November 03, 2009.

The Pennsylvania Forests Web Seminar Center is pleased to announce the November on-line program. Susan Stout, Project Leader, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, will be presenting live Forest Management and Regeneration on Tuesday, November 10th at noon and again at 7 p.m. Each seminar lasts approximately one hour. ( http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/)

When managing a forest stand, thought must be given to the forest left behind after activities take place and the forest that will begin anew when we modify light conditions through harvesting. So often, forest management focuses on that which is to be removed. Shifting focus to what remains and the next forest, and undertaking activities to enhance these two resources, allows landowners to demonstrate their stewardship ethic and focus their goals on a sustainable forest resource....a sustainable outcome.

This seminar counts towards 1.0 credit of Category 2 SAF CFE credits.

To participate in the live seminars you must register and have a "Friend of Penn State" user ID. The "Register Now" page on the website will walk you through this process. If you are a member of the Penn State community, you already have your User ID, but we would ask you to register on the website so that you can receive reminders of upcoming programs. You only have to register once. To register visit the site at http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/.

Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed Internet connection and sound.

Have you heard it?

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on November 02, 2009.

Water 'n Poo a song sang by Will Gilmer, dairy farmer in Alabama, while he is spreading manure in his fields. He sings an educational song about the nutrient management cycle. Watch the video and learn more about the agriculture industry.

Correct Diagnosis of Plant Problems, Continued . . .

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on November 02, 2009.

I entered David Shetlar's opening remarks on this topic on October 16. Here is the rest of the text. It was written for late August in an area that was having a drier year than we were, but the message...

Fitness for Families

By noreply@blogger.com (Lois Killcoyne) from Families Living Well. Published on November 06, 2009.

Barriers The cooler months and holiday stresses can be a challenge for maintaining physical activity for good health. Some of the barriers include:

shorter hours of daylight
inclement weather (cold, snow, ice, wind)
more hectic schedules with holiday tasks
dislike of traditional exercise
tight budgets

Benefits The benefits of staying physically fit are many---greater strength, more energy, better sleep, stress relief, weight management and the high of the endorphins. These make it worth your while to find solutions that work for you and your family.

Solutions Here are some strategies that might work to help you maximize the benefits and minimize the obstacles.

Lack of time:

Increase the intensity and burn the same number of calories in less time. Walking 4 miles an hour versus 2 miles an hour, riding an exercise bike at a faster pace or with more resistance, or dancing to a faster beat will all work. Be sure to work up to greater intensity very gradually and only do what is exercise at a pace that is approved by your physician.
Divide activity into three 10-minute segments rather than one 30-minute period. It is easier to fit in your schedule---10 minutes before work, walk at lunch, activity in the evening. Even doing activity during an hour TV show can give you 15 minutes worth!
Incorporate your activity into your daily lifestyle. Climbing the stairs, housecleaning for the holidays, shoveling snow, taking the baby for a walk can all increase fitness while accomplishing tasks.

Weather woes; shorter daylight:

Use exercise videos or DVDs. Seniors might really enjoy Richard Simmon’s “Sweating to the Oldies”. Those with medical conditions that make it difficult to do be on their feet can get “Chair Dancing” by Jodi Stove or activity while sitting. It is amazing much of a workout you can achieve this way. Many times you can purchase these at flea markets for a dollar or two.
Keep a basket of hand and ankle weights and stretch bands in the family room. It is so easy to pick them up and do stretching and strength training while watching your favorite show. What might seem like a drudgery exercise routine is accomplished with ease.
Listen to music or a talk show, or read a book while pedaling an exercise bike, walking a treadmill, or using other exercise equipment. These items are frequently available second-hand at a low cost.
Take advantage of the winter weather by taking a stroll through the snow, participating in downhill or cross-country skiing, taking the kids sledding or getting your exercise by shoveling snow (don’t overdo it and use caution if you have any medical conditions that might be affected).

Tight budgets:

Ask for items you can use for physical activity for holiday or birthday gifts. Also give loved ones, including children, gifts that help them stay active. The whole family can enjoy the new video games that involve dancing and virtual sports. You can also give or receive exercise equipment or a membership to a fitness club or YMCA. Less expensive items include exercise tapes, CDs , weights or stretch bands.
Walking is always free and you can do it indoors at the mall, supermarket or discount store. Take a few extra laps around the perimeter, or go up and down all the aisles.
The lifestyle activities listed above do not require extra spending. Think of the money you save on medical bills by staying healthier!

As you can see there are a variety of ways to stay fit. Everyone can find something they like to do that fits their budget, interests and lifestyle. Make your plan today to maintain a healthy level of physical activity year round.

What strategies have worked well for you? Leave a comment.

Picking a great Jack-o-lantern

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 30, 2009.

I love DBGB's story of the turnip in the comment section. For everyone out there who will be making jack-o-lanterns on Halloween: Picking a good pumpkin! Choose one with no obvious rotten spots or scrapes. The best Jack-o-lantern stands up...

Will it ever stop?

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 30, 2009.

As we continue to see rain and gray sky's the question arises will this trend ever stop and allow us to get back to the fields? We are under the influence of a cold front moving across the mid west being fueled by an extreme trough in the jet stream. This trough is fueling this moist weather with gulf moisture. This slow moving trough looks like it may release by early next week. Hopefully that brings enough dry weather to get us back into the fields to finish up harvest.

Alumni Fellow John Gearhart

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 29, 2009.

I attended a seminar last week by stem cell researcher and recently named Alumni Fellow, John D. Gearhart, a 1964 graduate of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Gearhart's talk "Instructing Ourselves to Rebuild Our Bodies" dealt with the remarkable progress being made in...

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Mushrooms - A Good Source of Vitamin D

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on October 28, 2009.

The Problem... Vitamin D Levels Are Too Low In Millions Of US Children, Latest Analysis Confirms. ScienceDaily (Oct. 27, 2009) — Millions of children in the United States between the ages of 1 and 11 may suffer from suboptimal levels...

Leaves Are Falling

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 28, 2009.

My dog Junior ate my cellphone yesterday. Chewed off the antenna and added some teeth marks. It provided just enough motivation for me to upgrade to an iPhone. After succeeding in connecting to the College's email server I tried out the camera. Behold the first image from the iPhone. It only...

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They’re Back!: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 13, 2009.

I was eating a bowl of cereal the other day when “she” dropped in from the ceiling and just missed my bowl. I looked up and several of “her” colleagues were crawling around the ceiling’s light fixture.

It’s that time of year; sunny, warm October days when multi-colored Asian lady beetles go from being a beneficial insect to a pest. In most situations, ladybugs are good for growers and gardeners as they aggressively feed on plant pests, specifically aphids and scale. If left unchecked, aphids can reduce plant growth and yield. Instead of utilizing insecticides, many growers rely on predators, such as lady beetles to manage a pest infestation.

The pest label comes into play when these ladybugs starts their home invasion in the fall by congregating on the sides of homes. In some instances, it may only be 30 or 40 beetles while others experience mass gatherings in the thousands. From the exterior, many find their way into the house.

The problem has occurred the past several years as a non-native lady beetle, the multicolored Asian lady beetle, has become established in our area. According to Cornell University, the USDA made several releases throughout the eastern United States in an attempt to introduce this beetle into North America. It took a long time for releases made in Louisiana and Mississippi in 1979 and 1980 to become established and spread, but are now widely disseminated in North America with frequent reports from the south, northeast, and midwest. Although a friend at times, its life cycle and habits have become a nuisance.

In it native homelands, the Asian lady beetle will congregate and overwinter in cracks and crevices on cliff faces. Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of cliff faces in central Pennsylvania so they have chosen the next best thing, your house. The beetles will tend to congregate on the sides of light colored houses that receive afternoon sun. At this time, they are looking to gain access to your house and set up for a nice winter nap.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle only overwinters in a house. It does not feed on building materials or on human food. Unlike mosquitoes, lady beetles do not carry disease organisms. Luckily, these beetles do not reproduce in structures, so no multiplication is occurring.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, once inside the house is unable to find its way back to the natural environment.

Disturbed lady beetles will leave a yellow-orange body stain on walls, drapes, and carpets that is difficult to remove (hint: do not crush these beetles as this really disturbs them). Some people have stated that they have been bitten by beetles but they are not aggressive to humans and the occasional nibble will not draw blood.

Options are few with the management of this insect. If these insects are finding a way into your house, you must prevent them entering by finding and sealing all cracks and crevices with a caulking material. Insecticides are labeled for use in the house, but once used you will need to sweep up the dead beetles. I say skip the use of the interior insecticide application and just vacuum up the beetles live.

This annoyance will disappear as soon as we get into some really cold weather. We will be revisited by them in the spring when they wake up from their long sleep in your house.

All adults of the multicolored Asian lady beetle have a similar shape but range in color from pale yellow-orange (left) to bright red-orange (right), with or without black spots on the wing covers.

Asian Longhorned Beetle: The Next Threat to Our Forest

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on October 26, 2009.

The following story appeared in the Smithsonian magazine. It provides a well written and interesting account of the history and current efforts to eradicate Asian longhorned beetle in the US. It is worth reading when you have the time.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Invasion-of-the-Longhorns.html?c=y&page=1

(Smithsonian Magazine, November 2009)

Jack-o-lanterns appear in the Lehigh Valley

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 26, 2009.

Did you know, Pennsylvania is in the top five pumpkin producing states in the nation? In the Lehigh Valley, the turning of the seasons encourages many folks to decorate their homes, and no fall decoration would be complete without plump,...

Start Your Countdown To a Hassel Free Holiday Dinner

By noreply@blogger.com (Mandel Smith) from Families Living Well. Published on November 06, 2009.

The leaves are beginning to change colors and the days are shorter and cooler. These are subtle reminders that the holiday season is getting closer. When many of us think of the holidays we think of classic holiday meals featuring vegetables, breads, stuffing and, of course, turkey. Holiday meal planning can also prove to be very stressful. This year why not serve up a great holiday meal without the stress? If you start now, at the beginning of November, to begin your initial holiday meal planning you may eliminate much of the stress associated with putting a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner on the table.

The United State Department of Agriculture’s Partnership for Food Safety has developed an easy to follow holiday meal countdown that breaks up the major holiday meal planning task into smaller bite-sized pieces. You can find this countdown at their holiday food safety website, along with other useful and fun holiday planning tips and ideas.

You can check this website out first hand by visiting http://www.holidayfoodsafety.org/.

According to the Partnership for Food Safety’s countdown now, at the beginning of November, is the time to sort through some initial planning task. Developing a guest list and actually inviting your guest would be the first task to tackle. Ask your guest to let you know if they will be attending dinner at least two weeks before Thanksgiving. Question your guest to see if they have any special dietary needs that you should take into account when planning your dinner menu. This is also a good time to count how many tables and chairs you have as well as glasses, plates, etc. If you don’t have enough for the number of people you are inviting, make arrangements to borrow or purchase what you need.

Two weeks before the big dinner is the time to actually purchase your frozen turkey or order a fresh one from your grocer. Other key tasks on this list include preparing shopping list, assigning cooking task to family members willing to assist with meal preparation, and ironing table linens.

With one week to go, start shopping for hardy vegetables such as onions, winter squash, carrots, potatoes, parsnips and turnips. Remember to make room in your refrigerator to thaw the turkey. It will take some larger birds 3 days or longer to thaw. After the turkey is thawed it can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.

Don’t wait until the last minute to clean the house. This needs to be done three days before the event. Make pumpkin pies, rolls, and cornbread, biscuits or bread for the turkey dressing/stuffing two days before the dinner.

As you approach the day of the dinner the things you need to plan for are closely related to actual meal preparation. Study your menu and map out your day so that the foods that need the longest cooking times and long preparation are done first. Remember to allow time for congealed salads and other cold foods to chill.

The first task of the day of the Celebration Day is to clean and sanitize your countertops and cutting boards. This will help keep bacteria and other foodborne illness causing pathogens off of your guest list and out of your food. Another food safety must is a food thermometer. Use this tool to check the internal temperature or the turkey, dressing and casseroles and any other meats.
Before you put your feet up, divide any leftovers into smaller portions and store in shallow containers in the refrigerator within two hours. The website also features handy “use by” date labels for left-over containers.

For more information on keeping your holiday meal task manageable visit http://www.holidayfoodsafety.org/ or contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension Nutrition Educator closest to you.

Do I prune my flowering shrubs now or wait until spring?

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 23, 2009.

The answer partially depends on what the shrub is. Some shrubs will survive the winter better if they are not pruned until spring. Examples of this include butterfly bush, St. Johnswort and Russian Sage. When these shrubs are pruned back...

Cover Crop Walk a Success

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 26, 2009.

The rain held off today for the cover crop walk. We had over 20 individuals come out to learn about cover crops and what they can do for their farm. All the plot signs will now remain up at least for the rest of the fall, possibly through winter. If you want to stop in and see what is there feel free. If you need more information simply contact me at jdr21@psu.edu or by calling the office (717) 263-9226 and I'll be happy to talk with you.

Beginners Beekeeping Webinar: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 04, 2009.

Have you ever thought of beekeeping but didn’t know how to start? Maybe this webinar series is for you. This course is geared for potential and novice beekeepers. Topics such as bee biology, hive location, hive equipment, package installation and other subject matter will be covered. The series will lay a good knowledge foundation before you start into this fun and exciting enterprise.

Penn State Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce a Beginner Beekeeping on-line program. Tom Butzler, beekeeper and horticulture educator along with Don Woodring, Master Beekeeper and extension educator will be presenting a series of bi-monthly sessions starting on Monday, January 18th at noon. Each seminar lasts approximately one hour can be located at https://breeze.psu.edu/beekeeping/

Six live seminars are scheduled for every other Monday, starting on January 18th at noon. Each session will be recorded. So, if you are unable to participate in the "live" session, a recording of it will be available for you to view at your convenience. Of course, none of the interactive elements will be available when watching the recording.

To participate in the live seminars you must register and have a "Friend of Penn State" user ID. This can be done at the following site: https://fps.psu.edu/

Additional information can be obtained at http://clinton.extension.psu.edu/Hort/webinar/10Beekeeping.htm

Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed Internet connection and sound.

We look forward to having you join these discussions and learning experiences. "See" you there on Monday, January 18th.

Looking Ahead:

January 18
We’ll explore some on-line and print beekeeping references that you might feel useful in beekeeping experience. A review of the basic equipment needed to start into beekeeping will finish off the discussion. Noon

February 1
We’ll dive into a little history of beekeeping which will lead us to a discussion of the biology. Just how does the queen control all the workers? Noon

February 15
Just how do you get bees? Listen in as we talk about packages, nucs, and swarms. Noon

March 1
The main concern for new honeybee colonies in the spring is the issue of food and space. Although a beautiful sight, not enough space could lead to swarming. Noon

March 15
Fall and summer management differ from spring objectives. We’ll show you how to start getting your bees ready for winter. Noon

March 29
Before the mid-1980’s, beekeeping was relatively simple. The introduction of the varroa mite changed the hobby drastically. Join the discussion as we talk about honeybee pests and your role in maintaining a healthy hive. Noon

Photo Shoots

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 22, 2009.

This morning we were making photographs to support the College's fund raising activities for the United Way. Alyson, a junior majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, was modeling one of the sweatshirts on sale with proceeds going to the United Way. If you are interested in purchasing...

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Ready for Friday!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 21, 2009.

This post is a friendly reminder of the cover crop field day this Friday from 10:00-12:00. The plot is located on Walker Rd. east of I-81. Signs will be posted on Friday to assist you. Come learn more about the cover crops you know as well as see lots of new species and mixtures.

Look out for Asian Longhorned Beetle

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 21, 2009.

This might be a good time to take walk around your property and look for signs of really terrible invasive insects. One of these is the Asian Longhorned Beetle. I'm working a temporary job scouting for this creature at the...

Hunters Sharing the Harvest

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on October 20, 2009.

The 2009 Pennsylvania deer season is upon us! Archery started October 1st and the early muzzleloader and youth rifle season this week. The regular gun season does not begin until the Monday following Thanks Giving, November 30th. That being said, I hope many of you will consider donating all or part of your deer to help feed the hungry. This is accomplished through the efforts of Hunters Sharing the Harvest and its cooperators.

Pennsylvania's Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is a venison donation program. Since 1991 it has channeled hunter's donations of venison to local food banks, soup kitchens, and needy families. These donations have literally provided hundreds of thousands of meals to needy Pennsylvanians. Last year HSH coordinated the delivery of nearly 200,000 meals of venison to hungry Pennsylvanians!

Hunting is the primary method of deer management in the state. Proper deer management lessens the impact of deer on forests, crops, and landscaping. Balancing deer populations with the available habitat also benefits deer by ensuring the availability of food and cover. With fewer hunters and more liberal seasons than in the past many hunters are able to harvest two or more deer.

HSH not only encourages hunters to consider donating their second or third deer of the season, but also to consider smaller donations from any deer harvested. HSH program distributes the venison to hungry people via an integrated network of meat processors and food banks. The program has called upon hunters to pay for all or part of the processing fees. These donations, combined with the financial assistance of our sponsors, are what make the entire process possible.

To find out more information about HSH go to their web site located at: http://www.sharedeer.org/index.html or contact the Centre County Volunteer Coordinator, Dave Jackson at 814-355-4897. Listings of participating processors can be found on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s web site: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=460&q=160457

Centre County currently has just one participating butcher, Adler’s Market, located in Philipsburg. HSH continues to have a serious need for qualified participating deer processors in many areas. Any help with connecting HSH to good candidates in unrepresented areas would be appreciated!

To Cut or Not to Cut, that really is the quesiton

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 20, 2009.

With our first major frost behind us many questions arise about what is next and what we should do. One of the most pressing is what if you have standing alfalfa? This perennial crop needs enough energy to get through the winter, but we often don't want to waste what is still in the field. The question arises is alfalfa now dormant and thus OK to cut? I had a discussion with Dr. Marvin Hall today about considerations for alfalfa after a frost. Here are some of the main points.

Depending on your previous management of the crop this may be a mute point. If at any point this season you had 1/10th bloom or better you probably have enough stored energy to get through the winter. If you made every cut for maximum quality (no bloom) you may be short energy.

Alfalfa takes a very hard freeze to go into dormancy. Typically we need to get down around 25 degrees for multiple hours to trigger dormancy. Currently our alfalfa probably is not dormant.

Alfalfa that has gone into dormancy will quickly come back out at the first sign of warm weather. With the forecast and today's temperatures if your alfalfa would have gotten enough cold temps to initiate dormancy it is no longer dormant. Wait till cold temps are the norm, not the extreme.

Another point of discussion I brought up was cutting height. I have typically been under the impression to cut high on the last cutting to offer protection of the crown throughout the winter. Dr. Hall stated this was an OK practice but may be more trouble then needed due to our more southerly location and lower amounts of snow. Cut high if you want to make sure your safe or as normal if you believe this will be a 'normal' winter.

See Dr. Hall's latest article in this weeks Field Crop News on this very topic! (will be posted tomorrow).

Creating Balance

By dhc128@psu.edu (Denise Continenza) from Families Living Well. Published on October 19, 2009.

Sometimes it feels like there is just not enough time to take care of ourselves. Parents are often exhausted from running children from one activity to another. Children are already on the treadmill of almost non-stop activity and “busy-ness”. In general, Americans tend to work long and hard, eat poorly, and exercise too little. And our mental wellness is often the last rung on the ladder.

One of the best life skills educational lessons I had occurred when I was an eighteen year-old college student. I attempted to join a sorority; however, I ultimately quit. First of all, I discovered how much I preferred individuality over belonging. I found that I could not subscribe to the uniform attitudes, behaviors, and insularity of a group of people. I hated having people tell me what to do and when to do it, which is a huge part of the initiation process. Submission was definitely not for me, so I politely turned in my badge and pledge book.

However, I did come away with a lesson that has stuck with me to this day. Throughout the admittance phase to the sisterhood, fledgling members had to document daily how they attended to their growth and personal development. It was required that each aspiring member write in a journal what they did for themselves physically, spiritually, intellectually, and socially each day. This concept of holistic wellness set me on a path that I never strayed too far from ever since. Even when things get hectic, I try my best to make sure I am getting a balanced diet of life.

I do feel a greater sense of wellness when I maintain this balance. I find that I get sick less and have more energy. There is a plethora of research that supports the body-mind-spirit connection. The roots of many common conditions and diseases are being traced to stress which is really the imbalance between the demands of life and the coping resources one has.

I encourage you to ask yourself this question each day and maybe even write down your answers. “What did I do for myself today physically, spiritually, intellectually, and socially?”

Random Horticulture Notes

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 06, 2009.

What’s bugging me?
I took my two younger children to the Great Insect Fair two weekends ago at Penn State’s Ag Arena for our annual ‘bug’ trek. This activity is put on by Penn State’s Entomology Department celebrating insects with activities, games, crafts, and tasty treats. It is the tasty treats that get my kids revved up.

The “Insect Deli” was serving up some real appetizing fare such as wax moth larvae on spinach-artichoke, spicy chickpea dip on home-made tortilla chips, meal worm roll-ups and chocolate chirpies (chocolate-covered crickets). I have to admit that I wasn’t feeling adventurous that day and went back to my car and ate a peanut butter sandwich.

There was more than food. We wandered around and took in live exhibits of many insects, bug collections, and cockroach races. One item that I learned that day was that the ink on the Declaration of Independence was a result of insect activity. According to the National Park Service, iron gall ink was widely used to write on parchment during the 17th-19th centuries. This ink is created by taking a compound out of these galls and mixing with iron sulfate, gum, and water. What makes these galls? A tiny little wasp lays her eggs in the oak’s leaf buds. When hatched, chemicals are released by the young insect that promotes the plant cells to grow around it. .

Young girl is delighted as butterflies touch down on clothing.

The Great Pumpkin
I spent two days this week harvesting my pumpkin variety trial and it was probably a sight to see; two people running around cutting vines and moving pumpkins into piles. Who picked more pumpkins? The 62 year old horticulture professor who had back surgery a few years back or the horticulture educator (me) who had one good hand (other hand was in a cast) and a hernia (need to get that operated on). For my pride, let’s just say it was even. I haven’t compiled all the data yet but I was impressed with the variety Magician. I’ll give the final results in a later posting.

Pumpkins in pumpkin variety trial are set to be weighed, counted, and evaluated at Penn State’s Horticulture Farm

The Science Behind Frost Damage
Much of the area was hit with frost this week and most gardeners are aware of the results of this event on tender plants. But what is the science behind this? According to Cornell University damage to plants occurs when the internal temperature in various tissues of the plant is cold enough to break cell walls or disrupt cell constituents beyond repair. If this happens then wilting and death will occur in affected tissues. If you did cover your plants this week, you may be able get another week or two of growth as temperatures appear a bit warmer.

First Major Frost

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 19, 2009.

This morning the thermometer dropped to 28 at my house just before sunrise. This will be the first attempt at a hard frost (below 28 degrees for a few hours) but not successful at least at my house. It does appear we may have a general warming trend over the next few days as high pressure builds in and the trough in the jet stream moves over us. Overall I think we will see some damage on sensitive plants in areas but at this point it appears we have another week of growing season left.

Snow on Mount Nittany

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 16, 2009.

It seems the earliest snow on record has arrived in Happy Valley. Puts a damper on the leaf colors as snow brings down branches and trees across the region. A line of snow clung to the top of Mount Nittany at lunchtime today. The homecoming parade starts at 6pm today and things are wet with more...

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Correct Diagnosis of a Plant Problem Has to Come First!

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 16, 2009.

Fall and winter are good seasons to bone up on the basics, and that's what I'm going to try to concentrate on for a little while. Dr. David Shetlar from Ohio State very kindly gave me permission to use some...

Getting Enough of the Sunshine Vitamin When Daylight Savings Time Ends

By noreply@blogger.com (Fran Alloway) from Families Living Well. Published on October 16, 2009.

I don’t know about you, but my summer really ends when we move the clocks ahead (spring back, fall forward) and lose any daylight left in our evenings. In this last week of Daylight Savings Time, I have been rushing home from work to squeeze in a final walk or chore before it gets too dark. Dinner has just had to wait - I’m not sure how happy my family is about this but we all know that it will end soon.

Darker evenings and shorter days mean that we have less time in the sunlight. Even those who have daylight hours to enjoy outside may be deterred by cold weather. All this can lead to lower absorption of sunlight on our skin, leading to Vitamin D deficiencies. Vitamin D is often referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin” because about 10-15 minutes of exposure to the sunlight on a person’s face, hands and arms daily (without sunscreen) can be sufficient to meet our needs.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, which is why it is added to milk. All cow’s milk is fortified with Vitamin D– whole, low-fat or skim. Vitamin D deficiency in children leads to poor bone formation (rickets) and to weak bones (osteomalacia) in older adults.

Present recommendations for Vitamin D intake for children and adults up to age 50 are 200 International Units (IU) per day. Older adults lose some of their ability to turn sunlight into its active form so 400 IUs are recommended for those 50 – 70 years old and 600 IU for adults older. Some researchers would like to see the recommendation increase up to 2,000 IUs, especially for older adults and other high risk populations.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is retained in our fat cells for weeks. Naturally, it is found in foods containing fat, especially fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines. It can also be found in fortified foods such as orange juice, cereals and margarine and multivitamins. Some proponents of fish oil supplements such as cod liver oil have suggested that this may be another way to increase Vitamin D intake in the winter. A note of caution, however, as too much Vitamin D is toxic. No tolerable upper limit has been established but “more is better” is not a good motto with Vitamin D supplements. Nature’s answer to too much sunlight is usually a bad case of sunburn!

As winter approaches, try to get outside during the day – with your children, friends and older adults. I’ll just tell my boss that I need a walk at lunch to get my Vitamin D for the day!

Contact your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office for flyers about Vitamin D
http://extension.psu.edu

Now It’s Your Time To Join Us! Become a member of the Ag Alumni Society.

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

Our award-winning constituent group of the Penn State Alumni Association has something for everyone. With more than 7,600 members and 11 affiliate program groups, you’re sure to find your niche. Connect with alumni who share your academic and professional interests and receive members’ only benefits from the Penn State Alumni Association.

Don’t forget – $50 of your lifetime membership dues can be donated to the Ag Alumni Society. Here’s how you can help:

1. Go to the Penn State Alumni Association Membership Application.
2. Under the Choose Membership Type, select Life.
3. Under the new options select Alumni Society.
4. From the drop down menu, choose the "College of Agricultural Sciences AAA" tab.

By using this designation, the Alumni Association will donate $50 to the Ag Alumni Society. College Affiliate Program Groups (APGs) also have designation codes in the membership application. Select “Affiliate Program Group” to view a complete list and designate $50 to your favorite APG.

Arrival of Winter

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 15, 2009.

On my way to an assignment I stopped to look at the snow. October 15 and it looks like winter. I was expected a few more weeks of 70 degree weather. For any alumni looking at this I should remind you that I was standing over what was once Parking Lot 80, that infamous winter desert that East...

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Street Corners Markets —Drugs, Gangs, and Obesity!

By noreply@blogger.com (Kathy DiGuiseppe) from Families Living Well. Published on October 15, 2009.

We all know the dangers of drugs and gangs facing our children at the nearest street corners. But what most parents don't realize is that corner market may also be endangering the health our children. Leading obesity researchers across the nation consider "food environment" a major contributing factor of the obesity epidemic. A recent research study at Temple University in Philadelphia found that adolescents are consuming large quantities of calories through snacks purchased from their local corner market.
More than 50 percent of the kids from this study said they shopped at corner stores once a day, five days a week. Nearly 30 percent visited the stores twice a day -- before and after school. For the full articles on the study: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-0964v1

In most urban to suburban areas, corner markets or convenience stores are abundant making them very accessible for youth while walking to and from school. For little over a dollar an adolescent can choose from an assortment of snacks, but few are aware of the possible 350 calorie price tag. What can be done? The following are suggestions to change present patterns and possibly slow growing obesity rates.

In The Home:

Being a healthy role model.
Pack snack from home.
Teach adolescents to read nutritional facts labels.
Serve them a healthy choice food before going to school.
Promote healthier choices like milk, water, and fruits and vegetables.

In The Community:

Endorse school's wellness policy at home.
Support healthy alternatives for school activities.
Promote healthy snacks for intramural sport leagues.
Request healthier options at the local market.
Contract other interested parents to get involved.

There is no magic to prevent obesity. But through developing healthy lifestyle goals for family and community partners, we can set a new direction. Start with small changes to yield long term results to improve the quantity and quality of children's food intake and to build new habits and lower the obesity risk. For more on healthy choices check out http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html

Upcoming Webinar - Deer Impacts on Forests

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on October 15, 2009.

Cornell Cooperative Extension will be providing a webinar on Wednesday, October 21st at noon and again at 7:00 PM entitled Deer and forests - impacts, assessment, control and recovery. The webinar will be presented by Susan Stout and Alex Royo with the US Forest Service Northern Research Station located in Warren, Pennsylvania. The Forest Service Research Station has decades of research experience on deer impacts and recovery. To view the webinars you must first register on Cornell's Forest Connect site located at: http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestconnect/web.htm

Deer have a documented impact on the regeneration of trees and herbs, and interact with other forest processes. Impact is a function of deer density and landscape forage availability. At any given density impact is affected by the amount of landscape forage available. Deer impact refers to the ability of deer to influence tree seedling numbers, species composition, and seedling height growth. They do this by selectively browsing on understory vegetation. In areas with high deer impact the number of seedlings is reduced, the species composition is often shifted to less valuable (palatable) species, and the surviving seedlings are generally smaller. This relates directly to research findings indicating that when deer population numbers exceed what the land is able to support they can have a severe impact on the ability of the forest to regenerate itself.

Forage availability relates directly to the ability of the land to carry a specific population of healthy deer. When forage is less abundant, deer eliminate preferred forage species and spread their foraging out across many more non-preferred species. Many more plant species are browsed, and preferred plant species are much reduced in abundance or are completely eliminated. In regions where the habitat has been severely depleted from decades of over-browsing, deer can still have a high impact on the forest even with relatively few deer per square mile.

Indicators of high deer impact include obvious browse lines; evidence of severe browsing on species that are not preferred such as American beech, striped maple, and black cherry; and understories dominated by species that deer avoid such as hayscented fern, striped maple, American beech, hophornbeam, mountain laurel, blueberry, and spicebush. In areas with high deer impact we often see these species dominating the forest floor. Many of us in Pennsylvania do not know what forest understories would look like with low deer impact, we have never seen that throughout our lifetimes! The real concern is that even if deer densities are lowered are these altered plant communities semi-permanent? They may be.

I will leave you with a quote from Dr. Gary Alt, retired PA Game Commission, "If this is not corrected it threatens our entire forest ecosystem, the health of our deer herd, and even the future of hunting as we know it." Please tune in to the webinar.

Storing roots from flowering plants

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 14, 2009.

How do I store the roots from plants like caladiums and tuberous begonias during the winter? We spend so much money on tuberous begonias, cannas, dahlias, and the like, that it really does seem a shame just to send them...

Some Cover Crops are Drawing to a Close

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 14, 2009.

As frost nears (see last post) we are keeping an eye on our cover crop variety trials. We have a pretty good idea on most of our species that will winter kill, such as oats and radish, however some are unknown how they will behave in this climate. The early planting of oats and radish is doing well with lots of biomass, however our later planting is just starting to slowly take off. It is doubtful this will see major growth in the next few days/weeks prior to frost. Hopefully you can attend the upcoming cover crop walk on Friday the 23rd and see for yourself what the individual species are doing.

First Signs of Frost

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 14, 2009.

This morning as the dawn began a light frost settled on the grass and my vehicle. Another reminder we are progessing further into fall. The long range shows temperatures in the middle 30's for lows over the next few days. This is far from the hard frost it will take to see damage but reminds us the growing season is drawing to a close. Keep an eye on susceptible crops such as late planted corn. Likely we will begin to see some burn on leaf margins over the next week in some fields, however little actual damage should be done to the crop.

Ag Live 09' Alumni Tailgate

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

Share the excitement with hundreds of Ag Alumni and friends at the Ag Live '09 Tailgate prior to the November 14th Penn State vs. Indiana football game. Enjoy a hearty lunch buffet with Berkey Creamery ice cream for dessert as well as entertainment from the Penn State Cheerleaders and pep band. Live auction and raffle will showcase football weekend packages, condo vacations, Penn State memorabilia, collectibles, gift baskets, and more.

For more information and to register please visit http://agsci.psu.edu/ag-live-tailgate.

Student Intern

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

I’m thrilled to announce that Lisa Rankin has started with our office as the Alumni Relations Intern. Lisa is a senior in Agribusiness Management with a minor in International Agriculture and is a member of the Ag Advocates, Alpha Zeta Fraternity, NAMA and the Collegiate Farm Bureau. She is a past recipient of the Ag Alumni Society Internship Award and was selected to give a presentation of her internship at the Armsby Honor Society dinner. Lisa’s internship responsibilities will focus on student engagement and social networking. She will be working with the Student Engagement committee on restructuring, designing, and implementing the new mentoring workshop. Additionally, she will be collaborating with the College’s communication unit on developing and enhancing the alumni website and blog. You will have an opportunity to meet Lisa at some of our upcoming alumni events.

Deans Tour

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

Our new Dean, Bruce A. McPheron, visited the southeast PA region to tour various agricultural industries and speak with alumni and industry representatives. It was a day filled with information on current and future activities of the college while welcoming questions, ideas and suggestions in an open discussion format. The Dean’s tour and college reception was organized by the PA Landscape & Nursery Association, the American Mushroom Institute, and the Pa Wine Association, working through the Penn State Ag Council.

For more information please visit http://agsci.psu.edu/dean/blog/2009/research-on-tour

Research Tour

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

The Penn State Agricultural Council's annual College of Agricultural Sciences Tour at the University Park campus took place on September 24th. The half-day event brought together alumni, legislators, business and community leaders, and many others for tours and presentations from Penn State research and extension faculty on challenging topics facing the state. These topics included theH1N1 influenza, Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction, innovative harvesting equipment and nutrient management.

For more information please visit http://agsci.psu.edu/dean/photos/2009/research-tours

Affiliate Program Group (APG) Competitive Grant Program

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

The College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society (CAAS) has budgeted $1,500 for a Competitive Grant Program focusing on innovative alumni and student engagement projects. The goal of this program is to increase alumni and student interaction by encouraging our APGs to include students, both graduate and undergraduate, in their program planning and annual activities. Student engagement is the Society’s top priority program area, and we know our APGs provide an important means to connect alumni and students who share common academic, professional, and social interests. The proposal deadline is November 30.

For more information please contact Naomi Knaub at nmk107@psu.edu or 814-867-1819.

Task Force created to enhance alumni groups

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

The Ag Alumni Society President, Carrie Bomgardner, formed an Affiliate Program Group (APG) Task Force for the purpose of providing leadership and strategic direction to the Ag Alumni Society board of directors on enhancing and strengthening support to the APG's. The taskforce is comprised of APG representatives, department staff and board members.

For more information on Affiliate Program Groups please visit http://agsci.psu.edu/alumni/groups.

Alumni Engage Students at Tailgates

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

Every Penn State student knows that a football game is not complete without food, friends and tailgating. The College of Agriculture Sciences Associate Dean, Marcos Fernandez and his wife Sheila have been hosting a tailgate at the Snider Ag arena before every home game. Not only do the Fernandez’s make a mean jambalaya; it’s a great opportunity to meet and interact with fellow students, alumni and faculty members.

Thank you, Marcos and Sheila!

College of Ag Sciences alum honored with University Award

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious award presented by the Penn State Alumni Association. This program is designed to invite outstanding alumni and leaders to the University to share their special expertise in informal contacts with students and members of the faculty and administration. This year the award is being presented to John D. Gearhart on October 21^st and 22nd. Gearhart is a leader in the field of stem cell research. His work is considered to be one of the most significant advances in human biology. Gearhart’s research focuses on the role of genes in regulating the formation of human tissues, especially as it relates to mental retardation, Down’s syndrome, and other congenital birth defects. Gearhart led one of the two research teams that first identified and isolated human pluripotent stem cells in 1998. Gearhart is a 1964 Penn State graduate in Agricultural Sciences and Industry.

The Food System and Feeding the World

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on October 12, 2009.

Terry D. Etherton Much has been written about the “Food System” and how we should go about feeding the world. To put “much” into context, I ran a Google search using the phrases “food systems” or food system; got 906,000 returns for the former and 759,000 returns for the latter phrase. Why the keen interest in the [...]

Wild thing – you make my heart sing…by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on November 02, 2009.

As I write this, it is Wednesday, October 7th, and it has been a wild day of windy weather – a true Winnie the Pooh blustery day! The smell of autumn is in the air and the leaves seem to have changed color overnight. I always wish this season would last longer, but yesterday, at the Extension Office, the maintenance men were installing the ‘snow-sticks’ and checking out the snow blower at the same time as I was dripping sweat in the High Tunnel as I cleaned up the mold-ridden tomato plants! Today’s winds were very refreshing!
As this season winds down, the recent Master Gardener monthly meeting focused for the most part on plans for next year with some ideas on workshops being bandied about, and suggestions for the next Plant Sale on the drawing board. We may even venture into the field of native plants for inclusion into the Demonstration Garden!

This year’s garden proved to be a haven for bees of all kinds. We have several hives on the premises and the honeybees took full advantage of the flowers and herbs, and so did several types of bumblebees, sweat bees, and bees I have no names for!

Quite a few monarch butterfly caterpillars munched on the butterfly-weed and the butterfly bushes and are now hopefully on their way to Mexico; I found a beautiful praying mantid and am now seeking her egg-cases in the shrubbery all the while praying that some mason bees found the bee-house I prepared for them in one of the ‘green-roof’ bird feeders. We really had a veritable habitat for the birds, bees and butterflies, and even a warm, dry hunting ground for Kitty-cat (a calico feline of the wild variety) in the High Tunnel. She kept the chipmunks to a minimum and the rest were thoroughly routed by Master Gardener Donna Dougherty’s dog, Star!

We’re talking ‘habitat’ here – a place designed to provide food, shelter, water and space to complete and protect the life cycles of beneficial insects and birds, even a few amphibians (toads). Our Pollinator Garden project is such an effort, and this will be improved upon next year.

Two books I have found invaluable in amassing information about gardening and landscaping for wildlife are:
‘Landscaping for Wildlife in Pennsylvania’ by Marcus Schneck; and
the new “Gardening for Wildlife” by Bill Merilees.

Now, if I could just find a way to think of the constant digging up of my lawn by late night ‘skulking’ skunks as the beneficial activity of volunteer turf aerators – I’ll be happy to accept them into my ‘habitat’!

Final note: The Master Gardeners have some spring bulbs for sale –
A grab-bag of mixed bulbs (a dozen-plus) for $1 a bag – they will be offered in the reception area of the Extension Office on Monday next (Oct 12th) while supplies last. There is a limited supply. Thanks!

To Compost Well - prepare and observe

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on October 08, 2009.

When composting mortality having the right conditions will ensure a good result. Remember to start with a good base of carbon bearing materials in the bottom of the bin. Wet birds to help hasten the process and then cover completely to keep other animals out of the composter. Monitor composting using a composting thermometer in order to tell when compost needs further attention or to pull and spread. For best results compost at 45-50% moisture with temps over 110^o F.

Be sure to have adequate materials at hand to compost, so to be at the ready for when its necessary to handle mortality on the farm.

4-H National Youth Science Day Experiment

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 08, 2009.

Yesterday young people across Pennsylvania were busy making biofuel as part of 4-H National Youth Science Day. I caught up to this young scientist in the Food Science Building as she and a partner were busy experimenting with ethanol production. While waiting for one of the experiments to run I...

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Can I compost tomato plants killed by late blight?

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on October 08, 2009.

I just got this article from Dr. Beth Guigino, our vegetable pathologist at Penn State. Dr. Meg McGrath, form Cornell University also contributed. I thought it would help a lot of our home gardeners who are cleaning up their beds...

Has Ailanthus Met Its Match: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on October 08, 2009.

Infestation of Ailanthus along roadside. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, United States

Invasive plant species have been receiving alot of attention the past several years. You can’t help but notice the impermeable barrier of Japanese knotweed along the West Branch of the Susquehanna, the colorful display of the purple loosestrife in the wetland areas along Route 220 between Jersey Shore and Williamsport, or the dense thickets of Ailanthus (tree-of-heaven) in disturbed sites all over Pennsylvania.

Although at times these plants might look attractive, they are creating problems in our natural settings as they choke out other plant life. Pennsylvania’s native plants cannot compete with these aggressive alien species (most invasive organisms come from overseas) and die-off. Ultimately, invasive plants alter habitats and reduce biodiversity. Whether you are hunter or a hiker, this is not a good thing.

Let’s examine an invasive in a bit more detail and look at the problems. Tree-of-heaven pollen is an allergen, leaves and stems may cause skin rashes, and the wood is light and weak, often breaking in windstorms. Those items are no big deal and we could learn to live with them (poison ivy causes us to itch, silver maples have weak wood, and ragweed is the peak of allergy season).

Although problematic, those characteristics are not the reason we are concerned about its spread. Female trees are prolific seed producers, capable of producing more than 300,000 seeds/tree on trees as young as 12 years old. When these seeds germinate, they can grow up to 6.5 feet the first year, effectively growing faster than any native vegetation (thereby securing an advantage on resources such as light, water, and nutrients). The real kicker is its ability to produce its own herbicide. Tree-of-heaven can produce chemicals that can kill off nearby vegetation, again putting a stranglehold on resources.

But where there are problems, there are people looking for answers. Dr. Don Davis, plant pathologist at Penn State was well aware of these negative attributes as he was driving around Pennsylvania in 2002. He noticed a large stand of Ailanthus in south-central Pennsylvania that was dying off. This was surprising because one of the issues with invasives, such as tree-of-heaven, is that nothing seems to touch them. No insects or diseases keep them in check.

Leaves, stems, and wood chips from dying Ailanthus seedlings and trees throughout the study area were collected and taken to Dr. Davis’s lab for testing. He and his graduate student discovered that the fungal organism, Verticillium was killing off the trees. Verticillium gets into the vascular tissue of susceptible plants, multiplies, and clogs up the trees “plumbing system” resulting in death.

What does this mean? In order to understand the potential implications of this discovery, you need to look at the current management options. One way to control tree-of-heaven is to pull up the plants. This works well on small areas and small trees. Every root piece must also be dug up as this can start a new plant. Mowing has been used as repeated cutting of sprouts over time can exhaust the plants reserves. This may take years and is labor expensive. Chemicals are also an option but there is a cost in labor and environmental issue. All the above options can be effective but have many downsides.

But is there another way? Dr. Davis believed so. His lab isolated and produced the Verticillium for some field trials. Using a special hatchet that is used in forestry work, he tested the Verticillium on some Ailanthus stands. The hatchet had been calibrated to deliver the fungus with each blow by striking the tree at a 45° angle with enough force to bury bit in sapwood. All trees exposed to the aggressive Verticillium died. This Verticillium has the potential to serve as an effective biocontrol agent for the highly invasive Ailanthus.

It is interesting to note that the alien tree-of-heaven might be controlled by a native organism. One win for the good guys!

Apple Exclusivity

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on October 07, 2009.

Many people have heard of “club” or “managed” varieties of apples. These are varieties that are produced and marketed in controlled quantities exclusively by growers and marketers who are part of the “club”. For example, Jazz, Pacific Rose, SweeTango, and Kiku Fuji are all managed varieties. There has been a lot of controversy in recent years over this topic. Many growers think that it is unfair for a specific cultivar to be limited to an exclusive club. The issue has also led to some confusion in the industry. For example, in some cases, like with the Kiku Fuji, only the name is trademarked with exclusive marketing rights. Therefore, anybody could grow the variety but only people with the marketing rights can sell it as Kiku Fuji.

Today, I read about a different kind of exclusivity. A group called New York Apple Growers; LLC has formed and will commercialize apple varieties developed by Cornell University. Under the plan, new varieties, whose development is supported by New York tax payers, will be exclusively grown/marketed by New York producers. Will we eventually have state specific varieties for other apple growing states like Pennsylvania, Washington, and Michigan? Is this a good thing for growers and/or consumers? Only time will tell.

Cover Crops Growing Well!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 07, 2009.

The cover crop plots around the county are growing well. It has been amazing with these warm afternoons how much growth some of these species have put on. With a ten day forecast showing warmer temperatures and no sign of frost it will be interesting to see what kind of growth we get out of our later plantings. Their will be a cover crop walk on Friday October 23rd from 10-noon for any interested.

Feral Hogs and Woodlots

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on October 05, 2009.

The past two issues of Small Farms Quarterly (a New York State publication) ran articles/updates on feral swine (also known as feral hogs) and their impacts on forests and woodlots. Very interesting article. I have shared the links below.

http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/quarterly/archive/spring09/4REAL.pdf

http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/quarterly/archive/summer09/15.pdf

The article indicates that there are a few thousand feral hogs in Pennsylvania found in 18 counties. If you notice any feral hogs you are asked to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission to report their location.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/browse.asp?a=458&bc=0&c=70172

Feral hogs have traditionally only been found across the southern United States. Beginning in 2004, 12 additional states reported populations. These states include such northern states as Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It has become very clear that feral hogs have no problem surviving and reproducing in the cold winter climates of the northeast.

Feral hogs have high reproductive rates and few natural predators. Bears and coyotes rarely attack hogs due to the sows protective behavior. This allows hogs to expand into new areas very rapidly. They can be big problems for farmer, causing extensive crop damage. They can also cause considerable environmental damage to forests, wetlands, riparian areas, and other aquatic ecosystems. Their wallowing and rooting behaviors can cause extensive damage to soils, wetland vegetation, water quality (through sedimentation and nutrient loading), ground nesting birds, as well as reptiles, amphibians, and rare plant communities. It has even been suggested that feral hog activity can adversely impact trout populations.

Landowners need to learn to recognize signs of feral hog activity. If you observe signs, damage or the swine themselves be sure and report it to your state or USDA officials. In Pennsylvania, the Game Commission is in charge of this program. Government trapping and eradication programs are available.

Text Messaging

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 05, 2009.

Between classes outside the auditorium in the Forestry Building. Text messaging is a common site on campus. I wish I had time to stick around and shoot this picture when class lets out. It's amazing how the campus transforms when all the students are outside the classroom.

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Hatching New Scientists

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on October 05, 2009.

I still have a circular slide rule in my desk drawer; the plastic case is embossed with the motto “Physics is Phun.”

The Inside Scoop on Ben & Jerry’s

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on October 04, 2009.

Yep, the Penn State folklore is true. Ben & Jerry’s got its start at Penn State through a $5 correspondence course on ice cream making. Founder Jerry Greenfield gave the inside scoop on the business during a recent lecture at...

It's Bean Time!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 06, 2009.

With combines busy around the county corn, and now beans, are getting to their harvest windows. The field I was in yesterday was averaging around 72-75 bu/ac. Hopefully you will find some high yields in your fields as well. As always make certain your combine is properly set and get out to check what is coming out the back end of the machine. Harvest losses can be very high with poorly set machines. Also if you are no-tilling remember to adjust your choppers so that you have uniform distribution across the header width. This adjustment will pay large dividends next time you plant the field. Regardless of the crop make sure your combine isn't putting a large amount of commodity out the back end. Hopefully you can enjoy a safe and happy harvest with lots of high yields.

Ag Hill Olympics at Penn State

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on October 01, 2009.

Last weekend I spent a few minutes at the Ag Olympics in the Snider Agricultural Arena. The Ag Olympics is a student run event where clubs and organizations compete against each other in a wide range of odd and sometimes humorous events. In the above picture two students compete in an ice cream...

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50 Ways? : by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on October 02, 2009.

In 1975, according to Paul Simon, there were 50 ways to leave your lover, but I don’t know of any more than 4 ways to over-winter your geraniums or Pelargoniums as they are properly known.
I was recently asked to research this and here are the results, and now is the time to consider trying one or more of these money-saving techniques:

If you are a house plant enthusiast, geraniums make ideal indoor plants.
We are nearing the end-of-season growing period, so the bedding plants should be dug and re-planted in good, moist potting soil in appropriately sized pots with good drainage. BEFORE bringing them into the house, check them thoroughly for ‘hitch-hikers’ – specifically – aphids, mealy bugs and whiteflies. You may need to give them a good drenching with insecticidal soap but, please follow directions on the label!
Upon bringing them into the house you may expect that there will be some leaf-drop due to different environmental conditions, but they will adapt and put out new leaf growth.
Your new house-plant will appreciate full sun exposure, or the brightest light you can manage, and temperatures in the 60-70* daytime range with cooler evenings, (much like yourselves). Water well once a week, drain thoroughly and let dry between waterings. Too moist conditions will result in bacterial rotting…Fertilize once a month at half-strength. Before planting out again next spring, cut back some old stems and branches, harden them off gradually (daily outings in ever-increasing times) and locate them in different places in the garden than previously grown.

Next method to try is the taking of tip-cuttings; this will result in smaller plants to over-winter but still labor intensive. Of course, NOW is the time to do it! Cut off the 3-4 inch end of a healthy stem; remove the lower leaves; dip the cut end in rooting hormone and sink into a pot filled with perlite or vermiculite. Water! After about 2 weeks, roots should have formed and you may re-pot the cuttings into potting soil whereupon you follow the regimen for a house-plant described above.

The next two over-wintering strategies involve tricking the plant into dormancy.
#1 Dig plant; wash off all soil; dry plant; Place in a brown paper bag. Store in a dark, dry, frost-free area.
At the beginning of next growing season – re-pot in good potting soil, place outdoors in shade and watch for new growth. Then fertilize and move into a sunny location and replant into the garden.

#2 Dig plant; put into a pot with good potting soil; water to settle the soil; cut back the top growth by 2/3rds, remove some of the leaves and store in a protected area in the dark, frost-free and accessible enough to remember to water sparingly throughout the winter months. Follow the above directions for next springs’ planting.

Well, there you have it: 4 ways to save your Pelargoniums:
Houseplant / cuttings / brown-bag it / dormant plant in a pot.

So – do we have a 'plan'– Stan?
Don’t be 'coy '– Roy!
Here’s the ‘key’ – Lee!

I really should stop dating myself…1975???
Happy Fall!

Here we go!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on October 02, 2009.

Corn is 'rolling' out of the fields in Franklin County. Though a lot of corn is still standing we are starting to take high moisture off and it looks like quite the crop so far. Today I was in a field that was running about 24% and with a corrected yield of 230 bu. It looks like most of this years corn will be a great crop. This field was an early planted field with 114 day corn. Overall I believe we will see high yields across the county. Most silage has been running around 25 tons on the better soils with highs in the 30's. Some of the less productive ground has been running around 15-18 tons which isn't bad at all! Tomorrow I'm going out to harvest the Franklin Co. bean plots so hopefully I have some information on what the bean crop looks like as well.

Research on Tour

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on September 30, 2009.

Each year, shortly after the state budget passes – well, usually the state budget has passed – the Penn State Ag Council, an external advisory and advocacy group for the college, hosts a college research tour to highlight to our stakeholders some of our key research projects.

Power Pay Your Debt

By noreply@blogger.com (Robert J. Thee) from Families Living Well. Published on September 29, 2009.

Find yourself drowning in debt? Want to get rid of your debts or to cut them down? Try power paying your debt.

Power paying is a great technique to help you pay off your debts and to save money on interest costs.

How does it work?

Let’s start by assuming there are 4 debts you are working on and that you’re paying a total of $400 a month toward these debts. In the meantime, you are incurring no additional debt.
.
Now try to find an extra amount, $50 for example, to put toward the debt with the highest interest rate so that your total debt payment will be $450. Continue making your regular payment toward each of the other debts.

As each debt is paid off, you will continue paying the same total amount of $450. Put whatever you were paying for the debt you just paid off toward the remaining debt with the next highest interest rate. As each debt is paid off, the next debt will be paid off at a faster and faster rate until all debts are paid and you are debt free.

In this example, we started with the highest interest rate debt and added an extra amount toward total debt payment.

Other options are to start with the debt with the lowest balance or the shortest term. Either of these options could help you to eliminate at least one of your debts sooner, which can be a psychological advantage. The biggest financial advantage, however, is to start with the highest interest rate debt.

To learn more or to create your own plan online, go to https://powerpay.org/, a program sponsored by Utah State University Extension. You will be required to establish a user id and password. The program will tell you how many months earlier you will be debt free and how much interest you will save by power paying. In addition, there are many other features on this site including how to set up a spending plan, Power Save, and other personal finance topics.

Harvesting Pumpkins and Other Winter Squash

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 29, 2009.

Pumpkins and winter squash (Butternut, Acorn, Hubbard, and other types) can tolerate a frost but not a freeze. When pumpkins and other squash have reached full color, cut them off, leaving a little stem. Let pumpkins sit for a week...

Another Quiet Place to Study

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 28, 2009.

I made this photograph this morning during a break in an assignment in the Forestry Building lobby. Students have access to a collection of large, body consuming leather chairs in which they can relax and study. Add wireless internet access and a student can cover a lot of academic work from this...

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Re-introducing the American Chestnut

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on September 28, 2009.

Chestnut Trees, Once Nearly Gone, Thrive as Seedlings

September 24 – The Charlotte Observer reports that 500 blight-resistant American chestnut saplings are thriving a year after they were planted in three national forests—a milestone in the long-term effort to re-establish the tree in its native habitat.

In stands of tiny trees in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia bloom the hope of restoring a mighty giant, as scientists try to bring back the American chestnut from near extinction. "Just developing a blight-resistant tree is not enough," said Bryan Burhans, who heads the American Chestnut Foundation in Asheville. The trees have to be planted in the forest to see if they can survive real-world conditions and competition with other plants.

To read the full sory go to: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/965860.html?storylink=omni_popular

Story edited from the Society of American Foresters E-Forester - September 25th edition.

Cut Costs, don’t eliminate!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 28, 2009.

As I was working on my father-in-law's dairy farm this weekend I couldn't help but think of the current economic situation facing all dairy farmers and most of agriculture in general. Things are tight and because of this costs need to be reassessed. As I was bedding up some cows I thought of how crucial some costs really are. Take the straw I was using at that point. I could have just eliminated the use of the straw to cut costs, however we all know the long term affects of that would be devastating in cattle health and production. This got me thinking about all the upcoming costs on the agronomic side of farming and where we may try to eliminate costs that may hurt us in the long run. Here are some of my thoughts.

Soil testing is a practice we preach all the time, and the fall is the best time to do it. Although this can be a low cost practice it may be one that gets a scrutinizing eye as we hit hard times. Depending on your current testing practices you may have some room to cut costs here, but they should not be eliminated. If you soil test every year you can probably take a year off. Use last year's soil tests along with this year's crop grown and yield to estimate nutrient removal and thus see what nutrients need to be added for next year's crop. If you haven't soil tested in over three year you ought to consider taking soil samples to check where you are at.

Once you have soil tested the question always is where do I spend money first? The most important area in soil health and nutrient availability to the plant is pH. If you have low pH (low depends on crop but typically no lower than 6.0) lime is the best product you can buy. Dollar for dollar this will return the greatest on your investment. Soil pH is a driver in many other nutrient cycles as well as the microbial population in the soil. If you have only one product you can buy for your soils make it lime. This year we have seen many cases around the state of poorly inoculated soybeans, one of the contributing factors to this has been low pH.

Fertility in the form of commercial fertilizers is always a large expense on most farms. Many farms in this area do have the availability of manure, however many of us need to supplement our manure nutrients with fertilizer. One of my biggest concerns at this point in time is potassium. Due to last year's high prices for potassium many decided to take a year off of buying potassium and mine some of the potassium in the soils. This year due to excellent rainfalls many of us have experienced yields at the high end of our expectations; this means more potassium has been used. Now we are in a situation where very few may want to invest again in potassium even thought the price is falling. This could set us up for some deficiencies. If I were to offer one suggestion on potassium fertilizer at this point it would be this. If you have manure at your disposal get it tested for nutrients. If commercial potassium is more expensive then nitrogen, apply your manure at a rate to supply potassium and supplement with nitrogen. If you are going into corn the use of a mid season nitrogen test such as the PSNT or Chlorophyll meter along with sidedressing can save money as will. In addition to potassium make sure you keep an eye on boron levels on alfalfa. This year we have had great yields so therefore if you are harvesting silage of any type, hay, and/or fodder you have a lot of nutrients in your bunkers, silos, and barns.

As we try to manage this current time of tight economics we need to take a good assessment of cutting costs without hurting ourselves in the future. With good soil tests you may be able to find some areas where you can cut costs, however we want to maintain enough nutrition in the soil to allow for good yields in the years to come. Many times if we get behind in nutrition in the soil it will take a long time to get it back. Additionally, if we don't have soil tests we will need to wait until we see deficiency in the crop before we know we are behind. At that time we have lost yield and that can be a costly mistake.

Jewelweed – a gem in Mother Nature’s crown: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on September 29, 2009.

Just outside my back-door is the woodshed and adjacent to it is an area I don’t cultivate due to it being home to my septic tank system; here are buried four 500 gallon tanks in the latest high-tech fashion, with a pump to raise the effluent uphill about 75 yards to the leach-field (the only flat space in the area). The soil here is thin and poor – weeds love it - and for years I have battled garlic mustard, pokeweed, and burdock to name just a few. This year after pulling every bad seedling in sight I let the jewelweed take over. What a blessing! I’ll explain:

But first, some background on the beautiful ‘touch-me-not’ or Impatiens capensis. It is an annual wildflower that blooms from June to September in shady, damp conditions, usually in large colonies along road-sides and in ditches.
It comes in two varieties in this area – Pale jewelweed is yellow and Spotted jewelweed is orange; both can be seen growing together and both have the same wonderful properties.
One of my reference books calls jewelweed ‘Nature’s salve and toy’ to which I would add ‘bee magnet’. Let’s explore the ‘salve’ part first:
The leaves have been proven to have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory attributes both of which contribute to jewelweed’s well deserved reputation as a balm for exposure to poison ivy; often they grow in the same area, so if exposed to poison ivy look around for jewelweed, crush some leaves or stem and apply to the skin. If poison ivy exposure is a problem often encountered, a solution of jewelweed ‘juice’ can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for up to a month or frozen. Here’s how:
In a large pot stuff as much jewelweed plant material (leaves, stems and flowers) as possible; cover with water and boil until the water becomes a dark orange (a half hour or more). Cool, strain and bottle the liquid and refrigerate or freeze. The juice can also be used to calm other itchy skin problems such as athlete’s foot or other fungal problems.

The ‘toy’ aspect of jewelweed is due to the propulsive nature of the seed capsule; when mature, even the slightest touch will cause it to explode, sending seeds 4 or 5 feet away. Kids love this! (I do too).

As a ‘bee magnet’ jewelweed carries over the flowering season into fall when food sources are becoming scarce. I watched today as several bumblebees worked my patch of flowers and even though the actual flowers are fading, there must still be nourishment to be had.
I forgot to mention that jewelweed is a favorite, season-long food source for hummingbirds – another reason to let it enhance your landscape.

The first frost will instantly kill jewelweeds and a few days later there will be no sign of their existence; as they are mostly water they seem to dehydrate and disappear – ergo, no clean-up!

The blessing I mentioned at the beginning of this article is this:
Jewelweed grows so densely that no other weeds germinated and I seem to be garlic mustard-free. I’ll let you know what appears next spring…

Relaxing at the HUB

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 25, 2009.

The Hetzel Union Building, Penn State's center of student activities, is an oasis for students to have lunch, study, or catch a fast nap before heading to calculus class. With comfortable furniture, afternoon light and some heavy organic chemistry reading I can easily see myself needing a bit of...

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Name That Place

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 24, 2009.

You know the place in the picture? If you've been a student at Penn State you've probably passed by it many times but it is easy to miss the neat little architectural details. It's one of the chimneys on the Arts Cottage between Armsby and Ferguson Buildings. In another life if was the home of...

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Honeycrisp Mania!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on September 24, 2009.

The days of Red Delicious apples dominating the grocery stores may soon be over. Consumers are slowly but surely becoming more aware of newer varieties on the market, such as Honeycrisp, pictured on the left. Honeycrisp is an early season variety that has been getting more shelf space on retailer shelves recently and has almost a cult-like following at farmers’ markets. For Example, at a farmers’ market that I worked at last Saturday 27 crates of Honeycrisp apples were sold; the next highest total for any other single variety was 3. For anybody who has compared a Red Delicious to a Honeycrisp, let’s face it, the Red Delicious doesn’t even compare. Many people blame the fact that the Red Delicious’ genes were tampered with in order to ensure a perfect red color for its lack of flavor compared to other varieties. Some people are concerned that the Honeycrisp and other varieties like Gala or Pink Lady could face the same fate unless measures are taken to prevent breeding for high color strains at the compromise of flavor.

As it stands right now, the prices for Honeycrisp apples are substantially higher than Red Delicious prices. This is a result of the supply and demand factors as well as higher production costs for Honeycrisp; however, prices could eventually level off as more acres are planted. The bottom line is that consumers are becoming more aware of the wide array of variety choices that they now have and are demanding apples with unique and distinct taste profiles.

Up and running

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 23, 2009.

Just about a week after planting the rye/radish mixture is getting to the point you can 'see' my thought process. As you will notice the rye is coming on well and the radish isn't far behind. Typically I have observed the radish to be a little slow in germination but a vigorous grower once germinated. Again the rows of radish will winter kill while the rye will remain. This should allow direct planting of corn in the early spring between the rows of rye.

Pattee and Paterno

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 23, 2009.

A bright, warm fall day on campus as a student walks past the entrance to the Pattee and Paterno Libraries. As more and more literature research is done online I hope students don't pass up the opportunity to lose themselves in this amazing place. I could have a second office there. Quiet, no...

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Bicycles Everywhere

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 22, 2009.

Walking across campus I noticed dozens of bicycles chained to a railing alongside Osmond Laboratory. More students than ever seem to be traveling by bicycle. I don't remember so many when I was a student in the fall of 1972.

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Webinar - The Sweet Side of Maple Syrup

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on September 21, 2009.

On Wednesday, September 23rd. a webinar will be offered at Noon and again at 7:00 PM entitled "The Sweet Side of Maple." This webinar is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension and their Forest Connect webinar series.

This presentation will address the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing private woodlands for the production of maple syrup. You may have asked yourself if syrup production is an option for your woodlot? Woodland owners will learn about their opportunities and trade-offs for either leasing their trees or direct production of syrup. Foresters will learn about considerations that owners will need to address and how to evaluate their options. Participants will learn about utilizing agricultural assessment laws (specific to NY) and considerations for developing leases and contracts between owners and producers. Much of this information will apply to producers in Pennsylvania and other NE states as well.

The webinar will be presented by Mike Farrell, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Department of Natural Resources. To register for the webinar go to: http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestconnect/web.htm
Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits have been requested.

Disease Outbreak and Consumption of Raw Milk in Wisconsin

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on September 21, 2009.

A ProMed-mail post (September 16, 2009) DNA test results and other evidence have now established that an outbreak of illness involving at least 35 people, the majority children and teens, was linked to drinking unpasteurized milk. Wisconsin food safety officials are cautioning consumers not to drink raw milk and farmers not to sell it to the [...]

Working at Beaver Stadium

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 21, 2009.

George is an undergraduate student in the Turfgrass Science program and has the opportunity to gain experience working on the wide range of athletic turf locations at Penn State. This picture was made just before new lines for the Temple game were painted on the field. In the past our students...

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Plant a Cover Crop for Better Gardening Next Spring

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 19, 2009.

For most people, the words ‘cover crop’ bring to mind large scale farming. And yet, a cover crop can do a lot for the health of the home garden. In fact cover crops increase organic matter, suppress weeds, produce nitrogen,...

Meeting New People

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 18, 2009.

A picture made during a game of Cannonball at a recent meeting of the Penn State chapter of Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources Association (MANRA). Cannonball is a team building and ice breaking activity. I'm not sure about the results in the team building area but it sure loosened...

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Great year for beans?

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 17, 2009.

This year most of our full season beans are looking great! After a year of ample rain and minimal pest pressure over most of the acres we should be set for some great yields. Make sure you are getting ready to get into those fields. Once 95% of the pods are brown you should take to the fields for harvest. This minimizes losses from trying to harvest beans that are too dry. As always make sure to pay attention to the combine adjustments and check your settings once you are in the field and starting to harvest. Hopefully this year will produce some great bean yields for all!

Corn drying well

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 17, 2009.

I have been taking a few samples in the fields to see where some of the grain corn is at as far as moisture's. To be honest I have been surprised at the numbers I've been seeing. Most early planted corn I have been testing has been around 20-26% moisture. I have noticed a few combines running, and for good reason. If you are looking to shell high moisture corn and have some mid length corn (around 114 day) that was planted in good time this year it may be time to take a sample through the field to see where you are at. We had trouble getting whole plant moisture to the place we needed it for silage, however our ears have been drying well, even on green stalks. Make sure to take a representative sample from your fields, now just the outer rows.

The State of Pennsylvania's Forest Economy

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on September 17, 2009.

Forests are not exempt from the ongoing financial crisis. Pennsylvania's forest products industry clearly links to the general state of the economy as lumber, furniture, components, and cabinets depend on housing starts. Most wood-related mills in Pennsylvania have reduced or closed operations.

As an indicator of how bad things are, visit Penn State's Timber Market Report at http://www.sfr.cas.psu.edu/TMR/TMR.htm. Stumpage prices for most species are less than half what they were a few years ago. Across the US and globally, the state of the forest products industry is similar. The good news is that there are signs of recovery -- albeit slow. Experts predict a year or so before we are, pardon the pun, out of the woods.

While the economy is down there are emerging opportunities such as bioenergy, natural gas, and carbon offsets. High energy prices in 2007/2008 sparked interests in renewable energy and the potential of woody biomass as a viable alternative for heating, power, and ultimately ethanol (gas). The newfound interest in the Marcellus natural gas shale formation, underlying two-thirds of Pennsylvania, is another income opportunity for thousands of forest landowners. As the US Congress is poised to address the climate bill, forest landowners are in line to capture income from selling carbon credits to polluters. These emerging opportunities are not without risk, and caution is the operative word as these alternatives evolve.

Any decision a landowner makes, whether it is harvesting, reforesting, fencing, selling carbon credits, or gas leasing, has tax implications. As most people are pinching pennies, every taxable dollar saved from Uncle Sam is a dollar earned. With little effort, there are numerous ways forest landowners can take advantage of incentives and deductions provided by the IRS. Every forest landowner should know about concepts such capitalization (establishing basis), deductions/expenses, capital gains, reforestation tax incentives, cost share programs exclusions, and conservation easements.

What does the current economic outlook and emerging markets mean for forest owners, forestry professionals, and industry? First it suggests landowners need good timely advice on their options so as to make wise decisions about their property and resources. Forestry professionals and their advisors (e.g., accountants, financial advisers, attorneys, etc.) need up-to-date information about the forest economy.

In October and early November, Penn State Natural Resources Extension is offering workshops throughout the state on forest taxes, forest finance, and estate planning. All the above mentioned issues and more will be discussed. You can find information on the forest taxes and finance meetings at: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/TaxFinance2009.pdf. Information on the estate planning sessions in Mercer County can be found at: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/2009ForestEstatePlanningFinal.pdf.

Written by: Dr. Michael Jacobson for the Forest Stewardship news release 9-16-09.

Creamery Tour

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 17, 2009.

A picture from a recent tour at the Creamery Plant led by manager Tom Palchak. In this picture a group of visitors from Slovakia and the Czech Republic ask questions about cream cheese production. I saw the reflection of the wash water in one of the big cheese making tanks and had to make a...

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The Complexities of Golf Course Management

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 16, 2009.

Until this past weekend I had no idea how complicated management of a golf course can be. And I didn't expect work to begin at 4:30am. But it wasn't golf that drew me and John Kaminski, Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science, to Merion Country Club this past weekend. We were there to take...

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A new cover crop?

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 15, 2009.

As some may have noticed I have been spending less time on my blog lately. This is because I have been out planting a cover crop trial to test a new method of using cover crops. I'm planing a mixture of rye with tillage radish, which obviously has been done before, however with a slightly different twist. I have alternating double rows of rye and radish (see illustration) that will hopefully allow for corn to be directly planted into the winter killed radish rows in the spring.

So the question may be why do this? Here are a few reasons we are looking into.

We have all heard the benefits of letting cover crops grow to increase soil carbon as well as add a mulch to conserve moisture. However, this practice means you have to give up an early planting date to receive the benefit of the crop. With the alternating rows the rye can continue to grow along with the corn for a short time. Another issue we see often is residue from most cover crops holds moisture and keeps soils cool. Radish leaves little to no residue by spring so the strip they are in should heat up and dry out a little quicker. Lastly pests are often an issue in fields where we have had cover crops. This is the area that this will either perform as desired or be a disaster. Hopefully the corn will grow with little residue immediately around it so slugs will not be an issue. Additionally some observations from last year have made me think that we may be able to get the pests to feed on something other then the corn by having a living crop in the field with the corn.

Some of this may be a stretch but we feel it is worth looking into. I will have more on how this is going in the near future.

Agribusiness Management Haunts

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 15, 2009.

No, it's not Halloween. Yet. But this photo of one of the staircases in the Business Building is one of the places where students in the Agribusiness Management Program take some of their classes. This program at Penn State offers students an opportunity focused on businesses that are part of...

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Time to Start Thinking about Planting Garlic

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 14, 2009.

Garlic is a great addition to the garden. Like a lot of things, it’s better when it’s homegrown rather than store bought. You should plant garlic in October and so now is a good time to think about getting some....

Fact Checking in Poultry Production

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on September 14, 2009.

You may see commercials in the media stating one thing or another regarding their birds. While factually true, it does cast doubts about their competitors. What consumers should know is that the food laws in the US prohibit antibiotic residues in poultry. Birds need to be in good health prior to processing and are checked at the plant prior to processing. You are more likely to come in contact with antibiotics through direct contact (prescriptions, topical ointments / preparations) Than through your food.

Fall Manure Spreading is soon here

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on September 14, 2009.

Hey! Watch where you put that!

With fall harvest comes fall spreading of poultry manure before cover crops or winter fallow of fields. Poultry farmers and manure haulers need to look at these loads as far as their house fly status to determine if further actions are needed. Heavy fly infested manure should be piled and covered for 14 days in order to kill any further fly larvae. By paying attention to these simple steps, fly levels on the farm can be kept to a minimum.

Climbing Trees at University Park

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 14, 2009.

I can't remember the last time I climbed a tree. I do remember that I used to climb a lot of them. Last week the oak trees along Curtain Road across from the Creamery were alive with student climbers enrolled in Horticulture 201 -- Applied Aboriculture. Around 26 students get together twice a...

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Household Chores

By noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Stevens) from Families Living Well. Published on September 11, 2009.

I know at my house there are always more than enough chores for everyone to share! There are certainly many reasons to involve even young children in everyday jobs. They will learn new skills and feel a sense of accomplishment and of course you can get more done by having that extra set of hands. It is a fact that children who have regularly assigned household chores feel a sense of self-worth and competency. They also tend to demonstrate responsibility in other aspects of their lives. These children often demonstrate a higher level of self-esteem and see themselves as an important part of the family.

Children as young as age two can help with jobs like putting toys away or hanging clothes on hooks. When teaching a young child a task, it is important to use materials of an appropriate size and items that are easy to reach. This might mean using open shelves instead of pull out drawers for storage.

Preschoolers love to imitate their parents and often “help” with chores like vacuuming or dusting. Parents should encourage these efforts by focusing on the process and not the finished job. None of us did a perfect job the first time we swept a floor and neither will your preschooler. Demonstrate and praise their efforts as they master a task. This will help to develop children who want to help and feel their work is important to the family.

When demonstrating how to do a task, keep the lesson simple with few words. You will need to work alongside the child for at least the first few times. As their skills increase, you can advance them from the simplest of tasks to those that are more complex. As children get older you may want to post the chores that need to be done and let them volunteer for the ones they would like to do. Of course there will always be those few necessary tasks that no one wants to do. It is important to communicate the necessity of following through on their commitment to complete these tasks. Consequences for not following through need to be reasonable and you must be willing to carry them out.

It often feels like it would be so much easier just to pick up the toys yourself than to spend the time teaching and coaching, but don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Learning to take responsibility for housekeeping chores is an important skill parents must teach their children. The reward will be a more helpful child today who will grow into a responsible and capable adult tomorrow.

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 11, 2009.

I think nearly every one of the 20 or so families that are part of my community garden grew sunflowers this year. Most of those were grown for aesthetics or to feed the birds at the end of the season....

Frequent Photo Sessions

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 11, 2009.

Every day students, families and visitors gather at the Nittany Lion statue for a picture. These people had to wait awhile for their chance as I shot a group photo for the Ad Advocates. The weather was nice and the wait just heightened expectations for the kids who couldn't wait to climb on the...

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Exploring Your Small Farm Dream

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on September 10, 2009.

If you have thought seriously about turning a profit off of a few acres or already have a small agricultural operation and would like to change strategies then Exploring Your Small Farm Dream can help. This course, offered by several Penn State Cooperative Extension Offices in the Southeast Region, is designed to help guide beginning farmers through the initial exploratory decision making process and bridge the gap between ideas and action. Whether your vision includes making goat cheese, selling cut flowers, or growing rare tomato varieties, this course will give you the tools to start making that dream come true.

Participants will discuss current opportunities in small-scale agriculture, explore objectives, assess personal and financial resources, conduct preliminary market research, and develop an action plan for pursuing their interests in food and farming. This interactive course will include creative exercises, research, and class discussions that will allow you to accurately assess your skills and resources. Interviews with local agricultural business owners will also be included to give you firsthand knowledge on what to expect when starting your business. For information about course availability in your area, please refer to the course website: www.pasmallfarmdream.info

The Beauty of the Fall Webworm: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on September 10, 2009.

Can insects be beautiful? Sure, just take a look at some of the butterflies that visit our landscapes. The intricate designs and bold colors can really stand out. Can insects be ugly? Yep, peel the husk away on a sweet corn ear and look at the corn earworm eating your dinner. Most folks throw the whole ear away in disgust.

How about the fall webworm? I guess it depends on your perspective. Many people get this insect confused with the eastern tent caterpillar, a spring time pest which builds nests in the crotch angle of trees. The fall webworm also builds nests, but it is later in the growing season, August through September. In addition, these nests are built on the extremities of the branches.

The nests can be an eyesore in the landscape as they can detract from the tree’s beauty and stick around for the winter months. But it is the tent like nests that I saw the other day that were breathtaking. I was traveling east on I-80 toward the Poconos when I rounded a bend and came into a valley that was loaded with fall webworm. The fog had just lifted and there was still some moisture on the tents. As the sun peeked through the remaining fog, the light glistened off the thousands of tents on the mountainside and surrounding valley. Beautiful! Of course I didn’t have my camera along to document my claim.

The fall webworm, unlike many of Pennsylvania’s other tree pests (ie. gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, and Japanese beetle) is native to the United States.

Did I sell you on the beauty of the fall webworm? Probably not but don’t fret about the health of your tree. At this time of the season, loss of leaves due to insect feeding will do little damage. The leaves have pretty much finished what they set out to do; photosynthesize. Removal of the leaves a few weeks earlier than natural leaf drop will do no harm.

So why control them? It comes down to the aesthetics again. Reading some comments on horticulture blogs will give you an idea of the intense feelings on this pest such as “ YUCK!..YUCK!..YUCK!..I remember these nasty, ugly, disgusting things. They are called the Fall Webworm” or “Every year, I’ve noticed the same caterpillars arrive to commit their ugly ritual of building messy web tents in our walnut and hickory trees.”

Control can be relatively simple. One of the recommendations in Cooperative Extension fact sheets is to simply prune off the nests and branches if within reach and destroy. Although this is easily done, removal of several branches with nests can potentially alter the architecture of the tree. I recommend getting a stick and poke it into the nest and twirl it around. The destruction of the nest, which provides cover and protection, opens the caterpillars to predation by birds and many insects. Let nature control the problem for you.

I have had the older generation tell me how to get rid of these insects and this gardening blog entry sums it up succinctly “I remember as a kid using the torch method of nest removal using a kerosene soaked rag on a stick...Probably didn't do much good, but it was fun!” I have no idea where this control recommendation started. Did old Cooperative Extension fact sheets at one time list this as a way to eliminate this pest? It may make you feel good and give one a feeling of accomplishment but I’m sure the trees don’t appreciate this.

Conservation Stewardship Program for Forest Landowners

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on September 10, 2009.

There is a new federal payment program for forest landowners called the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The CSP is a voluntary conservation program that encourages landowners to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: improving, maintaining and managing existing conservation activities; and undertaking additional conservation activities. In short, forest landowners are rewarded for maintaining sustainable practices and installing one additional practice during a five year contract.

Landowners who are accepted into the CSP will be paid between $6 and $12 per acre per year to maintain existing conservation practices on forest land.

Signups for the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP2009) began August 10, 2009. CSP2009 will have a continuous open signup with periodic cutoffs to evaluate and rank applications. September 30, 2009 is the cutoff date for the first ranking period.

There are four resource concerns or eligibility requirements that must be addressed to be considered for funding. Two of the four must be met before application is made.
- Woodlot is “green certified” by the Tree Farm System.
- One or more improvements have been made to the forest in the past 10 years.
- There is no apparent erosion.
- Native trees are adequately stocked on the property.
It’s that first eligibility requirement that is so exciting. The Tree Farm Program, that we have worked so diligently on, is a requirement for the CSP.

To apply for CSP, potential participants will be encouraged to use a self-screening checklist first to determine whether the new program is suitable for them or their operation. It will be available on NRCS Web site (http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/) and at NRCS field offices.

The Field Office

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 10, 2009.

At work near Beaver Stadium making a photograph for a new undergraduate recruiting campaign. This was one of ten images for ads reaching out to students who haven’t chosen a major. Each has a short headline (Field Office for the latest one) and poses a question to the viewer about their future and...

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The Sounds of Nature: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on September 14, 2009.

I think I have written before of the wonderful sounds to be heard in the forest courtesy of Mother Nature, but it bears revisiting as a reminder to slow down and enjoy the concert. It’s a great stress-reliever!
Currently, the main orchestra is populated by members of the insect family; the nightly cacophony of katydids is in full swing, providing a noisy lullaby that drowns out my Eric Clapton CD, but I don’t mind…During the daylight hours the rasping buzz of the dog-day cicada is nowhere near the volume of last year’s periodical cicada, but still pleasant enough to listen to, as is the chirping of the crickets (as long as they remain in the garden – not in the house). The only cricket allowed in my house is made of brass and sits on my mantle as an ornament.
Did you know that if you take a flashlight into the darkened garden, and flash the same pattern as a firefly – it will answer you? But beware – some female fireflies use their flashes to lure in males of a slightly different species, and then feast on the unfortunate dupe. By the way, the firefly is Pennsylvania’s official state insect!

Now, the best way to appreciate sound is with the eyes closed, and this is exactly how I have learned to distinguish the differing sounds of the pitty-patter of small critter feet as they pass by my bedroom window. Raccoons scamper with the clicking of toe-nails, ‘possums have a softer tread and a slower gait and bears move silently after making a clatter as they upset the compost bin.

Throughout the year, the sounds of Nature follow a recurring pattern. I keep a record of the returning migratory birds in the order of their appearance, but it is mostly by their songs that I identify them. I rarely see a wood thrush or scarlet tanager, but I know them by their music. This year I noticed the absence of ovenbirds in my area, but heard them in my travels along other woodland roads. I know the grouse by their drumming, and the turkeys by their very unmusical gobbles, but I cherish each one that I hear.

(Oddball thought – if the plural of mouse is mice, shouldn’t the plural of grouse be grice?)

As fall approaches (rapidly) the sounds of Nature will include acorns dropping on the tin roof of the tractor shed, chain saws rasping in competition with the cicadas, the rustling of the ornamental grasses as they mature and dry out and the males of my species begin practicing their shooting skills.

I hear we may be in for a rough winter – and the sound and fury of a winter gale is as scary as a silent snowfall, but the scariest sound of all is the pelting rattle of freezing rain against the windowpane. Maybe it’s best to think forward to next year’s reawakening with the sound of the breeze in the pines, the buzz of a bee and the joyful croaking of the frogs in my pond.

After a few moments of deep thought, I have concluded that I would rather lose my sight than my hearing at this point in my life – I already know what most things look like, and can use my imagination, but the thought of never again hearing a hummingbird twitter as I hang up the feeder or experience a wood thrush’s gloriously cathedral-like cantata fills me with dread.

Was that the dinner-bell I just heard?

The Club Fair in Ag Sciences

By noreply@blogger.com (Steve Williams) from Theoretical Agriculture. Published on September 09, 2009.

Every fall the Penn State College of Ag Sciences holds a Club Fair to give students in the college and across the University a chance to visit with members of the clubs and organizations that are part of Ag Sciences. I was there shooting portraits for the upcoming issue of Science for Your Life,...

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The Community Value of a Dairy Farm

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on September 08, 2009.

N. Alan Bair Director of Dairy Industry Relations Penn State University I recently had the opportunity to make a short presentation to a mixed audience of local farmers and their neighbors in Perry County on the value of a dairy farm to a community. The organizers requested this topic primarily for the non-farm neighbors thinking it would give [...]

DHS Firm on Kansas Site for Bio-Defense Research Lab

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on September 08, 2009.

Sep 1, 2009 By: James M. Lewis DVM NEWSMAGAZINE WASHINGTON — Despite a critical report from another agency and a fair amount of political pressure, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains committed to the Manhattan, Kan., site it chose for building a new national bio-defense research laboratory and says it won’t re-open the site-selection process. As [...]

Selling Considerations; Shell versus Silage

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 08, 2009.

As corn dries down many look to prices and markets to see what options they have. In Franklin County we typically have the option of either selling silage or grain depending on what seems to have the most favorable economics. I am not an expert in the markets so I'm not going to tell you that this is black and white, however I do have a few considerations you should make prior to selling your crop.

The main difference on the agronomic side of silage versus grain is the nutrients removed from the field when we take the whole plant versus just the grain. For this example I'm going to look at only phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Nitrogen can also play a role but the system is very complex so it is not clear exactly how much we will keep around until next years growing season either with or without cover crops (this is why we test prior to side dressing N).

So if we look at removal of P and K from silage we can estimate (using Penn State's Agronomy Guide) that we will remove approx. 5.0lbs/Ton of P and 11.0lbs/Ton of K. As a rough estimate we typically consider the conversion from bushels of corn to tons of silage as 6.5-7bu/ton of silage. If we use this conversion for our removal rates for grain end up at 2.8lbs of P and 2.1 lbs of K removed (7*book values for grain removal). This means that roughly twice the amount of P is removed and over 5 times the amount of K is removed when comparing silage to grain.

So let's do a quick example to clarify. Initial estimates show a 150 bu/ac grain yield or 21.5 Ton/ac silage yield in a specific field. We are trying to decide if we should sell it to the neighbor or keep it for grain. December futures are showing a price of $3.09/bu or$464/ac on this yield. The difference between grain and silage in nutrients removed at this yield will be 47.5 lbs of P and 191.5 lbs of K. With today's price of $0.25/lb. P and $0.50/lb. K this is a difference of $107.63/ac. just to buy back the nutrients you lost by selling silage. If we add that into our grain price ($464) we need $572/ac. or about $27/ton (on 21.5 Ton/ac) to break even with our grain price of $3.09. Obviously neither of these take into account the cost of harvest etc. so keep in mind who is paying for that when pricing your corn.

Paving Over Tree Roots? Say Goodbye to Your Tree

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 08, 2009.

* Here's another great blog from Master Gardener Wendy Gloffke: One of my favorite trees is dying. As part of a driveway construction project several years ago a friend added about 3 feet of soil around the base of the...

A September Saturday morning in Happy Valley

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on September 05, 2009.

The students are back – they’ve been here for two weeks and are now, even the freshmen, “old pros” at navigating the campus. The campus is filling up, even 4 hours before game time, with alumni and friends here to see Penn State football.

Cover Crop Time

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on September 04, 2009.

So here we are with August gone and September under way. Silage harvest is in full swing, finally, and hopefully you are finding the yields you expected for this above average year. As those silage fields get finished off keep in mind this is a great time to plant cover crops. Even for your fields that have little to no slope or are not in close proximity to water cover cropping is an excellent practice. Cover crops not only protect your soil from erosion from water and wind they also help to enhance the soil carbon and add to soil structure through root growth. We also see a better over wintering of mycorrhiza when a similar species is planted as a cover crop (for instance corn to rye to corn is all a grass). The benefits to cover crops are numerous, however try to best fit the cover crop with your rotation. Here are some examples.

For those fields that are bare now and may be some of your last plantings in the spring you may consider utilizing a legume like crimson clover. This can give you some 'free' nitrogen while helping to retain soil over the winter. Crimson clover, like most legumes, need a long growing time to get the most out of the plant, as far as nitrogen production. Don't plant legumes where you are going to want to get a quick start to the planting season.

For those fields that may get a winter or early spring application of manure you should look to utilize a winter small grain. Rye seems to have the best root structure to hold our heavy equipment and grows well over winter. This would also be a good match for those fields you will want to get into earlier in the spring.

Just a reminder we have a cover crop plot here in the county and I'll be holding a fall and a spring walk where we will look at different species and discuss where they may fit. As always feel free to call in with any specific question you have about cover crop selection or benefits and drawbacks of specific species. Have a great weekend!

Announcing the Invasive Plant Management Field Workshop

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on September 04, 2009.

The Invasive Plant Management Workshop: A Silvicultural Perspective is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at Shaver’s Creek Outdoor Classroom and Stone Valley Experimental Forest, Petersburg, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The program is scheduled from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Registration begins at 8:30 AM. The cost is $45.00 per person and includes refreshments and lunch.

Invasions of nonnative plants into our forests continue to go unchecked and unmonitored. Invasive nonnative plants infest forest understories and forest openings. Increasingly these plants begin to reduce forest productivity, hinder forest use and management activities, and degrade diversity and wildlife habitat. Invasive non-native plants occur as trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns, and forbs. Some have been introduced accidentally, but most have been brought intentionally as ornamentals or livestock forage. These plants arrived without their natural controls (insects and diseases) that tend to keep native plants in balance. Most are able to increase across the landscape with little opposition.

This workshop is designed for natural resource management professionals, vegetation managers, land managers, and forest landowners and will focus on identification, impact, and control of the most severe forest invasive plants.

The workshop was developed in cooperation with the Penn State University School of Forest Resources, Penn State Stone Valley Experimental Forest, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, and Alenza. It qualifies for Pennsylvania certified pesticide applicator credits in Core and Categories 5, 10, 14, 18, and 23. It is also approved for Society of American Foresters CFE credits in categories 1 and 2.

Pre-registration for this workshop is required prior to Tuesday, September 29, 2009. For registration or additional information contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at 814-355-4897 or CentreExt@psu.edu. Space is limited so register early.

Storing Homegrown Potatoes

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 04, 2009.

My family lives in an urban community and we have a garden at home, but it’s small. This year we became involved with a new community garden and now have a 40X40 plot to grow whatever we want! I grew...

The Scales are Tipping

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on September 03, 2009.

On Balanced Reporting....

I guess I am a little hardened to what we have seen in Time Magazine lately. Time has not been a good friend to food groups or farming for that matter for many years. You may remember the frowning plate cover years back?

The cover story Bryan Walsh wrote was extremely unbalanced in covering anything to do with conventional agricultural production. This got me so steamed, that I did something I usually do not do. I wrote a letter to the editor. Since I don't think it will be published I am reprinting what I submitted below.

Email Subjet Line: Let's Get Real About Food in General
I found your story regarding cheap food [Aug 21, 2009] an unbalanced folly on what U.S. consumers have but fail to realize – A Choice! Conventional agricultural production (sustained now for decades) has allowed U.S. consumers to have more disposable income than any other culture in the world. Enough so to even allow us the luxury to demand greener, designer foods, and dictate what is to be produced. Two points we need to consider: If it is ok to buy a car, refrigerator, toothpaste, shoes, lumber, and ketchup made in a large factory why is it a crime to buy foods that were produced with the same economies of scale or organization? Secondly, if your kid were sick with a bacterial infection would you withhold antibiotic treatment? Even the range cattle need medication from time to time and there are laws that prohibit antibiotic residues from reaching the consuming public (all meat sources, always). It is disappointing to see the hard work of the American Farmer being dragged through the mud in biased articles such as this. Considering the time and risk to family livelihoods farmers take, few others are willing to follow them in the hard work they do to feed the rest of us (including you too Mr. Walsh).

Gregory P. Martin, Ph.D., PAS
Poultry Scientist

Just an aside here I let my subscription to Time Lapse a long while ago.... Looks like I'm not missing much.

On the Road – The Dairy & Animal Science Road Tour

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on September 03, 2009.

Terry D. Etherton August 27 was a day of education, exploration and enlightenment for the 55 students and staff who participated in the annual New Student Industry Tour, hosted by Penn State’s Department of Dairy and Animal Science and Department of Poultry Science. Now in its 11th year, the tour offers incoming freshman and other students new [...]

Webinar Presentation: Firewood from Woodlots

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on September 01, 2009.

The PA Forests Web Seminar Center pleased to announce the September on-line program. Jim Finley, Professor, Penn State School of Forest Resources, will be presenting Firewood from Woodlots on Tuesday, September 8th at noon and again at 7 p.m. Each seminar lasts approximately one hour.

Warming our nation?s homes with firewood has a long tradition. To do it sustainably is challenging. Many firewood users harvest deadwood first, but this does little to improve the woodlot; in fact, it may be counter to meeting other objectives. Cutting live trees is often the best approach, especially when the focus is on providing growing space for the trees you leave and considering future management options. This presentation will explore ideas for sustainably cutting firewood from your woodlot. This seminar also counts towards 1.0 credit of Category 2 SAF CFE credits.

Live seminars are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month at noon and 7 p.m. Each session is recorded and loaded onto the Web Seminar Center along with a copy of the presentation and any handout materials. So, if you are unable to participate in the "live" session, a recording of it will be available for you to view at your convenience. Of course, none of the interactive elements will be available when watching the recording.

To participate in the live seminars you must register and have a "Friend of Penn State" user ID. The "Register Now" page on the website will walk you through this process. If you are a member of the Penn State community, you already have your User ID, but we would ask you to register on the website so that you can receive reminders of upcoming programs.

Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed Internet connection and sound.

To register and take part in the live seminars or to view the upcoming seminars schedule, visit http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/. We look forward to having you join these discussions and learning experiences. "See" you there on September 8.

Proactive Fall Weeding: Easier Said Than Done

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on September 01, 2009.

(Another note from Master Gardener Wendy's Glofkee's Garden: Wendy will be a regular contributor to our blog, so we hope you enjoy following her gardening adventures through the seasons! Thanks Wendy!) Weeding is NOT high on my list of fall...

The Nightmare Drags On For Vegetable Growers: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on September 03, 2009.

In an earlier blog entry, I talked about Phytophthora infestans which was doing a number on tomato and potato plants in fields and gardens of central Pennsylvania. Without proper treatment, late blight could wipe out a planting within days.

The nightmarish season drags on for growers of vegetables. Excessive rainfall and the number of cloudy days have created the optimal climate for disease organisms to run amok. The latest problem that has vegetable producers scratching their head is Phytophthora blight of pepper.

It is closely related to late blight on tomato but caused by a closely related fungus, Phytophthora capsici. Whereas P. infestans only attacks tomato and potatoes, P. capsici has a much larger path of destruction and will destroy beans, eggplant, cucumber, watermelon, honeydew melon, summer and winter squash, and pumpkin.

This disease is rarely a problem in the early part of the summer as cool temperatures keeps it at bay but P. capsici loves water. The onset of warmer temperatures and more than adequate moisture (at the time of writing this on Tuesday night, we just broke a six day drought) has allowed this organism to flourish.

Since the disease usually happens later in the season, the plants are mature and close to bearing fruit when symptoms are first observed. Typical symptom on pepper is a sudden wilting that cannot be reversed. It is normal to see a number of plants in a row or in a circular patch that will show these symptoms at the same time. The other dead giveaway is the appearance of peppers coated with white mold (spores of the fungus).

A characteristic sign of Phytophthora on pepper is a coating of white mold (spores of the fungus) on the fruit.

Unfortunately, this organism is even tougher to control than its “cousin” P. infestans. Because P. capsici thrives in water, managing water throughout the growing season becomes one of the major means to deal with this disease.
• Avoid planting in poorly drained soils and low lying areas (plant cover crops instead)
• Plant peppers on ridges with plastic mulch to improve drainage and minimize soil contact
• Avoid excessive overhead irrigation
• Minimize the movement of people and equipment from infested to uninfested fields
• Immediately remove diseased plants and fruit from the field
• Select more tolerant pepper varieties

It doesn’t look like the weather is done with vegetable growers as it might throw another curveball. “A very cool spell is likely during mid-September, with perhaps an unusually early end to the growing season in the northern counties “states Paul Knight, Pennsylvania State Climatologist, in the August 4th edition of Field Crop News. I’m not sure I know what a normal growing season is in central Pennsylvania anymore!

Pepper plants are wilting in the middle of the field as a result Phytophthora capsici.

Corn Silage Update

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on August 31, 2009.

As of today our plot is just over 33% D.M. I have noticed a descent amount of silage coming off especially in the southern portion of the county. We are almost where we need to be if we are filling trenches, but we need to be careful we don't push it too quick going into uprights. Again review the comments I have below about setting your kernel processors, I believe this will be crucial.

Check you ears!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on August 31, 2009.

No pun intended actually, we really do need to get into the cornfields and check your ears prior to harvest. I received a call today from a local crop scout who has been seeing and hearing of 'beer can' ears around the county. This is a phenomenon where the bottom few rows of the ear are properly filled while the top of the cob is barren. This obviously can cost a lot of yield.

It is believed that this phenomenon is usually due to a cold snap when the corn plant is forming the ear (V5-V8). This always occurs in this manner since corn will always develop kernels from the bottom of the ear to the top. So what fields are at risk? Well typically it appears that it takes lower 40s to stress the corn so I dove into the this years temperature records to try to pin this down.

It appears the May 14th and 19th are likely the main dates when damage likely occurred. Hagerstown Airport reported a low of 41 degrees for both days. If we look at the fact that it typically takes 4 weeks to reach V8 (where ear development is thought to be complete) and V5 is normally about 3 weeks after planting we can assume the highest risk corn for this abnormality was planted between April 14th and April 28th (due to two dates with low temps). Obviously any fields around this period should be checked. Overall, you may want to check all your early plantings.

The main issue with this abnormality would be decreased yield when shelling the corn. If you have the ability to chop this corn for silage and shell another field it may be advantageous. Of course you will take a hit on energy in your silage as well, however it may be a better option.

Cage or No Cages - You Decide !

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on August 28, 2009.

Going Back in Time

Much of the rhetoric surrounding the push for for enriched and cage free layer systems surrounds the idea of supporting repressed common poultry behavior. The question that should be asked is "Do we really have to support every behavior that the birds possess? Humans used to be hunter gatherers that would move in groups to hunt, kill and maintain territorial bounds by force. We obviously no longer do all that, but are we frustrating ourselves as other groups feel we are imposing on chickens in cages?

If we are placing birds on wire, not in dirt do they really need to bathe in dust? In my years of work I have seen most behaviors exhibited in both cage and cage free systems. Yes, layers will simulate dust bathing, wing & leg stretching and so forth. I have also seen gang picking in larger aviary and range situations as well.

The answer to housing poultry is to look to bird behavior that we wish to support, and more importantly pay to support. If US consumers wish to have cage free production, they will need to support all the requirements of such production. If humane caged (e.g. UEP) systems are important then consumers should financially support those activities as well. There is no free lunch and each system has both positive and negative aspects. What is needed is choice; pushing for markets without choice in the US is against the tenets of capitalism itself. The market will ultimately tell the consumers choice of what is important to them.

Adjust those kernel processors!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on August 28, 2009.

As the corn slowly dries down I'm seeing some drier ears on some very green stalks. If we continue this trend it may lead to some issues in getting available energy in our silage. If you have a kernel processor you are steps ahead in this area already. However, just because you put out the cash doesn't mean it will work without some attention. When you are out harvesting make sure to take some samples early on to see how the processor is working. To check the kernels take a handful or two of silage and place it in a 5 gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with water then slowly pour off the water. Once the water is pretty well gone you should be left with only kernels. Carefully inspect the kernels to make sure they are well processed and cracked. If the kernels are not cracked adjust the processor to a narrower spacing and test again.

A Bounty of "Tasteless" Fruit

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 28, 2009.

Master Gardener Wendy Glofkee sent this report from her garden: FINALLY! Today I got to harvest a bounty of fresh produce from my garden: 2 small tomatoes, 5 leaves of New Zealand “spinach” and a tiny pepper. That doesn’t sound...

Corn Starts to Dry Again!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on August 28, 2009.

I just got done looking at moisture on our plot. In review this was planted on the 29th of April and the variety I'm looking at is a 114 day variety. The moisture this morning finally has moved from the 30-31% D.M. we have been holding at for about a week. Today we are standing at 31.7% D.M. Although this isn't a huge jump it is finally in the right direction. The downside to this is that we are to have rain today and tomorrow which means we probably won't be drying down much going forward. So with all this said it looks like we may be into September before we really get silage harvest rolling. I know many have been pulling into the fields this week but I think for the most part in the county we are still waiting. The silver lining to all of this is that we have quite the crop sitting in the field when we do start in.

Rain Gardening: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on August 27, 2009.

Wet enough for you?
OK – I know everyone is getting a little frustrated with the continued monsoon season, but it has brought a couple of high spots such as the demise of the gypsy moth larvae; due to the weather conditions the hoped for virus and bacterium arrived in time to ‘save the day’, and I’m sure our ground water levels are improving as I write…but for the most part the cool, wet conditions are wreaking havoc in the garden and on the farm.

At this time, I do not intend to dwell on disease and pestilence,but rather
the quality and quantity of storm water that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Now, hands up everyone who thinks that storm water gets ‘treated’ before it enters the streams and rivers that feed the Chesapeake!
Well, I’m here to tell you that it streams from your driveway, down to the street gutters, down the drain and down to the Bay, together with excess fertilizers, herbicides, household chemicals and precious top-soil – untreated and unimpeded!

This is the point where I introduce you to the new trend toward environmentally friendly rain gardening. Simply put, rain gardens are small, specially prepared areas designed to absorb storm-water run-off, (or at least, slow it down), diverting some of the water to support specially selected native plants. These plants provide a wild-life habitat, help to manage contaminants and control erosion.
If your property has a natural low-spot where water ‘ponds’ during a rain-storm, you have the ideal area for a rain garden – or – you could site the rain garden above the ‘low’ area and prevent it from being inundated.

Detailed guidelines for rain gardening are available from the Extension Office, everything from situating, to constructing, to plant selection, to maintenance, but here is a brief overview of what is necessary to create a living filter:
During the next rainstorm (?) observe where run-off may be best intercepted, and directed into the rain garden. A grassy area between the hard surface of the driveway and the proposed rain garden will act as a catch-all for any sediment. The simplest method of constructing the garden is to excavate the existing soil to a depth of 12 to 18 inches, mix the soil with rich, coarse organic material (shredded hardwood mulch) with the addition of sharp sand (not builder’s sand) and compost.
Return the soil to the excavated area and water well. Install the selected plants – best to use small specimens – they will become more quickly used to the conditions than larger ones. Water when necessary, weed diligently, and weed-whack the plant debris in spring down to 6 inches. As the plants grow and spread they will crowd out weeds and any need for mulch should diminish.

Sit back and wait for the bees, birds and butterflies to move in!
Note: Be sure to call before digging to locate your utilities!

100 Calorie Snack Packs--Thinning On Your Wallet or Your Waist?

By noreply@blogger.com (Kathy DiGuiseppe) from Families Living Well. Published on August 27, 2009.

A few years ago 100 calorie snack packs hit grocery store shelves. The explosive demand for 100 calorie snack packs has generated nearly 200 million in sales last year alone. Selections range from crackers pretzels, chips, pudding to yogurt. But are the manufacturers thinning our wallet or our waist? You decide.

You're paying for the extra packaging! With a full bag of pretzels, the cost is about 17 cents an ounce as compared with a 100-calorie snack pack, that same pretzel cost nearly 40 cents an ounce. Single-use packaging also means more waste for the environment.

Are they really a healthy choice? I recently purchased an assortment of 100 calorie snacks. The first thing I noticed was that there wasn't much in each package. Upon reading nutrition facts labels many are free of trans-fats and low in sugar, but don't confuse them with a nutritious snack. Most are highly processed, and not nearly as good for you as fresh fruits and vegetables. Plus, 100 calorie snack packs don't always taste exactly like their regular counterparts. That said, some 100-calorie packs do contain less fat and sugar than regular cookies and crackers. Just remember while junk food may satisfy your craving, it does little to satiate your hunger. But for those times when only a cookie will do and you are faced with a full-size version of your favorite indulgence and weak willpower, then a 100 calorie snack maybe what you need.

What is a healthy 100 calorie snack? Look for choices that will satisfy your hunger and meet your nutritional needs. To keep your appetite in check, make sure your snacks include a bit of protein, fiber, carbohydrate, and fat.

Fatten your wallet and thin your waist! Prepare your own 100-calorie snacks built around foods you like to eat. Read nutritional fact labels on foods to determine the appropriate serving size for 100 calories.

The following are a few ideas to get you started:

Half an apple with 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
An orange and a few dry-roasted nuts
10 almonds
3 ounces low-fat cottage cheese and 3 whole-wheat crackers
1/4 cup fat-free ranch dressing with mixed raw veggies
6 Wheat Thins crackers with two teaspoons of peanut butter (or any nut butter)
1/2 cup frozen orange juice, eaten as sorbet
3 handfuls of unbuttered popcorn, seasoned with herbs
4-6 ounces of no-fat or low-fat yogurt
Half a "finger" of string cheese with 4 whole-wheat crackers

Cover Crop Plot Planted in Franklin County

By noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Rotz) from Franklin County Agronomy. Published on August 26, 2009.

Today we planted the cover crop plot in Franklin County. This year we have 19 species and mixtures in the plot. It will be interesting to see how each performs. The plants include grasses, legumes and some non leguminous forbs. I will be keeping you up to date on the growth as well as winter hardiness of each species. I will also hold two field days at the plot, one this fall and one in the spring. Until then you can feel free to stop by the plot and see what is happening. It is located on Walker Rd. just east of Chambersburg. I want to say a special thanks to Ron Hoover of Penn State for helping establish the plot and Stanley Burkholder for the use of the land.

How I Spent a Summer Day At Penn State’s Ag Progress Days

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on August 26, 2009.

Terry D. Etherton I had a wonderful (and sweltering) time at Ag Progress Days (APD) last week. This is an event sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences and attracted about 50,000 attendees over three days. I have been asked: what do you do out there for three days? A lot (more about this later)! And, the [...]

Native Plants in the Lehigh Valley

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 25, 2009.

Many folks are interested in native plants these days. You've probably heard the popular virtues; they are adapted to our climate, they will survive whatever strange weather comes our way because they evolved here, they don't have pest or disease...

A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on August 25, 2009.

Through my experience moonlighting as a Farmers' Market employee the last couple Saturdays I have learned a great deal about marketing. This past Saturday a situation came up that made me realize that split second decision making is just as crucial to a small family-owned orchard business as it is to any Fortune 500 company. It was around 10:00 a.m., about halfway through the market day already, and peaches had been flying through the check out table all morning when we received an interesting question from a customer. The customer wanted to purchase 5 half bushel boxes of peaches; roughly 100 pounds worth.

Now, usually, we may see few customers throughout the day who buy one or two half bushel boxes at a reduced wholesale price, but 5 boxes was an unprecedented number. I went to the woman in charge and asked if it could be done. I suggested that maybe we could compromise and sell them 3 boxes instead of 5. I was concerned that if we let that many go we might run out of peaches well before the market closed and risk disappointing several of our regular retail customers. But the boss thought that it was worth the risk, she sold 5 boxes to the couple at wholesale price and it ended up working out perfectly. We sold the last peach a few minutes before the market closed. Now, maybe on a different day her decision could have backfired on her; that’s not my point. My point is that it’s easy for us to forget that farms and other small businesses face a high level of risk every day. You don’t have to show up to work in a suit and tie everyday to have good business sense and risk management skills.

The Sweet Corn Challenge: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on August 25, 2009.

I was moving a mound of soil the other day when I opened up a yellow jacket nest with my shovel. You bet, I ran! It’s a good thing we have the ability to move away from pests.

That thought of avoiding pests was in the back of my mind when I was walking through some sweet corn fields this week. When a corn plant gets attacked by a pest, it just has to sit there and take it. I’m amazed farmers have corn to sell at the farmers market or road side stand. Let’s look at the number of pests that attack sweet corn in any given year.

A grower puts the seed into the ground with dreams of sweet ears in 2-3 months. But there are times when nothing ever makes it out of the ground. Wireworms will leave nothing behind but the empty seed hull. Grubs can feed on the roots as they emerge from the seed leading to collapse. Both these pests do more damage in fields following sod or other grasses.

Let’s say the seeds are not damaged and the plant emerges from the soil. Young corn seedlings are vulnerable to bird damage. A large flock of birds can quickly devastate a new corn planting. Another early season pest is the cutworm. The name originates from the fact that the larvae cut the plant off at the base.
So if a grower has managed things properly and avoided the early season pests, most of the sweet corn seeds have germinated and it looks like a pretty good stand. Plenty of sun and moisture will push the crop and ears start to form. Those forming ears are like a siren, calling in all known pests.

The European corn borer larvae (I think the name should be changed to the Italian corn borer to more accurately reflect its origin) moves to the tassel area. Infested tassels and the upper portion of the plant often break over. Some larvae enter the shanks and ears. Weakening of the shanks often results in the ears dropping to the ground. Other insects that can be problematic are sap beetles and fall armyworms.
Everyone’s favorite is the corn earworm (just kidding!). That’s the worm that is smiling at you from the ear tip as you peel the husk. The female lays her eggs on the ear silk and they hatch several days later. According to Penn State’s entomologist, Dr. Dennis Calvin, hatching larvae feed on the silk and burrow directly down into the ear. They feed on each other as well, which tends to limit the number of larvae to one per ear. They feed on the corn kernels at the tip of the ear, rendering the product unmarketable unless it is possible to cull and cut off the tips of the ear..

The corn earworm usually feeds at the ear tip and creates an unsightly mess.

Did you ever see the movie “Signs”, starring Mel Gibson? It had to do with aliens and crop circles. If you call an alien anything that is not supposed to be in a corn field then Pennsylvania black bears fit that definition. Bears may knock down rows of sweet corn while feeding. This damage to corn appears as a circular pattern of destruction in the cornfield over large areas.

A bear trap is set at the edge of a Clinton County sweet corn field.

Continuing with the four legged creature theme, let’s move onto raccoons. Raccoons will eat almost anything (I know as I pick up the contents of my destroyed garbage bags) and are especially fond of sweet corn, often breaking off stalks as they climb up to reach the ears. Most often they partially eat each ear, leaving wasted corn behind. Deer and groundhogs can also feed on sweet corn.

Just when you thought you made it through the gauntlet of pests, the birds move back in. Birds tend to invade sweet corn fields a few days before corn is ready for picking. They are after two things, insect that feed on corn (see European corn borer and corn earworm) and the sweet juicy kernels.

Birds can cause significant damage as they go after insects and the corn itself.

I guess you could say we are the final pest of sweet corn. If a farmer can manage all these pests throughout the growing season then there will be sweet corn available at the road side stands for us to eat. No need to manage us!

Saturday Night at the Movies

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on August 25, 2009.

I went to the movies on Saturday evening. The new film Food, Inc. opened in State College this past weekend, and a local group called Homegrown Happy Valley sponsored a panel to discuss the issues raised in the film.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back Into The Garden: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on August 24, 2009.

In a previous post, I talked about the early appearance of late blight on tomatoes and potatoes in Pennsylvania. Late blight has made its appearance earlier than usual, and has the potential to be very troublesome to growers and home gardeners. Please refer to my previous column to get the low down on that disease.

Think again before you heave a sigh of relief; that the rest of your vegetables are safe and only tomatoes in danger. I guess bad vegetable news just keeps a comin’. Dr Beth Gugino, plant pathologist from Penn State University, put out the alert last week that downy mildew has been confirmed on a commercial cucumber field in western Pennsylvania. This disease occurs sporadically in Pennsylvania; usually appearing late enough in the growing season that yield is not impacted. But when it comes early and weather conditions are just right, it’s hard to manage and can destroy a field in several days.

Just like late blight, downy mildew does not overwinter in our region. Spores of this organism travel from infected fields, southern states at first and later from local fields, by wind currents. When these spores drop out of the sky and condition are cool and wet then downy mildew symptoms can be visible in as few as 3 to 5 days on a susceptible host. Their “favorite food” is anything in the cucurbit family: squash, pumpkin, cucumber, and cantaloupe.

Dr. Gugino describes the disease as small angular spots that are delineated by the leaf veins and are initially pale green in color before turning yellow. On the underside of the leaf, the spots look water soaked at first and under very humid conditions the lesions will sporulate giving them a purplish gray color.

Initial downy mildew symptoms on surface of cucurbit leaf. Photo courtesy of Meg McGrath, Cornell University

Penn State is part of the Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast that tracks this disease across North America. The system in Pennsylvania relies on two methods for disease detection. The first method is the use of sentinel plots. Four of these are located in Erie, Westmoreland, Centre and Lancaster Counties. These unsprayed plots that contain 6 types of cucurbits (cucumbers, cantaloupe, pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, and watermelon) are being scouted weekly for visible symptoms of downy mildew. Confirmed reports from these plots as well as commercial fields and home gardens are used to develop the forecasts. The forecasts then allow growers to properly time management strategies in their fields. Anyone can view these maps at http://cdm.ipmpipe.org.

There are several ways to manage this disease and it takes some planning. The first two steps are too late at this time but something to remember for next year. First, whenever possible, plant varieties that are resistant to downy mildew. At this point it is too late to do any new planting, especially with the cool summer we are experiencing. Secondly, have wide spacing between plants. This will allow for good air circulation and water on the leaves to dry quickly. With that in mind, avoid overhead watering. This will help reduce the potential for the spores of the pathogen to germinate on the leaf. Finally, fungicide applications may be necessary on susceptible varieties during humid weather.

Now if I can control the groundhogs on my pumpkins, I just might have something for my kids to carve.

Endowment Campaign Committee

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on October 29, 2009.

The Endowment Campaign Committee was formed in the fall of 2008 to raise $200,000 to supplement the Society's Scholarship and Internship Endowment funds. By enlarging the endowment funds, the Society will be better able to offer financial support to students that is proportionate with current educational expenses.

More than 70 alumni and friends donated to the Endowment Campaign when they registered for the Tuesday alumni lunch and/or the Wednesday Government/Industry lunch at Ag Progress Days. Each donor was acknowledged with a thank you card and special ag alumni pin at check-in for their continued support of the Ag Alumni Society Scholarships and Internship Awards.

Alumni Pavilion Popular at Ag Progress Days

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

A dozen alumni volunteers manned the Ag Alumni Society kiosk at the Alumni Pavilion located near the special events building. They engaged hundreds of alumni, friends of the college, local community members and visitors talking about society programming and activities.

The pavilion also had a surprise visitor in the shape of a giant blimp. During a brief downpour, the Pennsylvania Beef Council protected the blimp under the alumni canapy.

Alumni Luncheon and Annual Meeting at Ag Progress Days

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

On Tuesday August 18, hundreds of Ag Alumni and friends attended the Ag Alumni Society Luncheon and Annual Meeting held at the Special Events building during Ag Progress Days. Carrie Bomgardner, Ag Alumni Society President, recognized board members completing their terms (Paul Hann, Bob Stahl and Laurie Williams) and welcomed the newly elected board members (Dave Dell, Mike Kowalewski, Jody Kull, Lowell Underhill, and Jim Valent.) The College of Agricultural Sciences Dean, Bruce McPheron, closed the meeting with a State of the College report.

Development Staff Profile

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 26, 2009.

Steve Logue, summer intern in the college's development office, is no stranger to hard work. Since taking his first job as a paper carrier in second grade, he has always held a job. The lessons he has learned from each experience have been invaluable, but none more than his work at Lion Line. The Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, native has raised over $25,000 for Penn State programs after a year at the call center. His work at Lion Line motivated the rising senior to apply to the Division of Development and Alumni Relations internship. He plans to pursue a career in university development or become a college professor (or maybe both at some point).

Majoring in Communications Arts and Sciences with a minor in Psychology, Steve brings great communication skills and an important student persepecitve to the office. He is visiting alumni with directors - experienceing the travel aspect of the job and meeting our loyal alumni. By learning about the endowments, he's also learning about the importance of stewardship. As a student, Steve brings experience in reaching our young alumni and students by encouraging them to designate their senior class gift to the college. Of course, with our crew, he's also getting an education in teamwork, the importance of humor in the workplace, and coffee-runs to the Berkey Creamery.

"I really appreciate the enthusiasm of our development staff," said Steve. "All of this is new to me, and it's great to know that there are people in each college working so hard to raise money for students."

Upcoming Alumni Events - Mark Your Calendars!

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

October 1-4, 2009 - Alumni bus trip to the Penn State vs. Illinois football game. Join us for a fun-filled, four-day trip and enjoy the company of fellow Penn Staters, tours of the Illinois campus, an alumni tailgate, and cheer for Penn State at the football game. For additional information and to register, go to http://www.agalumni.cas.psu.edu/.

November 14, 2009 - Ag Live '09 Alumni Tailgate prior to the Penn State Nittany Lion's taking on Indiana. Join us for a live auction and raffle, proceeds benefit the Ag Alumni Society's scholarships, internship awards, adn other student and alumni programs. Registration coming soon.

More than 30 years of Outstanding Service to the College - Thank you, Kathy!

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

Kathy McCartney retired on June 30, 2009 from the Alumni Relations office with more than 30 years of service to the College of Agricultural Sciences. Kathy has had such a wonderful and positive working relationship with alumni, students, deans, administrators, staff and local community members. Her tireless energy and enthusiasm will be missed. Please join me in thanking Kathy by sending cards or notes to the Alumni Relations Office.

Alumni Relations Office, College of Agricultural Sciences
The Pennsylvania State Univesity

229 Agricultural Adminstration Building
Univeristy Park, PA 16802

agalumni@psu.edu

Picture caption: Dr. John Zeigler, Kathy McCartney, Dan McCartney

Free-Range Parenting

By dhc128@psu.edu (Denise Continenza) from Families Living Well. Published on August 24, 2009.

Striking a balance between too much freedom and too much control is a difficult task for parents. There are physical boundaries to think about. And there is the issue of nutrition and eating habits. Another one parents need to ponder is TV viewing or the use of electronic gadgets. Then there are always the worries about choosing friends, playing sports, and academic performance. Just where do you draw the line between too much parental control and too little?

Recently, I heard an interesting debate on a talk show about “free-range” parenting. One woman maintained that children today are raised with entirely too many limitations on their time and space, and parents basically need to lighten up and let go earlier and farther. She shared her experience of giving her nine year-old son a New York City subway pass and a little money with the instructions to find his way home. He did this successfully, and this has fueled her passion for this not-really-so-new parenting approach. Her opponent, if you will, was quick to point out the most recent statistics on crimes committed against children to which the other mother noted that the data is not significantly different than it was when they were kids. What is different, she said was the media hype that breaks out when these crimes do occur. As such, a child abduction in Iowa makes people in New Jersey feel as if the crime happened right down the street.

Ultimately, the two came to a definition of free-range parenting they could both live with, at least for the purpose of the show. Free-range parenting was clarified as not being about turning kids loose without boundaries or rules. Rather, it is about re-thinking the way we are currently over-scheduling, over-monitoring, and hovering about our children to the point that it stifles their creativity and development.

I can live with that definition, too, but then it seems like the phrase “free-range parenting” is moot, and we are simply talking about effective parenting. One doles out privileges as children demonstrate responsibility. Only a parent knows his or her child and what he or she is capable of based on their maturity, personality, and the environment.

There is no right or wrong about this one, but there are is some research that supports the need for parental supervision even throughout the teen years. The young brain is not yet capable of making sound judgment. As such when young people are left to their own devices for extended periods of time without adult oversight, they are capable of making bad choices. While our communities may not be as unsafe as the media portrays them to be, the thinking process of a growing child is still under construction and in need of a foreman.

Wildlife and Fisheries Science Alum part of “Lions and Tigers and Penn Staters, Oh My!”

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

Rebecca Miller ’05 W F S, a zoo keeper with the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. was the featured speaker at a family City Lights event sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association on June 27, 2009. Miller gave a special presentation on Seal and Sea Lion training followed by a “Behind the Scenes at the Zoo” talk.

In your own words....

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

Tell us what it means to you to be a College of Agricultural Sciences alumni. We want to hear from you!

Email agalumni@psu.edu or comment below.

Stay Informed!

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on August 24, 2009.

Sign up for news releases, listen to Penn State Ag Sciences Radio and podcasts, subscribe to Penn State Agriculture magazine, and more on the College news homepage: Agsci.psu.edu/news.

Looking for Tomatoes?

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 21, 2009.

A woman called our office this week to find out where she could get large quantities of tomatoes for canning this year. Her tomatoes were killed by late blight. She wanted to can at least 60 quarts of sauce, so...

Better BBQ through chemistry

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on August 20, 2009.

WASHINGTON — As summer winds to a close, backyard grillers may be looking back on their last barbecue and asking some rather pointed questions: Why was the grilled chicken so dry? Does eating charred meat really cause cancer? Why did...

Hot Hay Prevention and Control

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on August 20, 2009.

This past spring and summer the Berks County area experienced wet conditions and producers were challenged with small windows of time to bale hay at proper moisture levels for nutrition and safety. Frequent showers, constant cloudiness, and wet fields increase the risk of putting wet hay away in your barn, which may lead to hot hay or hay fires. Taking a few extra steps during hay season may significantly reduce the possibility of barn and hay fires.

Within the first two to six weeks after baling, hay is still curing, so spontaneous combustion is the most common. When the internal temperature of the hay rises above 140°F, the hay produces heat activated bacteria which, when combined with oxygen, causes spontaneous combustion.

Fires can take place both inside and outside in loose hay, small bales, large bales, or stacks. Wet hay or excessive moisture is the most common cause of hay fires. Stored small hay bales should have moisture content between 18 to 25 percent and large round bales should be lower at 14 to 18 percent. Even if you know you put your hay away dry, hay can become damp due to barn leaks, moisture from the ground, or high humidity. It is best to check your hay regularly. If you detect a distinct caramel odor or a musty smell, your hay is probably heating.

An easy way to check the temperature in the haystack is to insert a thermometer inside a probe to accurately determine the heat level. This can be made with a 10 foot pipe that is hammered together at one end to form a pointed dowel. Drill eight holes in the pipe about three inches above the dowel end. Connect a long rope to the thermometer and insert into the probe. Check hay temperature by inserting the probe from the top of the stack. Leave the probe in the hay for at least 10 minutes.

Watch for the following temperatures:

150°F Entering the Danger Zone.

Check temperature every two hours.

160°F Danger! Stacked hay should be dissembled to allow air flow to cool them down.

175°F Call the Fire Department! Have them onsite before moving the hay.

185°F Hot Spots and Pockets May be Expected. Flames will develop when heating hay comes in

contact with the air.

200°F Critical! Temperature rise is rapid above this point. Hay will almost certainly ignite.

Remove hay with fire department on site.

Caution: Before entering the hay, place long planks or a ladder on top of the stack. Do not walk on the hay itself. Pockets may have already burned out under the top surface. It is a good idea to tie a rope around your waist and have a second person on the other end in a safe location ready to pull you out should the surface of the hay collapse into a fire pocket.

Many farmers sprinkle salt on hay as it is stored, in an effort to prevent hay fires. However, tests have shown that salt has no effect on controlling spontaneous combustion. Dry ice, liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas pumped into the hay will prevent combustion by eliminating the oxygen from the hay mass.

Spontaneous combustion is not an accident. By following good storage practices, not only will spontaneous combustion by avoided, but a higher quality of hay will be obtained.

-Information collected from Cornell University Cooperative Extension, University of Tennessee, and Penn State University

My Sweating Feed Bin

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on August 19, 2009.

During the heat of late summer and rain, be sure to inspect feed bins for feed that may hang near seams and at the top. Be sure to look up every now and then to make sure feed tank fill doors are securely closed to keep out the rain. Your feed mill does everything it can to eliminate mold; you should not be the source of new contamination. Considering the price of feed these days, you don't want to see spoiled expenses.

Water, water, everywhere….

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on August 19, 2009.

It poured Tuesday afternoon at the Ag Progress Days site. While we waited out the deluge in the College exhibit building, I and about 75 others had the chance to really look at the displays.

Planting vegetables in fall!

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 17, 2009.

Even though the heat makes me want to stay inside, or at least in the shade, I can't control the urge to plant in my garden! After the heat of the day is over, I am out there pulling weeds...

Ag Progress

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on August 17, 2009.

I visited the Ag Progress Days site at the Russell Larson Agricultural Research Center one afternoon last week in the company of Bob Oberheim, event manager. As we talked about the upcoming APD activities, Bob also helped me understand how this event has changed during its 41-year year history. This got me thinking about “progress” and, specifically, about the meaning of “ag progress.”

Waiting For Work in the Silent Woods

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on August 17, 2009.

Though you would be interested in a Washington Post (Thursday, August 13, 2009), front page above the fold, article about a logger and the condition of the logging industry. It is a story of a logger who waits four days for a job while his crew and equipment set idle. There is quite a photo gallery as well. This story is not unique to Alabama, its appearance on the front page brings to light the stress to the logging industry and the rippel effects of poor markets, the stressed economy, and closed mills. Note the lesson in logging economics in the article - $1.6 million to $35,000. It is worth a read.

To read the full story go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203423.html

Internationalization

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on August 13, 2009.

“It changed my life.” “I didn’t know I could do something like this.” “I never dreamed I would see this.” “I thought their ideas would be different from mine.” “I know what I want to do with my life.” All phrases frequently heard from the lips of students experiencing their first international trip.

Make Time for Family Meals in the Back-to-School Schedule

By noreply@blogger.com (Fran Alloway) from Families Living Well. Published on August 12, 2009.

As the summer ebbs and the back-to-school advertisements fill your mailbox, the pace of life will increase and we’ll be looking at some empty seats at the dinner table. However, eating together as a family is important and has been shown to benefit family members both physically and mentally.

A Harvard study showed that eating family dinners together most or all days of the week was associated with eating more healthfully. Family members generally consumed higher amounts of calcium, fiber, iron, vitamins B6 and B12, C and E and consumed less overall fat.
Another study found that children who eat meals with their families tend to do better in school.
Project EAT from the University of Minnesota found that teen girls who ate with their families appeared less likely to use diet pills, laxatives and extreme measure to control their weight.

So how do we make family meals work in busy family schedules? With both parents working, meal preparation may need to be done quickly. Get the family to help with the preparation. Acquired cooking skills will benefit your children in later years.
• Cook enough to have leftover meals for busy days.
• Slice and dice fresh vegetables for multiple meals and store in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Single serving bags of carrots, cherry tomatoes and celery can be used in lunches or snacks.
• Buy meats in convenient portions – ham slices, boneless chicken breasts, sliced beef or steaks. Smaller portions can be cooked quickly and vegetables can be stir fried together.
• Convenience foods are OK. Try to choose foods with less fat and salt.

As children get older, the importance of family meals may need to be stressed as a priority. If sport schedules, church activities, scouts, drama practices, etc.get in the way most nights, choosing several nights a week for family dinners may be the best you can do. Some suggestions for increasing enthusiasm for family meals are:
• Let children have an active voice in choosing the nights for family meals.
• Have older children select the menu or even prepare the food some nights.
• Keep the conversation positive. Ask open ended questions and try not to grill children about their activities. Talk about the news, community activities, or school events.
• Be open to guests. Children may want to socialize with others, resulting in another missed dinner time. Adult and youth guests can contribute to interesting conversations.
• Keep it simple when time is short. Try a new food or recipe when more time is available. If children like to cook, trying new recipes may encourage self expression and greater interest in family meals and healthy eating.

Family meals can be family breakfasts or lunches or held at 4:00 or 9:00 p.m. Try to plan your activities this fall to leave time for eating together. For a free flyer on family meals, contact your local Penn State Extension office at extension.psu.edu. Ask for The ABC’s of Growing Healthy Kids, Good Times at Mealtimes.

Eating My Weeds

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 11, 2009.

* (This item was contributed by another one of our Master Gardener volunteers, Wendy Gloffke. Thanks Wendy!) If only my veggies grew like my weeds! I could easily keep my family in nettles, purslane, and lambs quarters….not to mention dandelions....

It's Not the Heat but the Humidity

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on August 11, 2009.

As we run downhill into fall and some of the hottest weather, be sure to compensate for humidity. As % relative humidity (RH) rises the efforts that the bird needs to make in order to cool itselfself also rises. The holding capacity of the air for water decreases so increases in ventilation rates must be made in help keep heat in check.

The Power of Choice

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on August 10, 2009.

As consumers we all feel empowered by choice. And when it comes to food, options are never a bad thing, at least in my opinion. For a grower involved in retail fruit and vegetable marketing one way to empower the consumer is by doing a pick-your-own operation, through which customers walk around your orchard and are able to pick out what they want. The idea of pick-your-own has been around for many years and some agricultural businesses have been pretty successful with it. However, the liabilities that come with letting people roam around your farm can prove to be too costly for many growers. But, there are many simpler ways that you can empower your customers. One of these easy little techniques was brought to my attention this past Saturday at the Gettysburg Farmers' Market.

While I was strolling around the market I came across a booth that had many different varieties of cherry tomatoes in several different colors and sizes. As I was trying to decide what variety to buy, the woman behind the counter said “here, just make up your own pint”. So, I grabbed the empty pint and got to work choosing my tomatoes. Something as simple as that actually made my purchasing experience much more fun. I walked away a satisfied customer with the exact combination of tomatoes that I wanted; a few smaller ones, a few oranges ones, a few white ones, etc. Though doing something like this may seem like common sense to many of you; don’t underestimate the power of choice when it comes to any aspect of marketing. Take some time to think about whether there is an item at your market that you could make more customizable for your customers.

Photo courtesy of Farm to Chef Gettysburg

Should I use a pesticide in my garden?

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 07, 2009.

Some folks are starting to see challenges in their gardens. Lots of rain has brought on weeds, diseases, and the insects are finding our plants too. But when you go to the garden center there are so many choices of...

Environmental Groups and Timber Companies Form Unlikely Alliance

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on August 07, 2009.

This story appeared in the Seatle Times on August 3rd. Thought I would share it with my readers. It has real potential. Patrick Moore the once Green Peace advocate may have founded this idea in his book Green Spirit: Trees are the Answer (www.greenspirit.com/trees_answer.cfm).

Environmental groups turn to clear-cuts to stave off development

Environemtnal groups and timber companies have formed an unlikely alliance to back federal legislation that would support logging. The legislation would authorize $3 billion in tax-exempt revenue bonds to buy forest at risk of being converted into real estate. The bonds would support timber activities in exchange for conservation easements designed to keep the lands permanently undeveloped.

Expanding urban areas have increased land values and many timber companies are morphing into real estate giants. While many environmentalists are not fond of logging, they prefer its temporary effects to the permanence of development. It is at times an uneasy alliance.

"I'm an apostate, a turncoat on this issue," said Mitch Friedman, executive director of Conservation Northwest. We need to hug loggers the way we do farmers. Given the choice between a logger and a developer, I'm going to take the logger, even if that challenges some of the notions of my old friends (Lydia V. Mapes, Seatle Times, Aug. 3, 2009)

For the full story go to: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009588406_forest03m.html

When Should I harvest?

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on August 04, 2009.

Most gardens are coming into full production in August. After all that work preparing your soil, planting, weeding, protecting your plants from pests, and watching them grow, the time to reap the rewards is near! But knowing the best time...

Convenience Checks – Are they Really Convenient?

By noreply@blogger.com (Robert J. Thee) from Families Living Well. Published on August 04, 2009.

Does your credit card issuer send you the blank “convenience checks” along with your statement? If so, do you use them or just throw them away?

Either way, be careful! Those convenience checks can be both costly and risky.
Convenience checks can be used in several ways. They can be written as payment to a merchant, to a friend or family member, or even to yourself to deposit in a bank, perhaps for use later.

If you are considering using them, you need to be aware of the costs. First, there are the fees. You will incur a fee of from 2 to 5 percent of the amount of the check just for writing it. Depending on the card issuer and terms, the fee imposed could be a minimum of about $5 or a maximum of up to $300.

The costs don’t end there. The interest charges on convenience checks begin immediately and will be similar to that for a cash advance, usually 20 to 30 percent. To find out what interest rate will apply, look at the information sent with the checks, your credit card terms of agreement, or your credit card statement. At least until February 2010, when this provision of the Credit CARD Act of 2009 takes effect, the credit card company is allowed to apply any extra payment over the minimum amount first to the lowest interest rate transaction which usually will be the new purchases. In other words, you won’t be paying off the loan until all lower interest rate transactions have been paid off first. Typically that means that it won’t happen until the total account balance has been paid. The new law requires that the additional payment is allocated to the balance with the highest interest rate.

If the convenience check amount causes you to exceed your card’s credit limit, the card issuer might not honor the check. This could, in turn, trigger an overdraft fee from your bank or from the merchant and over-the-limit fees from the card issuer. Furthermore, exceeding the credit limit may cause your interest rate to go up resulting in higher payments for your balance you are already carrying.
Convenience checks have many risks.

When using your credit card, you have protections from unauthorized use or problems with unsatisfactory merchandise under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Not so with a convenience check. Because there is no signature verification, if the convenience checks are lost or stolen, there is no protection. The thief can go shopping wherever they like at your expense. Using a credit card, you have 60 days to dispute an unauthorized charge and are liable for a maximum of $50 per card. The $50 can be covered by your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance with no deductible.

Some card issuers, however, have undertaken some protective measures such as requiring the user to call a toll-free number to activate the checks.
To protect yourself from potential identity theft, ask your credit card issuer to stop sending them to you if you don’t think you are likely to use them. You can find the phone number on your latest statement.

There may be times when the convenience checks are convenient for some consumers, but it is essential to know the costs and risks involved when using them. Otherwise, don’t get them.

Saving the Eastern Hemlock

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on August 03, 2009.

Battling an exiotic pest.....

From Georgia to Maine, this once-mightly conifer is now succumbing to an exotic pest, hemlock wooly adelgid. First detected in the western United states in 1924, the adelgid caused little damage. But, when it was carried east and reached Virginia in the 1950's it began its destructive spread. An aphid-like insect, the adelgid kills eastern hemlocks within a few years after infestation, feedling on the sap at the base of their needles and cutting off their nutrients.

To read the full story go to:

http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmpr/theview/article.php?id=2238

Edited from The View, University of Vermont

H3N2 Brings New Influenza Threat

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on August 03, 2009.

A ProMED-mail post (August 2, 2009) Hong Kong’s health authorities announced Wednesday [27 Jul 2009] that a new variant of the H3N2 seasonal influenza virus has been found in the city. The Brisbane strain has been the prevalent circulator of H3N2 in the past year, and the new variant is its direct descendent, said Thomas Tsang, [...]

It can’t be the middle of July already…by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on August 18, 2009.

I spent part of this morning tidying up around the compost area at the Extension office, and this included pulling a bounteous crop of assorted weeds. The recent rains have benefitted the weeds as well as the flowers and as weeds seem not to suffer with insect pests, or dangerous diseases, they are vigorous to say the least!
First to go into the compost pile were the almost mature seedlings of Virginia copperleaf. They go into the compost pile because they have not produced seeds yet, but it won’t be long, so it behooves me to ‘get them while they’re young’! Copperleaf is so-named for the copper coloration acquired by the maturing leaves when growing in a sunny location; it is a summer annual that has an open, branching habit, and can reach 2 feet in height. It is very easy to pull, being only shallowly tap-rooted, and it adds some juicy green material to the compost pile.

Another weed I have in abundance is spotted spurge and this one does NOT go into the compost pile as it produces seeds at a very early age and I’m sure I have overlooked plenty of these pests.
It’s ‘best’ characteristic is the low-lying, mat-forming foliage in camouflage colors; the very small, dull, oval-shaped leaves have a purplish ‘dot’ in the center. To pull this weed I gather up the rosette ‘doily’ in one hand, slip a trowel under the center and pull gently. This makes sure I get the tap-root and fibrous root system as well.

A third unwelcome guest is a weed called black medic. Again it is a prostrate type, but with wiry, 2 foot long stems with yellow, clover-like flowers. This is very difficult to eradicate as its appearance is not showy and it is too easy to miss. Mother Nature provided weeds with many survival tools!

Now, July is the time to stop pinching back your Mums, but you should continue to pinch back your coleus to prevent them from becoming ‘leggy’ or producing flowers.
July is also the time to be thinking about your entries in the Clinton County Fair, horticulture department; remember to follow the rules exactly, groom your entries (remove dead leaves/blossoms etc.) identify your plants correctly and enter only the best possible example.

Finally, I want to urge you all to buy produce locally, and enjoy some great tasting veggies and fruits. Tonight I consumed fresh green beans, new potatoes and some great mixed leaf lettuce. Yum! Blueberries for dessert!

Land of Plenty – Overweight and Obesity in America

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on July 31, 2009.

Terry D. Etherton There is an ongoing overweight/obesity epidemic in the United States. Estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics are that about 66% of Americans are either overweight of obese! This epidemic not only poses a health problem for overweight/obese individuals, but also represents a rapidly expanding burden on health care costs [...]

Equine Herpes Virus-1: What You Should Know

By tetherton from Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Published on July 31, 2009.

Jacob Werner, VMD Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Dairy and Animal Science Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals and Wildlife Animal Resource Program Penn State University A recent outbreak of equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) in Southwest Pennsylvania has prompted many questions and concerns from horse owners. The farm has been quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus. [...]

Tomatoes Infected with Late Blight - Are They Safe for Canning?

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 31, 2009.

Luke F. LaBorde, Penn State Department of Food Science Late blight is a common disease in tomatoes caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. The disease thrives in cool, moist conditions and can wipe out an entire tomato crop within just...

I Pledge My Head to Clearer Thinking

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on July 30, 2009.

Tuesday night I had the opportunity to welcome nearly 700 young Pennsylvanians to the annual 4-H State Achievement Days.

Using Pesticides in Home Vegetable Gardens

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 29, 2009.

* This whole issue with late blight on tomatoes and potatoes has brought up some interesting questions for many folks. The gardener asks him or herself, “It seems I HAVE to use a pesticide of some sort on some of...

A Different Kind of Donut

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on July 28, 2009.

If you have visited your local farmers' market in search of peaches recently, you may have been a little perplexed by signs that read “fresh, locally grown donuts”. But if you scroll down your line of sight a little bit you will see that these “Donuts” are not of the Krispy Kreme variety but instead they are extraordinarily shaped peaches. Some people may also refer to them as “Saturn” peaches as this is the name of one of the most popular donut shaped varieties. Though flat peaches were originally cultivated in Asia and brought to Europe and the U.S. around 200 years ago, they fell out of favor for quite some time until the late 1990s when they began to make a comeback as a widely cultivated variety.

Just because the shape may strike you as somewhat odd don’t be afraid to try one because they are quite tasty. Donut peaches have a white flesh and are on the lower acidity side of the spectrum making them very sweet. Currently, in Adams County, Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Farm and Market has plenty of Donut peaches in stock.

Know Your Beef Checkoff Facts!!

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on August 20, 2009.

If you are a beef producer, you should know about the Beef Checkoff program. Test your knowledge by taking the "My Beef Checkoff Quiz" and maybe you will win a prize. They are giving out prizes for the first quiz takers with all answers correct. Take the quiz to win cool beef handouts!

If you don't know what the beef checkoff is keep reading!

The Beef Checkoff program is funded by the beef producers of America. All producers and importers pay $1 per head on beef and beef products. $0.50 of that $1 dollar is given to your state beef council to invest in statewide programs. Beef Checkoff is designed to pay for marketing and research for the beef industry and increase demand for beef. This is done through six program categories which are promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications.

The United State Government created the Beef Promotion and Research Act (The Beef Checkoff Program) with the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff Program was made mandatory in 1988. The Cattlemen's Beef Board under the United States Department of Agriculture administers the Beef Checkoff Program. This board consists of volunteers nominated by beef producers and then appointed by the US Secretary of Agriculture. The Cattlemen's Beef Board certifies the state beef councils, evaluates beef programs, and oversees the collection and spending of checkoff funds.

For more information on the Beef Checkoff Program go to www.beefboard.org .

Information collected from www.mybeefcheckoff.com

Apple Fights During the Civil War: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on July 24, 2009.

If any readers follow my blog on an occasional basis, you know of my interest in civil war history, especially events surrounding Gettysburg. This past Fourth of July weekend provided me the opportunity to take my two older kids to the Gettysburg 146th Anniversary Civil War Battle Reenactment. Several key battles were re-enacted and camp life was on full display. This is an experience that is exciting, educational, and sobering and I encourage all to attend sometime in their life. As always, I try to combine my interests with my horticulture leanings and below are a few things I learned this past weekend.

Apple Fight
In a previous blog, I talked about the replanting of the Peach Orchard but apples were the main crop on many area farms. According to the National Park Service (NPS) both apple and peach orchards played many roles during the battle—cover from observation or from fire for both troops and artillery batteries; concealment during movement; obstructions to observation or clear fields of fire; places to gather to rest or seek medical assistance. One aspect that is not mentioned by the NPS is the role of apples in recreation and tension release.

General George Pickett was to lead a charge of men over open fields to take on the Union army along Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863. Before his charge, a two hour artillery barrage ensued between both sides. The Confederate army had hoped this would soften up the Union defenses before Pickett’s men charged. During this bombardment, Pickett’s soldiers from Virginia had to wait in the woods until orders were given to move forward. To pass time, an apple fight broke out when soldiers started throwing around green apples obtained from the Spangler orchard.

Just like the Peach Orchard, apple orchards are also being replanted so visitors can better understand the fighting and see the battlefield through the eyes of the soldiers fighting during the Civil War. The hardy varieties selected to recreate the apple orchards are Williams Pride, Pristine, Gold Rush, Liberty, Enterprise, and Freedom. These were selected for their disease resistance for common apple diseases such as fire blight and cedar apple rust.

Re-enactors from General George Pickett’s infantry division cross an open field to Union lines. In 1863, these soldiers were throwing apples at each other before they stepped onto the battlefield.

Confederates Nicknames
Federal (Union) soldiers had several nicknames for Confederate soldiers. The most common was Johnny or Johnny Reb. Another nickname that I learned during a conversation with a re-enactor was the derisive name of butternut. This described the tan or light colored uniform of the common Confederate soldier. There are two explanations out there on why this nickname came about, both of them plant related.

Uniforms of the southern soldiers were made of a cotton/wool jean colored with natural dyes such as sumac. This gave the new uniforms a crisp gray look. The natural dyes would fade rather quickly in the sunlight to a brownish tan color (often described as butternut). Staghorn sumac grows through of the eastern United States as a shrub on roadsides or in waste areas. Every plant part, except the roots, can be used as a dye.

Confederate Civil War re-enactor dresses for the part. Notice the brown colored or butternut clothing.

The other explanation is that dyes from butternut tree bark were once often used to color cloth a yellow to brown color. Butternuts are also known as white walnuts grow in many parts of the eastern US. These trees can obtain heights of 70 feet and is a smaller tree than the black walnut.

Gettysburg Soldiers’ National Cemetery
Speaking of trees, I happened to pick up a pamphlet in one of the tents at the reenactment site titled “Trees of the Gettysburg Soldiers' National Cemetery”. This cemetery was created for Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg and was established on the battleground near the center of the Union line (most Confederate soldiers killed in battle were buried in southern cemeteries). According to the NPS, The United States War Department planted many of the decorative trees that still adorn the cemetery grounds. One tree that stands out is a certain honey locust. It has been documented through photographs to having been present at the time of the dedication and the delivery of the Gettysburg Address.

Pamphlet from the Historic Gettysburg Adams County, Inc. describing trees planted at the Gettysburg Soldier’ National Cemetery.

Late Blight on Home Garden Potatoes

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 23, 2009.

The underside of this potato leaf shows sporulating late blight lesions. Look in the morning for spores that may be visible as a white fuzzy growth on the edge of the water soaked lesion. Late Blight on Home Garden Potatoes...

Emeral Ash Borer Battle Underway

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on August 03, 2009.

This insect keeps moving along. Two more counties in western PA have discovered the insect, Armstrong and Washington. I expect we will see more of it before the year is out. There is some good news however. The Evanston Review has reported that a parasitic insect has been released by the US Forest Service in two cities (Evanston and Chicago) for experimantal treatment.

For the full story on the insect release go to:

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/1668112,evanston-ashborer-071609-s1.article
(Evanston Review, July 16, 2009)

Emerald Ash Borer Found in Armstrong and Washington Counties Pennsylvania; Quarantine Expanded

(PA Dept. of Agriculture, Harrisburg, July 13, 2009) Campers and homeowners statewide are urged to not move firewood!

For the full story go to:

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?Q=153142&A=390

Raising "Green" Kids

By noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Stevens) from Families Living Well. Published on July 22, 2009.

We teach many things to our children with hopes that they will grow to be responsible adults and help to make the world a better place. In addition to “the talk” about the golden rule, and saying no to drugs, parents today also need to focus on making their children aware of environmental concerns and how they can reduce waste and energy consumption. If we teach our children to become good stewards of the environment at an early age, they will be more aware of their actions and how they can make changes to create positive results in the world.

Young children love to help and to “do good.” This is a great time to teach them about recycling and how this can help companies cut back on energy use and the resulting benefit to the environment and air we breathe. According to the EPA, the amount of waste produced annually in the U.S. has tripled since 1960. As a result, some schools have involved kids in collecting and weighing all of the trash from “brown bag” lunches. The kids are then encouraged to reduce the amount of waste they bring in. This reduction impacts shopping habits and creates an awareness of packaging waste.

In addition to “reduce” there are also the “reuse” and “recycle” choices. Help your children brainstorm how they might reuse empty jars, paper, packaging materials, etc. Simple things like saving used paper to use it as scratch paper or printing on the back of used paper are things we all can do. When packing lunches for school, you can opt for using reusable plastic containers instead of sandwich bags and include cloth napkins instead of paper.

There are many children’s books that approach the subject of being “green” in a fun and understandable way. You might also try some family activities like growing a garden and composting the scraps from your yard and kitchen. Although being “green” takes effort for us as adults, children who are taught this from an early age will accept it as a part of their responsibility.

What other things have you tried at your house to make your children more environmentally conscious?

Our Land-Grant Bears Fruit

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on July 22, 2009.

On Wednesday I visited our Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville, PA. The occasion was our biennial Field Day for Fruit Growers.

Planting to Keep Tomatoes Healthy

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 20, 2009.

There are a lot of diseases and other factors that damage or even kill tomato plants. Here are some tips for keeping your tomatoes as healthy as possible. My source was this fact sheet. Please consult it for more detailed...

Mobile Slaughterhouse in California

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on July 20, 2009.

On a related note to my previous post, this is a unique operation that makes it much easier and cost effective for livestock ranchers. This mobile slaughterhouse cuts out the middlemen between farmers and consumers. Check out this video...

Moon Walk

By cjm49 from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on July 20, 2009.

As the fortieth anniversary of the first humans to visit the moon comes and goes, I am reminded of the great resilience in our creativity and problem solving.

Prime, Choice, Select Beef. What does it mean for the consumer?

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on July 20, 2009.

Imagine yourself at the grocery store and standing in front of the meat counter for 20 minutes trying to decide what cut of beef looks better for a weekend cookout with your family. This does not have to be you; furthermore the average consumer would much rather being spending this time with their family instead of in the grocery store. Increase your family

time and learn what makes a high quality cut of beef.

Selecting the right cut of beef can be as easy as consuming a juicy, tender steak. First you will have to understand the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) beef grading scale. You probably have seen the words “USDA Select”, USDA Prime”, or USDA Choice” on the beef label in your local grocery store. Although there are eight different quality grades, these are the three main grades that are typically seen in the meat case of your friendly neighborhood food store. So what’s the big deal? Why are there three major grades and what is the difference?

Quality grades help to determine the divergence between cuts of meat. The United States Department of Agriculture hires well qualified graders that inspect the beef to makes sure what you buy in the grocery store is safe to eat. These graders also rate the carcass using the quality grades prime, choice, and select. A quality grade, according to the USDA is an evaluation of characteristics that affect palatability of meat, such as the age of carcass, texture, and the amount of marbling. Marbling is the dispersion of fat within the ribeye muscle of the carcass. Marbling is what separates prime, choice, and select grades of beef. Marbling is most nearly known by the consumer as the white flecks of fat within in the beef. In other words, this is what helps to determine how much tenderness, juiciness, and flavor is in your piece of meat. A much simpler way to explain it is that these grades evaluate quality.

Prime, Choice, Select are the three most important grades to know as a consumer. USDA Prime is the top grade of beef available on the market. When beef is graded prime, it is guaranteed to be tasty, tender, and extra juicy. Prime Beef has a buttery flavor that makes it surely a cut above any other grade. Prime has the most amount of marbling, so it will be easy to cook this steak to perfection. Remember just because the word prime is on the label does not mean it is the prime quality grade. The label must read “USDA Prime”. An example of this is when you see prime rib in the meat case. Prime rib is a cut of beef rather than the grade of beef.

USDA Choice beef is the second highest grade on the scale. When you are cooking for a crowd of people, choice grade beef is probably your best bet. Choice is typically lower in cost and quality, but still provides a juicy, tender, flavorful meat product. When you compare Choice to Prime, Choice is slightly coarser in texture.

USDA Select beef is the lowest grade of beef that you will find at a grocery store or restaurant. Select beef is much leaner than Prime or Choice or it does not have the same flavor or texture. Select has little marbling which makes it less juicy and tender, but if you cook it correctly you will still have an enjoyable piece of meat. Select beef will be much cheaper in price than USDA Prime or USDA Choice grades. So next time you are the grocery store, shopping for quality steaks, save yourself time by looking for the USDA shield that reads "USDA Prime", "USDA Choice", "USDA Select". Know what type of beef you are looking for. If the beef is for your family dinner, Choice is probably your best option. If the beef is for a celebration, then you might be interested in Prime. If you are not sure about the grade, it always is helpful to ask your meat department about the beef you are buying.

Take Bug Spray, Not Germs to Camp

By noreply@blogger.com (Mandel Smith) from Families Living Well. Published on July 17, 2009.

Now it’s time for summer activities and day camps. Children from across the country will participate in swimming, arts and crafts, field trips and fun adventures with old and new friends. Instead of books and pencils parents will help children assemble sun block, towels and bag lunches, items needed for fun days in the sun. Remember that harmful bacteria grow quickly in the Temperature Danger Zone, those temperatures between 40 and 140°F. It is important to keep perishable lunches safe for day campers and kids on summer excursions. Use these three recommendations for safe summer lunches; keep everything used to prepare lunches clean, keep food cold, pack the right amount of food.

Keep everything clean begins with hands. Wash your hands before you prepare or eat food. As state earlier, harmful bacteria strive in warmer temperatures. Perishable food carried to camp without an ice source won’t stay safe very long. These foods should not be left out at room temperature more than 2 hours. When temperatures are above 90°F food should be placed in cold storage within one hour. Many families choose to send prepackaged combos that contain luncheon meats along with crackers, cheese, and condiments. The prepackaged combos are convenient, but they must remain cold to stay safe. Prepare cooked food, such as turkey, ham, chicken and vegetable or pasta salads, ahead of time to allow for thorough chilling in the refrigerator. Keep cooked food refrigerated until time to leave home. To keep lunches cold away from home, include a small frozen gel pack or frozen juice box. Some foods don’t have to stay cold to stay safe. Foods that are safe without refrigeration include whole fruits and vegetables, hard cheese, chips, bread, crackers, peanut butter and jelly, mustard and pickles.

Pack just the amount of perishable food that can be eaten at lunch. That way, there won’t be a problem about the storage or safety of leftovers. For kids, camp lunch time is a social time. There’s usually more interest in friends than food, but parents should still provide health-promoting foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, and dairy products. Make summer lunches, fun, healthy and most of all safe.

The Plant Destroyer is Back: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on September 02, 2009.

That title sounds like something from the Terminator movie series but farmers and gardeners’ alike better be prepared. There is a disease called late blight that is starting to make its presence felt in the tomato and potato fields and gardens of the Mid-Atlantic States which if not controlled, will wipe out those plantings. Late blight is caused by a fungus-like organism, Phytophthora infestans which literally means devastating plant destroyer.

You need to go back in history to see why this organism received such an ominous name. Let me take you back to in the 1600’s. Potatoes were introduced into Europe by South American plant explorers and kept as oddities in arboretums and high class gardens. No one ate them because they thought they were poisonous (because of its close relative, nightshade) but at some point, a few risk takers found that the tubers on the plant were edible and very tasty. Now that the poison issue was resolved, planting of potatoes occurred all over Europe as the climate and soils were very suitable to the original home of the potato, the Andes region of South America.

One country that grew to love potatoes was Ireland and it was out of necessity. Much of the land in Ireland during the 1800s was owned by the English who then leased it back to the Irish people. Most Irish tenants were poor and the only way they could pay for the land was to pay in grains and produce. Since most of the edible crops were going to the English for rent, what did the Irish subside on? Potatoes! Potatoes thrived in the Irish fields, stored well, and were able to sustain the population through the long winter months.

This relationship between potatoes and the Irish people worked very well until 1844. Late in the growing season, many fields of potato plants suddenly turned black then rotted to mush in a matter of days. No one was sure at that time what had happened and chalked it up to some type of strange weather event or plant sickness (plant pathology was not yet a field of study). Potatoes that did not rot in the field were harvested and placed into storage; unfortunately; many of them rotted also.

The Irish people were in dire straits as they had no other food stuffs (their grains and produce were used to pay rent and shipped off the island) and didn’t have the money to buy food. The people planted with great optimism in 1846 and again the potato crop was wiped out. This continued for several years.

In Irish history, this time period is also known as The Great Hunger. Over one million Irish people died because of starvation and related starvation issues. Another million people decided to pursue their dreams elsewhere. This led to a huge migration of Irish into our country and hence our Irish history of today.

Now back to modern times. Late blight occasionally flares up in Pennsylvania but late in the season. This time is different. It was in Pennsylvania by late June, much earlier than normal. As of this writing it has been diagnosed in Blair, Centre and Lancaster Counties on both tomato and potato and only on tomato in Washington County. It is thought the reason this disease got such an early start was that infected tomato transplants, grown in the south, were brought into the Northeast on the shelves of large home and garden centers.

Typical leaf symptoms have irregular greasy-appearing grayish areas. Moist conditions (plenty of that this late spring early summer) will lead to areas expanding rapidly. A white downy mold appears at the margin of the affected area on the lower surface of leaves in wet weather.

Leaf symptoms and signs of tomato late blight. Photos courtesy of T.A. Zitter, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Dr. Meg McGrath, plant pathologist from Cornell University suggests the following for home gardens: 1) examine your tomato and potato plants thoroughly at least once a week for signs of late blight. 2) spray fungicides preventively and regularly and/or 3) be prepared to destroy your plants when late blight starts to become severe. Seal them in a plastic bag. Do not put them in the compost pile.
If you want to try to control late blight with fungicides, you need to begin spraying fungicide now – even before you see symptoms – and you need to continue spraying regularly. Use a product that contains chlorothalonil.

We have plenty of other food alternatives in our market place so a late blight epidemic will not cause a similar experience that occurred in Ireland during the 1800s. It may however, prevent fresh tomatoes in the construction of a good BLT sandwich.

Millions of Peaches

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on July 27, 2009.

Anybody who was an adolescent or teenager in the mid 90s probably remembers the popular song, “Peaches”, by a band called The Presidents of the United States of America. Now, these men were neither presidents nor farmers, but like many people, they loved peaches hence the repeated lyric “millions of peaches, peaches for me”.

While none of us could actually eat millions of peaches, sometimes it seems like there are millions of different varieties to choose from. Most people think that a peach is a peach and, in the image that they conjure up in their head, the flesh is yellow. However, there are over 2,000 different varieties of peaches separated into 2 main classes: yellow fleshed and white fleshed. Yellow peaches are more acidic and as a result tend to be a bit more tart, especially when firm. White peaches are naturally less tart and less acidic, as a result, they can be eaten when still a bit firm. Within these 2 categories the seasonality and specific flavors can vary greatly. Although they were both excellent, the white peach that I got from Hollabaugh Brothers had a softer skin and was less acidic than the one that I got from Peters Orchard earlier this week which was a bit firmer. And, each week a new variety is ripe, when I asked which varieties of white peaches they had the young lady at Peters Orchard said “last week it was Spring Snow, this week its Sugar May”.

So, take time to try a new variety each week, because before you know it, peach season will be over.

For where to find local peaches check out these sites:

www.acfarmersmarkets.org

agmap.psu.edu

Food Preservation

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 14, 2009.

(This comes to us from Lois Killcoyne, the Food and Nutrition Educator from Northampton County.) Many people are growing some of their own food and want to preserve some of the harvest to enjoy later in the year. It is...

Saving Money on Prescription Drugs

By noreply@blogger.com (Lois Killcoyne) from Families Living Well. Published on July 13, 2009.

Consumer Reports magazine has sponsored a free website to provide information on various medical conditions, treatments and prescription drugs used to treat them. Their recommendations are based on the safety, effectiveness and cost of the drugs. To obtain this information, go to their website at: www.ConsumerReports.org/health.

You can print out multi-page in-depth reports or 2 page summaries, available in English and Spanish. Their AdWatch feature gives you “the rest of the story” regarding drug ads on TV. For example, the ad for Boniva, osteoporosis drug, does not tell you that generic forms of the drug cost only 1/10th the amount of money and are just as effective.

Other health information includes the symptoms, diagnosis, incidence and treatments for 35 medical conditions. So find out the facts behind different treatments for conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s and many more. You could save thousands of dollars per year!

Another way to save money on prescriptions drugs is to make lifestyles changes such as healthier eating, weight management and increased physical activity. A major factor in many chronic diseases, especially diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol is weight. You may be able to decrease or eliminate some medications by making these lifestyle changes, thus saving money on healthcare costs.

The Gypsy Moth has left the County (and State)

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on July 14, 2009.

Most of you probably will not be surprised to hear that the Pennsylvania DCNR is finding that there has been a near-complete collapse of the gypsy moth population in the state. This is very much what many of you reported when you filled out the Gypsy Moth Activity Report on the county’s gypsy moth web site. Many thanks for your efforts – and for your unique observations in the text box. Such surveys are extremely helpful in getting a big picture view of what is happening in our large county.

The general collapse occurred as a result of the extremely unseasonal rainy weather that the whole of Pennsylvania experienced during late May and June. On three separate occasions, stationary fronts parked themselves over the Ohio valley and poured rain on us for a whole week. These were very favorable conditions for the pathogenic fungus, Entomophaga maimaiga, to grow from strength to strength until it killed even strong, late-stage caterpillars all over the county.

Please Report any Flying Moths

Even though it’s pretty certain that we have had a total gypsy moth population collapse, there is still a tiny chance that small residual populations survived in some parts of the county. The best indicator that this has happened is the presence of flying brown gypsy moth males and white non-flying females present on trees. If you do see any adult gypsy moths, please report them online on the county’s gypsy moth web site (www.co.centre.pa.us/gypsymoth).

As always, negative findings (no gypsy moth adults seen) are very important, as a reported absence of gypsy moths is a significant event in itself. (A negative report only takes 10 seconds to make; a positive report takes less than 1 minute.)

Identification Tip: Gypsy moth is one of the few moth species in N. America which flies during the day. Another telltale sign that it’s a gypsy moth is its zigzag flight path as it tracks the scent of the pheromone produced by the female. See the web site for pictures of male and female moths.

(Edited from the Centre County Gypsy Moth Coordinator - Gypsy Moth News, July 2009)

Late Blight - Organic Alternatives

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 10, 2009.

We had a question in response to one of our previous posts: "I live in CT and have a huge garden of tomato plants, where can I order some of the organic alternatives to try and prevent blight?" When we're...

Phabulous Phytochemicals in Phood: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on July 25, 2009.

Phirst let’s establish the meaning of the word phytochemical: simply put it is a technical term for non-nutritive chemicals produced by plants to protect themselves from disease. It has been discovered that these chemicals are also useful in protecting humans; for instance, consuming cranberries will reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
Over a thousand phytochemicals have been identified and each can perform different functions. I guess the term ‘antioxidant’ is one of the most familiar, and many food sources contain phytochemicals with antioxidant properties that help to protect against various cancers, and among these are fruits, vegetables and tea. Other phytochemicals have anti-bacterial effects while still others boost enzyme activity. A group of phytochemicals called ‘carotenoids’ are useful in fighting cardio-vascular disease, and although most of the veggies that contain the most beta-carotene are orange or red, broccoli is also a prime source.
This relatively recent branch of food science is ‘a new frontier’ and will provide us with an arsenal of tools for disease prevention.

The way to get more beneficial phytochemicals into your diet is to eat more fruits and vegetables, with a healthy helping of whole grains. Your mother was quite right when she told you to eat your vegetables! Now, step away from the phrench phries and nobody gets hurt!

Incidentally, some of the most beneficial veggies can be easily grown at home. Tomatoes and green bell peppers top the list with carrots, cabbage and cantaloupe following on. It’s difficult to grow cranberries and watercress in the home garden, but nigh on to impossible to grow my favorite ‘flavonoid’ anti-oxidant – chocolate!

Before I go, let me tell you of a new game I have devised, called:
‘Are you Smarter than a Chipmunk?’
For a couple of weeks now, a large hole has been dug in the gravel path out to my compost pile. I fill it in, it reappears overnight. Repeat!
I finally caught the culprit in the act – a chipmunk, or as I call it, a striped rodent! I fill in the hole and cover the area with a large bucket. By the way, this hole is about one foot in diameter and a foot deep – I never thought such a small animal could dig such a big hole. Next morning the hole had a ramp, dug from a distance that made it possible for the said rodent to excavate the hole again, under the edge of the bucket.
I fill in the hole, replace the bucket with a large rock on top but alas!
Next step: sprinkle the area with cayenne pepper; from my window I watch as it had absolutely no effect…
Next step: Leave the hole undisturbed for a few days – lull the rodent into a sense of false security – then…set a Havahart trap, bait it with peanuts, and transport the captured creature to Snowshoe. Waddya think?

Maybe I should spray-paint the rodent orange, so I could tell if it comes back…

In Praise of Parsley: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on July 09, 2009.

The ancient Greeks and Romans disagreed with each other in many ways and over many things- including parsley; the Greeks adorned their tombs with it in honor of the Herald of Death, and while they did not eat it themselves they fed it to their chariot horses to give them stamina. The Romans ate lots of parsley to the point that Pliny was heard to complain that it was in every sauce and salad. It is still the most popular garnishing herb and still enjoys a reputation for ridding the breath of the odor of garlic!

I grow parsley solely for the benefit of the ‘parsleyworm’ – the caterpillar of the black swallowtail butterfly, and I finally put my three seedlings into the garden today. I’ll let you know if I get any guests…

Have you ever tried growing parsley from seed? It can be very hard to germinate, and in olden times it was held that only a witch or a pregnant woman could accomplish this. The length of time it took to emerge was blamed on the fact that the seed had to go back and forth seven times from the Devil and this was best avoided if the seed was sown on Good Friday.
I find that soaking the seed in warm water for 24 hours before sowing and being very patient works for me. This time I avoided all of this palaver by buying 3 plants from some other patient person!
In the garden parsley likes deep, nutrient-rich well-drained soil with evenly moist conditions, in full sun to part shade. If the leaves begin to yellow, feed with a liquid fertilizer and cut the plant back hard to encourage new growth.
By the way, parsley is a biennial – only leaves the first year, flowers and death the next. I have found if left to go to seed, it will re-seed itself in some small measure.

Parsley is rich in vitamin A and C and high in iron and other trace minerals; it may be used in a poultice to relieve insect bites, but all other medicinal uses are not for the amateur practitioner.
In the culinary field, parsley enhances the flavor of many foods; in my own experience, when I was an unseasoned cook, my husband used to joke that my best recipe was a jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce enhanced with a bay leaf and a handful of parsley. It’s still my favorite…although I now add more garlic…would somebody please pass the parsley?

All kidding aside – in the past few days I have been privileged to witness one of nature’s fascinating rituals – twice! The swarming of bees!
My colleague Tom Butzler is a bee-keeper, and we have two of his hives out back of the Extension Office building. Last Friday we found a swarm had formed on a branch in the hedgerow, and Tom, suited up for the occasion, cut off the branch, held it over a new hive segment, shook it sharply, and the whole swarm dropped into the box. Awesome!
A couple of days later I noticed the next occurrence – unusual activity – ran (well, walked rather briskly) to get Tom, and sure enough another swarm was forming. This time they were up in the higher branches of a small tree. I have pictures of Tom, in protective bee head-gear, climbing with loppers, in precarious pursuit. His first attempt failed to capture the queen; the swarm re-formed in the same tree. Later in the afternoon the deed was done successfully and we now have four hives in the back-yard! Even more awesome!

To conclude: from all reports the Master Gardener Hot-Line is doing well, so if you have questions please call 726-0022 for answers. We love questions! Thank you for your support!

Late Blight - What should the Home Gardener Do? - Destroying Plants

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 09, 2009.

From the Fact Sheet, "Tomato Disease Information for Home Gardeners", by A. A MacNab. (See previous posts for information on diagnosis, and on trying to save lightly affected plants). Late blight of tomatoes and potatoes is a serious plant disease....

Late Blight - What Should the Home Gardener Do? - Rescuing Plants

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 08, 2009.

I was surprised to find suggestions in the A. A. MacNab fact sheet for what to do if tomato or potato plants in your garden are showing early signs of late blight and you choose to work to control the...

Late Blight - What Should the Home Gardener Do? (Diagnosis)

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 07, 2009.

We've We've mentioned in recent blogs that late blight, a very serious disease of your tomatoes and potatoes, is hitting really early this year. Many home gardeners may be wondering what they can and should be doing. Here are some...

Reinventing Smethport’s Forest Legacy

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on July 07, 2009.

Biomass magazine recently reported on a group of foresters from Pennsylvania who traveled to Austria a year ago to see how the nation has managed its forests for multiple uses for centuries. According to the article, Austria, “which is about two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania, has 1,560 district heating plants using woody biomass—about 20 of those are combined-heat-and-power (CHP) systems. Soon 50 percent of Austria’s energy will come from renewable resources, with 15–20 percent from wood.”

Smethport, a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania, will soon be online utilizing the same technology. The town wants to be the first small town in the U.S. with a woody biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power district heating system.

To read the full article, visit the Biomass magazine website. http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2712

Edited from the Society of American Foresters E-Forester (June 29, 2009)

Shearing Shrubbery - Why and Why Not

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on July 02, 2009.

Folks have been bringing in samples from hemlocks that they have been shearing for a long time. Some of these plants are in TERRIBLE shape. Often the hemlocks were planted in rows as a hedge, and the shearing is being...

Insect in Hemlock Forests Causes Loss of Canopy, Increase in Invasive Plants

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on July 02, 2009.

According to new research by ecologists at the University of California–Berkeley, canopy loss in eastern hemlock forests as a result of the hemlock woolly adelgid also is setting the stage for the invasion of non-native plants. The canopy decline leads to even greater invasion of non-native plants when combined with a high concentration of the plants’ seeds and white-tailed deer in affected areas.

For more information, visit the University of California–Berkeley website.

Edited from Society of American Foresters E-Forester June 15, 2009.

Name Calling in the Horticultural World (or You Bastard!): by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on July 01, 2009.

I’ll bet several of you have looked into your landscape beds and uttered a couple of interesting words to describe the sights that you would rather not see. Here are some interesting names that horticulturists use to describe unwanted landscape problems.

John Shaffer, horticulturist and grounds manager for Lycoming College, brought to my attention a weed problem he has been fighting for a few years on the college grounds. I was stumped until my Master Gardener and wildflower aficionado, Tina Clinefelter, identified it as a helleborine orchid. Now that the weed was identified, I contacted Art Gover from Penn State’s Vegetative Management program. Art replied to my query that it was extremely difficult to control. “I'm not making that up,” he said, “another common name for helleborine orchid is bastard hellebore.”

Bastard hellebore in flower. Photo courtesy of Dan Aussem from University of Wisconsin

This weed is one to keep your eyes on as it has the potential to become invasive as some of our other “favorites” such as purple loosestrife and Japanese knotweed. The literature states that it was brought in from Europe (I’ll bet somebody liked the flowers) and is usually found under a canopy of trees. It will spread aggressively unless action is taken. If the weed scientists need some more names, I have a few names in my back pocket I use when weeding my landscape beds.

Fungi have also been given a few choice names. Several years back, I was walking on Penn State’s campus with a professor when he shouted with glee, “Look at the butt rot”! Knowing that he had sat through several hours of diversity training like me, I knew it was not a derogatory statement directed toward any of the women walking on campus. He led me over to a large oak that had a reddish brown shelf-like structure (like a conk) at the soil line. When this butt (the tree butt is where the trunk meets the root flare going into the soil) starts to decay, the tree has a slow growth rate, thinning canopy, and small, yellow leaves. Trees that have these structures at the base and symptoms in the canopy will eventually die and pose a hazard.

Butt rot is a sign that the tree is slowly dying and will present a hazard to pedestrians. Photo courtesy of University of Massachusetts

Another organism that was blessed with interesting naming rights is one found in the mulch. How many of you have ever walked into your landscape and wondered what garbage can your dog got into last night? There amongst your beautiful impatiens and daylilies is this yellow-orangish, slimy mass about a foot across. Although it looks pretty close to the contents of a dog’s stomach, you are looking the “dog vomit” fungus. Other than looking disgusting, there is little cause for alarm. In the natural world, bacteria are breaking down your mulch and the ‘dog vomit” fungus comes in to feed on the bacteria. I guess it is a dog eat dog world.

Although gross looking, the “dog vomit” fungus can be raked over which will dry it up and quickly disappear. Courtesy of Purdue University

Embracing Change

By admin from Dean Bruce McPheron's Blog - Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Published on July 01, 2009.

Bob Dylan perhaps said it best: "…the times, they are a changin'." Ok, perhaps he wasn't a role model with regards to grammar and spelling, but the rhetoric is undeniable. We face change in the College of Agricultural Sciences on multiple levels, and I'd like to provide my perspective on how we will address change and move forward.

The Peach Orchard: by Tom Butzler

By noreply@blogger.com (Tom Butzler) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on June 30, 2009.

As soon as I step onto the Gettysburg National Military Park, I get chills. It is hallowed ground and you can’t help but feel the enormity of the battle and the sacrifices that were made by men and boys of this country during the Civil War.

My favorite book of all time, on any subject matter, is The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (I have read it four times). This historical novel is set in Gettysburg during one of the bloodiest weeks in American warfare, July 1-4, 1863. I have watched the movie Gettysburg a couple of times (based on the novel The Killer Angels) and am currently reading Little Round Top by Glenn LaFantasie, a non-fiction account of the action that centered around Little Round Top during that bloody week. In addition, any time I am in the area, I hop over to the battlefields and take in the history.

I had the chance over Memorial Day Weekend to camp near Gettysburg as we were in the area to watch my son play soccer. Upon my insistence, the family spent a day touring sections of the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Anywhere I go, I always like to observe the types of plants and landscapes in the area and Gettysburg’s battlefields are no exception. Since I have toured the battlefields several times, I know many of the plants. Normally, I like to view the current “battle” as National Park Service employees wage an epic struggle against invasive plants that are crowding out the native vegetation and changing the historical landscape. The most bothersome plants are the multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, Ailanthus, and Mile-A-Minute weed.

This plant battle is not what caused me to swerve the car to the side of the road and leave my wife annoyed with my latest plant excursion. We had just left Little Round Top/ Devil’s Den heading toward Emmitsburg Road when I noticed rows upon rows of newly planted trees. I had read about this in newspaper accounts and various blogs but I had to see it, the newly planted Peach Orchard.

Gettysburg is located in Adams County, Pennsylvania’s best tree fruit growing region with many large orchards, road side stands, and fruit processing facilities. Even back before the Civil War, this region was well known for its tasty fruit. One of these farms, just outside of Gettysburg, was owned by Joseph Sherfy. He maintained a large apple and peach orchard with a small fruit canning business on the side.

His peach orchard became famous in Civil War history as a furious battle occurred amongst the peach trees between the defensive Union lines and advancing Confederate soldiers. After several hours of combat, the Union line broke at the peach orchard on Sherfy’s farm and the Confederates gained control of the surrounding area. It is interesting to note that the 57th Pennsylvania and 114th Pennsylvania under Brigadier General Charles Graham rushed into the orchard to shore up the collapsing line but to no avail.

Newly planted Peach Orchard with Big Round Top in background

There is a major effort to recreate the battlefields as close as possible to 1863. This means that fences are in place like they were during Pickett’s Charge, farm houses preserved in time, and plants (trees, shrubs, and grasses) growing like they hadn’t been touch in over a century. The newly planted peach trees are an effort to recreate that same orchard the soldiers fought in. Peach trees have a short life span, only living for a few decades before dying of old age. According to the Friends of Gettysburg, the Peach Orchard has been replanted five times since 1863 as the Park Service tries to have a healthy orchard for its battlefield interpretation. Current rehabilitation occurred two years ago when they ripped out the old trees and replenished the soil. Last year, the Park Service planted 133 peach trees from a local nursery in Adams County with the variety ‘Messina’. This is a yellow, freestone variety that ripens in mid- to late summer. The literature also states that this tree is more resistant to bacterial spot and is hardy in the winter.

It is hoped that when the trees are mature, visitors can have a visual experience similar to what the soldiers experienced during the bloody battle in 1863.

Strawberries! Not Just for Dessert Anymore

By noreply@blogger.com (Kathy DiGuiseppe) from Families Living Well. Published on June 29, 2009.

Okay, there is nothing better than picking fresh berries off the vine. Strawberries are mainly thought of as an ingredient in desserts. In many dessert recipes strawberries seem to be associated with high fat, high calories ingredients. But no more, strawberries have evolved into many other uses in our daily menu. The reason why strawberries should be a common choice ingredient in our diets is that it is low in calories and has its own a distinct natural sweet taste. For lunch strawberries may either be served along with other fruits, as an appetizer, or with garden greens to complete a vegetable salad. But did you know that strawberries also make good ingredients for main dishes? There are recipes where strawberries are added to braised or grilled chicken. They can also be pureed into a sauce for meat dishes or served as dip with seafood.

Nutritional Powerhouse:

These little heart shape fruit pack some nutritional punch to protect your heart, increase HDL (good) cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, and guard against cancer. Packed with vitamins, fiber, and are a good source of manganese and potassium. They are also in the top 20 list for fruits with antioxidant known as polyphenols. One serving (about eight strawberries) provides more vitamin C than an orange and is approximately only 55 calories. Naturally sweet strawberries are a fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free food. Strawberries are a favorite food choice for individuals watching their weight, due to their health benefits.

Choose medium-sized berries that are firm, plump, and deep red; remember once picked, they won't ripen further. Avoid berries that are wrinkled, soft, spotted with mold or leaking juice. Use any over ripe berries within 24 hours of purchasing and wash before eating to remove any loose soil, but do not wash before storing in the refrigerator this promotes the growth of mold.

Fun Strawberry Facts

Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.

Strawberries are a member of the rose family.

The flavor of a strawberry is influenced by weather, and stage of ripeness when harvested.

On average, there are 200 seeds in one strawberry.

The strawberry is the only fruit with the seeds on the outside of the fruit.

Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita. Although strawberries are available in many forms—frozen, jam and jelly, and ice cream— nothing compares to the taste of a fresh vine ripened strawberry.

Here is a great recipe to add strawberries to your lunch or side salad for dinner.

SPINACH, STRAWBERRY, PECAN SALAD

1 lb. fresh spinach, washed & dried
1 pt. strawberries, washed & halved
1/2 c. pecan halves, toasted

DRESSING:

1/3 c. raspberry vinegar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable or olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp. poppy seeds

Combine dressing ingredients except the poppy seeds in a blender. Add the poppy seeds by hand. Toss dressing with spinach, strawberries and hot pecans. The hot nuts will slightly wilt the greens

So consider adding this seasonally available fruit to other parts of your diet, not just dessert. To purchase strawberries, check out local farmers market or pick-your-own farms in your local community and get that fresh picked taste. Enjoy the natural sweetness!

Chefs Experience Adams County Agriculture

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on June 29, 2009.

If you are really into the Bravo Network’s Top Chef, or a history buff when it comes to American Presidents, you may have been a little star struck last Wednesday at the Gettysburg College Campus. The Pennsylvania Preferred program, which sponsored all of the Gettysburg Festival’s culinary events, brought in chef/restaurateur Richard Blais to sit on a discussion panel at the Country Culinary Fair which focused on the growing interest in eating locally. Blais gained notoriety when he placed 2nd in season 4 of Top Chef. Other panelists included Walter Scheib: former Executive White House Chef, Andrew Little: local chef from Sheppard Mansion Farms in Hanover, PA, JoAnna Gresham: Director of the PA Preferred Program, and Kathy Glahn: local farmer/famrers’ market organizer who pulled the Country Culinary Fair together.

The panel discussion topics ranged from unique foods like asparagus ice cream to the basic concepts of supply and demand economics. Chef Walter Scheib summed up the discussion: “About 30 years ago chefs around the United States rediscovered a concept that had fallen out of favor and that concept was that great food and great dining wasn’t about complicated culinary techniques but great food and great flavors were about ripe, seasonal, local and delicious product”

For interesting interviews with the chefs check out my podcast: http://adams.extension.psu.edu/Podcasts/FreshfromtheFarm/FreshFarms.xml

For recipes from Walter Scheib visit: http://www.theamericanchef.com/index.asp

Fresh inspirations from Andrew Little: http://www.chefandrewlittle.blogspot.com/

Late Blight in Lehigh County

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 29, 2009.

Late Blight was confirmed on a tomato plant from a Lehigh Valley store today. This disease can spread rapidly in wet weather and can destroy tomato and potato plants very quickly. This disease has been found in Lehigh, Blair, Center,...

Central PA Biomass Energy Workshop

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on June 29, 2009.

A Biomass Energy Workshop is being offered on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Penn State University Park from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, cost $20.00. The workshop is sponsored by Headwaters RC &D, Penn State Cooperative Extension, and Biomass Connections.

Topics include warm season grass establishment, mineland and biomass production, biomass bennefits to wildlife, markets for energy crops, and a tour of biomass energy projects at Penn State.

Do you have an interest in how biomass energy crops support your local economy and protect your environment? Are you a landowner interested in establishing biomass energy crops for home, farm, or industry use but don't know what funding sources are available to help you get started? Would you like to see a machine that makes pellets out of switchgrass up close and personal?

To register or for more information contact the Headwaters RC & D Council at 478 Jeffers Street, Bldg 3, Ste D, DuBois, PA 15801, 814-375-1372 or e-mail Adam Dellinger: adam.dellinger@pa.usda.gov

Late Blight Confirmed in Five Pennsylvania Counties

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 27, 2009.

According to Beth Guigino, a Penn State Vegetable Pathologist, late blight has been confirmed in five Pennsylvania counties on tomato and potato plants. Late blight is the same disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s. It has...

Time for a Tune-up!

By dhc128@psu.edu (Denise Continenza) from Families Living Well. Published on June 26, 2009.

Summer is a good time to begin thinking about making changes in family routines for the new school year. Being pro-active and planning ahead helps to avoid many conflicts and battles before they start. Often, though, we wait to address problems like “The breakfast dishes are STILL in the sink at dinner time!” until we are in the heat of the issue. And then, things can get ugly.

Think back on the last school year and see if you can identify any stumbling blocks or issues that created conflict for your family. Was it a challenge to get everyone out the door on time because people couldn’t find their shoes? Did children tell you at the last minute that they needed supplies for a project or a ride to an after-school event?

Once you have identified one or two problem areas, arrange a family meeting. Ask family members to agree on a day and time (30-45 minutes) to meet and plan ahead. Put this on the calendar, and tell everyone that they need to commit to the meeting. Some families meet weekly at the same time so that it becomes part of the family routine. Make it fun by having a special snack or treat.

Set groundrules for your family meetings. Things such as “Everyone listens, no one criticizes”, “One person speaks at a time”, and “Stick to the agenda” are great examples of guidelines to keep your meeting running smoothly.

Come prepared with the list of issues you wish to discuss, and don’t over fill the agenda. One or two issues at a time work well. Get input from all family members, come up with a plan that says what each person will do to help resolve the problem, and agree to review how it is working at the next meeting.

Most importantly, do not discuss major issues such as a teen pregnancy or an individual child’s problem like a bad report card. Think of family meetings as a tune up for your family to keep it running in tip-top condition!

Soybean Meal as Fertilizer

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 24, 2009.

* My family has a very big garden plot in a new community garden for the first time this year. It’s the first year we’ve ever planted more than a few tomatoes and basil around our house. We’re excited by...

PA Forest Web Seminar Center - Short Summer Series

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on June 24, 2009.

The PA Forests Web Seminar Center ( http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/) is pleased to announce a special Short Summer Series for the months of July and August.

Summer Tree ID Made Easy - Wednesday, July 22nd, 7-8:30 PM, presented by Sandy Smith, Youth and Natural Resources Extension Specialist, Penn State School of Forest Resources. The identification of trees by their leaves is perhaps the easiest way to distinguish one species from another. This session will present the basic types of leaves, their characteristics, and how to use a "tree key" for identification. Old and young alike will benefit from learning this valuable skill. Before attending this webinar, each participant should download and print out the 4-H Summer Key for Pennsylvania Trees (available on the website) that will be used during the session.

An Introduction to American Ginseng Forest Farming - Wednesday, August 26th, 7-8:30 PM presented by Eric Burkhart, Instructor and Program Director, Plant Science, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. Establishing or "farming" American ginseng on Pennsylvania forestlands is a fascinating and potentially profitable activity that can contribute to both plant and forestland conservation. In this presentation, participants will be introduced to one of Pennsylvania's most valuable crops, American ginseng. The botany, biology, ecology, markets, growing options, propagation techniques, and management issues (pests, theft, regulations) will all be covered.

Each session is recorded and loaded onto the Web Seminar Center along with a copy of the presentation and any handout materials. So, if you are unable to participate in the "live" session, a recording of it will be available for you to view at your convenience. To participate in the live seminars you must register and have a "Friend of Penn State" user ID. The "Register Now" page on the website will walk you through this process. If you are a member of the Penn State community, you already have your User ID, but we would ask you to register on the website so that you can receive reminders of upcoming programs. Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software.

To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed internet connection and sound. To register and take part in the live seminars or to view the upcoming seminars schedule, visit http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/.

Juneberry

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 21, 2009.

The Juneberry, also called Shadbush and Serviceberry, is a wonderful shrub to consider for your garden space. It has a delicate white blossom that comes out around the time of the Shad Run on the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, when...

Eating Local - Where Does Your Food Come From?

By noreply@blogger.com (Fran Alloway) from Families Living Well. Published on June 19, 2009.

With the recent interest in “going green”, more food shoppers have been asking where their food is grown or produced. In Pennsylvania, the next months will be the peak growing season and local produce can be found at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. A surge of new community gardens and home gardens has also increased accessibility to home grown produce.

There is no definition of local foods. USDA's recent research defined local as 12 miles from the consumers. Many other local designations extend to 200 miles from the consumers. USDA has several ongoing research projects under the title, The Economics of Local Foods and is drafting a primer, Eating Local, Concepts, Impacts and Issues found at www.ers.usda.gov. These projects include studying the feasibility of including local foods in school meals and extending farmer’s markets year round.

Marketing “local” has been shown to attract customers over the ‘organic” labeling. These designations are not exclusive of each other and local food can be organically grown or not.

Is local food healthier? There is no research to confirm this. However, local foods support sustainability – providing income for farming and food production within your communities. Community and home gardens allow consumers to eat “just picked” produce, containing the freshest flavors and nutrients possible. Local farmer’s markets and CSA’s provide a personal connection between the food producers and the consumers, which has many benefits. These include family involvement, a greater variety of produce being eaten and greater community interest and support of food production. Consumers may also desire certain production methods used (i.e.free range)and conversations with the farmers can determine this. Less travel for foods reduces the “carbon footprint”of getting the food to you. Most of our winter produce is grown in Florida or California, or even out of the country.

As you head to the food market this week, look to see where your food comes from – most foods contain country of origin labels. You may also want to include a farmer’s market visit. If you are unsure where to find a market, these can be found at http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/lib/agriculture/marketsfiles/Consumers_Guide_PAMarkets.pdf.

If you have a garden or find a bargain on local produce, you may want to attend a food preservation class to save your excess for winter months. Contact your Penn State Cooperative Extension office for dates and times, http://extension.psu.edu/

Please send us a comment if you have some more ideas for supporting local food production

Cherries have arrived!

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on June 19, 2009.

I like food that takes a little bit of work to eat. Maybe that’s why I always had a bag of sunflower seeds in my back pocket when I played little league baseball. Diligently cracking each shell then eating the seed was its own little sense of accomplishment. Now, carefully eating the flesh of a sweet cherry and spitting out the pit gives me a similar sense of satisfaction. Working around the pit gives you an extra few seconds to truly savor the flavor of each cherry. I guess that's why I was so excited at the end of last week when I realized sweet cherry season had arrived.

On top of their excellent flavor, the health benefits of sweet cherries have been given a lot of attention in the news over the past few years. Most of the news centers on the antioxidant properties that are present in all cherries, specifically natural chemicals called anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant, which give cherries their rich red hue. Antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals in the blood and help to prevent damage to cells are believed to protect against cancers of the digestive tract. They also protect against heart disease, act as an anti-inflammatory, and promote good sleep.

Here in Adams County, PA, Boyer Nurseries and Orchards are well known for their several varieties of delicious sweet cherries. Their fresh fruit season has just begun as they are now offering pick-your-own cherries as well as blueberries. Check out their website for more information. http://www.boyernurseries.com/market.htm

Moldy Plants? It Could be Botrytis Blight

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 17, 2009.

Botrytis blight is a common problem for many types of plants in wet, cool weather like the kind we’ve been having here in the Lehigh Valley. The blight is characterized by gray fuzzy mold and affected areas appear to go...

Woody Biomass Desk Guide and Toolkit Available Online

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on June 15, 2009.

A new woody biomass desk guide and toolkit are now available online. The purpose of the guide is to equip natural resource professionals and outreach specialists with the information and tools needed to increase awareness of the use of woody biomass for energy in the U.S.

Communities today are challenged to develop effective strategies that support forest ecosystem health, mitigate the effects of climate change, satisfy growing energy needs, and provide local economic opportunities. For some communities, woody biomass may be a viable option for meeting these needs and deserves serious consideration. Forests in the United States represent an important potential energy and biobased product resource. NACD, in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners is working to raise awareness about the potential for woody biomass as a primary feedstock for such products.

This Woody Biomass Desk Guide and Toolkit provides an overview of woody biomass production and utilization in the U.S., tips of how to provide effective outreach for your clientele, and educational handouts to share with your audiences. The purpose of this guide is to equip natural resource professionals and outreach specialists with the information and tools needed to increase awareness of the use of woody biomass for energy in the U.S.

This Guide is designed for use by conservation district, Resource Conservation & Development and Extension professionals throughout the U.S. It also contains handouts and other resources to assist in educating respective audience. The Desk Guide and Toolkit is a comprehensive guide comprised of the following sections: Reference Sections, Handouts, Case Studies, Introductory PowerPoint Presentations, Frequently Asked Questions, Glossary, and Additional Resources.

You can pick and choose from the materials in this Guide and Toolkit to create the outreach strategy or program that best meets your objectives. Whether you need to give a thirty-minute presentation to your local county commission or conduct a week-long professional development training for consulting foresters, the resources in this program can help.

For the full guide and toolkit go to the National Association of Conservation Districts web site at:

http://nacdnet.org/resources/guides/biomass/

Avoiding Powdery Mildew

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 11, 2009.

Powdery mildew is a common disease found on many types of plants, and is characterized by a powdery white to gray appearance on leaves, stems and heads. Humid conditions encourage the fungus to grow and spread. Luckily, powdery mildew is...

Emerald Ash Borer - Is it here yet?

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 11, 2009.

Please keep your eyes open for the emerald ash borer. The adults should have started emerging, and they're quite striking in appearance - the beautiful metallic green color is magnificent. In an advanced infestation, there may be quite a few...

Elementary, my dear Watson!: by Tina Clinefelter

By noreply@blogger.com (Tina Clinefelter) from Gardening in the Keystone State. Published on June 09, 2009.

As I have just spent five hours teaching 55 fifth graders the fine art of composting, my brain is a little addled, and my thought processes are not running smoothly, so if this article takes a few twists and turns, don’t blame me!
Incidentally, I taught the same lecture five times to five different groups of students as they rotated through five different work stations, with time out for consuming approximately 75 slices of pizza, a couple of large bags of ready-to-eat carrots, potato chips, cheese puffs, and a large number of cookies with pink lemonade.
I don’t think I inspired anyone to dash home and insist that the whole family begin a compost pile at once, but they began to understand the need to keep all that stuff out of the landfill, and put it back into the soil to replenish the minerals and nutrients removed by growing some of our food and flowers.
They didn’t care much about the science of composting, but loved the really moldy orange, dead bread and drier lint I had in my bag of goodies.
I took care to explain what materials to keep out of the pile (meat and dairy products, fat, tomatoes and cat and dog manure to name a few), and they all had questions concerning the cat and dog poop. Why?
It’s because it may contain disease pathogens that could possibly enter the food chain.
Another question was asked by one of the other instructors – what are those pink, white and purple flowers growing along the road-sides at the moment? They are ‘dame’s rockets’, a sweet-smelling import from Europe that is ever-so-slightly invasive; their perfume is released in the early evening hours.

Yesterday a couple of colleagues and I planted 76 pepper plants in one of the high tunnels – it took us longer to decide in what order to plant them than to actually get them in the ground…
Tomorrow we intend to plant the second tunnel with some heirloom tomatoes and some other odd-ball varieties together with parsley and basil.

I hope you are monitoring your transplants closely – it appears to be the season for aphids. So far I have found the sap-sucking pests on roses, tansy, American cranberrybush viburnum, salvia and my nine-bark tree.
Aphids are best removed from sturdy plants with a strong jet of water – if they are knocked off their host plant they are too stupid to find their way back and therefore starve to death. If the plant would be damaged by strong jets of water, insecticidal soap works well.

In the Trial Garden, we have a purple-leaved, ornamental elderberry bush that just about to burst into myriad pink blossoms. It should be awesome!
If you get a chance, stop by to take a look, in fact, feel free to take a look at the whole garden any time. If I’m there working I can always use a ‘time-out’ to conduct a tour or answer questions, because that’s what today has been all about…answering questions! (Sometimes I even know the answers…)

New Wildlife Food Plot Manual Available

By noreply@blogger.com (David R. Jackson) from Central Pennsylvania Forestry. Published on June 09, 2009.

Craig Harper, Professor/Extension Wildlife Specialist from the University of Tennessee recently finished a manual on wildlife food plots. It is available for viewing or purchase at the following web site: http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/wildlife/default.asp#habitat.

In writing the manual, Harper tried to put food plots in the correct context with holistic habitat management. Food plots are not needed to sustain healthy wildlife populations, but they can provide a positive benefit, and many landowners are trying to grow and manage food plots. It is important to give them accurate information regarding food plots if they are going to be planting them.

The manual was written primarily for the Southern region, but provides a lot of information that is just as pertinent further north and west. You will see Cooperative Extension played an important role in the review and content.

The only way anyone can purchase the manual is through the website listed above. When an order is placed on-line with a credit card, it is sent by the mailroom that day.

Stored Value Cards

By noreply@blogger.com (Robert J. Thee) from Families Living Well. Published on June 09, 2009.

A few days ago, a summer intern in our office mentioned that her pay from another part-time job she has, came in the form of a stored value card. For each pay period, her employer loaded the funds onto the card. She said that she can use the card to make purchases from most retailers. But while she is not charged a fee for using it at some retailers she is charged at others. So why would anyone want to have to pay someone to take their money? How do stored value cards, also known as prepaid cards, work? Are there ways to avoid the fees or at least control the costs of using it?

What is a stored value card?
Stored value cards come in many different forms and can serve a variety of purposes. Anyone who makes purchases with a retailer gift card, places phone calls with a prepaid telephone card, or buys goods or services with a prepaid debit card is using a stored value card. Payroll cards and government benefit cards are other examples. The magnetic strip on the card stores information about the funds available to the card.

There are two basic types of stored value cards. The first type is the prepaid or closed system card, a single purpose card such as gift card that can be used only at a particular retailer. The second type of card is a multi-purpose or open system card that can be used to make debit transactions at many different retailers as well as for receiving direct deposits from an employer, and making ATM withdrawals. Some multi-purpose cards may carry the VISA or MasterCard logo and can be use any place there Visa or MasterCard credit cards are accepted.

A stored value card does not extend a line of credit, but bears a closer resemblance to a debit card. The debit card, however, is tied to an account typically at a bank or credit union whereas the stored value card is not.

Where do you get them?
They can be obtained as a payroll card from an employer, an electronic benefit card from a government agency, or a gift card from a retail store. A multipurpose card can be applied for by telephone, online, or at check cashing outlets, money transfer company locations, and retail stores.

Are there costs to using a stored value card?
There are several types of fees that may be associated with the use of a stored value card. It’s important to know what these fees are to weigh the benefits of using a stored value card compared to the use of other financial services such as a checking account, credit or debit card. Generally, if the card has a high fee of one variety, it will likely have a low or no fee in another. You need to anticipate how you plan to use the card to evaluate if the card will meet your needs.

Typical fees include an entrance or activation fee, a monthly or annual maintenance fee, a point of sale fee, and a within network ATM transaction fee. In addition, there could be several other fees such as a reload fee, a phone or online transaction fee, a bill payment fee, an inactivity fee, a transaction limit fee, or an overdraft fee or overdraft protection fee. In other words, you could incur a fee for putting money into your card and again when you use the card at a retailer. All of these fees can add up to a significant sum if the user is not aware of them or careful in using the card.

Who uses prepaid cards?
Reloadable multi-purpose cards can be an alternative to a checking account for those who do not have a bank account or are unable to open one. An employer can direct deposit the paycheck to the account or funds can be added by money wire transfer, money order, or cash.

They are also used by people who don’t qualify for a credit card. No credit check is required to obtain a prepaid card.

The prepaid or stored value card can be a way for parents to give a cash allowance to their teenagers while monitoring their spending habits. It can be reloaded online or over the phone.

If you’re trying to rebuild your credit history after a bankruptcy, a prepaid card can be a start. Some companies offer programs that help build a positive payment history, since the timely payment of bills constitutes 35 percent of your credit score.

Is your money safe?
Your savings in a bank is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The same is now true for stored value cards to the extent that the funds have been placed at an insured depository institution. Gift cards issued by a retailer are not covered. If the retailer goes bankrupt (think Circuit City or Linens ‘n Things, for example), there is no guarantee of the funds on the stored value card. Some states may offer some protections or the retailer may ask the bankruptcy court to honor the cards.

As with any financial product or service, the consumer needs to be informed to make the best decision as to whether it will meet his/her needs at a reasonable cost.

Putting The Desire For Local Foods Into Action Can Be Challenging But Rewarding

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on June 08, 2009.

As I stared at the dichotomy that was my lunch today I could not help but shake my head in amusement. On one plate I had some delicious looking fresh Romaine Lettuce picked a few days ago from Mcleaf Orchards; no more than 10 miles down the road. On the other plate I had a frozen Lean Cuisine sandwich the ingredients of which came from who knows when or where. The lettuce was just about as minimally processed as food comes and the sandwich was processed to the max. The sandwich tasted good, but the salad I made with the fresh romaine tasted even better. Maybe it was because of the crisp, fresh nature of the leaves or maybe it was due to the fact that I know Corey McLeaf and have visited his farm.

The fact is, more and more people are choosing to eat locally grown foods, whether it’s a matter of taste, desire for a better sense of community, or concern for the environment. However, after attending a conference last month that centered on enhancing local and regional food systems, I can assure you that even those at the center of the “local foods movement” don’t eat 100% local 100% of the time. But, some have tried to eat exclusively local foods for a prolonged stretch of time such as Bill McKibben’s attempt that he describes in his book “Deep Economy”. However, it is a goal that is extremely difficult for the average person to achieve.

Old habits are hard to break and, for most of us, the way the current national and global food system works is all we have ever known. We were all brought up in a world where almost any type of food could be obtained any time of the year at one convenient location: the local supermarket. The question of how much of your daily food intake can or should be sourced from local producers is anybody’s guess and it depends heavily on geographic factors. But, you shouldn't feel guilty or that you can’t be part of the movement towards local if you choose to pair that local asparagus with fish that you bought at the supermarket. The point is that every little bit helps.

Keeping Cut Garden Roses Fresh

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 05, 2009.

The peak time for roses in Pennsylvania is now through mid-June. To enjoy their fragrance and color indoors, cut flowers in the late bud stage, as they are just beginning to open. If possible, water your rose bushes heavily the...

Natural, Organic, Sustainable. What is the difference?

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on August 24, 2009.

Many questions have been raised about natural, organic, and sustainable agriculture. What is the difference? I thought all meat products are natural? If I buy goats and put them on pasture is that classified organic? These are typical questions I receive on a daily basis regarding the agriculture industry. Let's examine the difference between natural, organic, and sustainable agriculture.

Natural

The definition of natural depends on who is defining the word. U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture do not have an official definition for the word. When it comes time to use the term, natural, both regulatory units evaluate the products on a case by case basis. Natural according to the USDA is definied as not adding any artificial flavoring, color ingredients, chemical preservatives or artificial or synthetic ingredients to the raw product. This definition only applies to meat and poultry. A natural product is minimally processed and does not alter the raw version.

Organic

Organic farming relies on practices such as using cultural and biological pest management, elimination of all hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic chemicals in crop and livestock production. Products, producers, and their farms must meet United States Department of Agriculture specific standards to be labeled as organic. Farmers must go through a certification program to have their farm classify as organic. Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products can be classified organic if no antibiotics or growth hormones have been given to the animal during its entire life. Feed for these animals must also be grown organically. USDA organic certifier will inspect the farm and ensure the farmer is following all organic standards.

There are three different types of organic labels for products. Labeling requirements are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in the product. '100 percent Organic' labeled products must contain only organic ingredients approved by the USDA. Products labeled 'Organic' contain at least 95 percent ingredients produced organically. The 'Made with Organic' label is used for processed products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients.

Sustainable

Finally, sustainable has no hard and fast definition. Sustainable foods are usually raised by farmers that promote the health of animals, land, environment, and community. Sustainable farming is more of a way of life and does not have any sort of certification. Animals must be able to carry out natural behaviors such as rooting and grazing. Sustainable farms produce and sell products that are sold as close to the farm as possible. Consumers can partake in sustainable practices by buying local and eating seasonally.

So remember, next time you hear someone talk about these three types of farming practices, make sure to educate them on the proper definition.

Ag Alumni Society seeking Donations for Ag Live '09 Alumni Tailgate

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 09, 2009.

The Ag Alumni Society is seeking live auction and raffle donations for the Ag Live '09 Alumni Tailgate to be held on November 14, 2009. Proceeds from the live auction and raffle benefit the Ag Alumni Society's scholarships, internship awards, and other student and alumni programs.

If you or someone you know would like to contribute to the live auction or raffle, please contact Naomi Knaub in the Ag Alumni Relations Office at 814-867-1819 for more information.

Photo: Ag Alumni Society Board Members, Ron Johnson '65 Ag Ed and Les Firth '58, '61g Ag Econ

Diverse Offerings Becoming More Prominent at Local Farmers' Markets

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on June 03, 2009.

Adams County Farmers' Markets are beginning to gain momentum and when most people think of farmers markets they think of bounties of fruits and veggies. Fresh strawberries are peaking and in the coming weeks salad greens and other berries will be harvested. But, these days local farmers’ market vendors are also looking to fill the center of the consumer’s plate with high quality meats.

Fridays Farm Fresh Market at The Outlet Shoppes in Gettysburg has two vendors that offer premium beef and pork products at the same stand. Sheppard Mansion Farms, located on the border of Adams and York County, sells 9 standard cuts of hormone-free, grass-fed, Highland Beef along with 2 or 3 weekly specials. Highland Cattle produce a lean cut of beef due to a thick hide and less subcutaneous fat.

Rettland Farm, located in Gettysburg, specializes in Berkshire pork, a heritage breed that is known for its gourmet taste and texture qualities. The pork products that they are selling at the market include loin, rib chops, bacon, various sausages, and ground pork. On top of that, they also have whole, pastured broiler chickens and pastured veal cuts while current supplies last.

Welcome to "Fresh From the Farm Market Report"

By noreply@blogger.com (Jim Remcheck) from Adams County Ag Marketing News. Published on June 03, 2009.

My intention for this blog is to address issues and educate consumers concerning the marketing of local agricultural products.

Wildlife and Fisheries Science Alumni part of "Lions, Tigers and Penn Staters, Oh My!" event in Washington, D.C.

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 09, 2009.

Rebecca Miller '05 W F S, a zoo keeper with the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. will be the featured speaker at a family City Lights event sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association on June 27, 2009. Miller will give a special presentation on Seal and Sea Lion training followed by a "Behind the Scenes at the Zoo" talk.

To register or get more information please click here or call 800-548-LION (5466).

Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on June 02, 2009.

Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell gets inside the food industry's pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce -- and makes a larger argument about the nature of choice and happiness. Link to full screen version of talk here

Congratulations and Welcome New Alumni!

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 09, 2009.

On May 16, 272 College of Agricultural Sciences students graduated at Eisenhower Auditorium and were welcomed into the alumni family by Ag Alumni Society President, Nelson Loftus ’58, ‘62g For, ‘66g Agron.

Almost 800 family and friends attended the Spring ’09 Graduation Brunch sponsored by the Ag Alumni Society to celebrate with the graduates, alumni, and college faculty and staff. The Ag Alumni Society pays for a brunch ticket for each graduate and two guests, presents the new graduate with a College of Agricultural Sciences license plate holder, and pins the graduate with a traditional blue/white boutonniere.

Photo: Ag Alumni Society board member Lori Connelly '03 An Sci, '05g Ag & Ext Ed and Chad Pelensky '09 An Bio

Ag Alumni Society helps students get through finals week

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 02, 2009.

We remember what finals week was like with no time for sleep or food. This spring the Ag Alumni Society once again provided almost 100 student leaders and society award winners with gift bags to help them get through finals week. Now in its ninth year, the society works with Ag Alumni and businesses to donate their products to the Student Gift Bag Project.

“Thank you for the goody bag, I never expected so many great things! It definitely brightened my day and will be very useful next week when I’m studying. I really appreciate the gesture and effort that went into the student gift bags!” Emily Thomas, Ag Alumni Society 2008 Scholarship Recipient

Upcoming Alumni Events - Mark Your Calendars!

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 09, 2009.

August 18, 2009 – Ag Alumni Society’s annual meeting and Alumni Luncheon held during Ag Progress Days

October 1-4, 2009 – Alumni bus trip to the Penn State vs. Illinois football game. Join us for a fun-filled, four-day trip and enjoy the company of fellow Penn Staters, tours of the Illinois campus, an alumni tailgate, and cheer for Penn State at the football game.

November 14, 2009 – Ag Live ’09 Alumni Tailgate including a live auction and raffle prior to Penn State taking on Indiana. Live auction and raffle proceeds benefit the Ag Alumni Society’s scholarships, internship awards, and other student and alumni programs.

For registration and additional information please visit http://www.agalumni.cas.psu.edu/.

Alumni in Iraq working to improve local Agriculture

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 02, 2009.

Sam Hayes, III ’90 Ag Sci, ’97g Tr Dev, is currently serving in the Army and is working with the Dean of Agriculture at the University of Baghdad to expand extension service capacity. Hayes hopes to improve local agriculture in order to move it from essential subsistence farming to larger commercial operations, and to establish partnerships between the College, the Government of Iraq, and the Abu Ghraib community.

Photo: Dr. Hamza Zubady, Dean of Agriculture (third from left),
Sam Hayes, III '90 Ag Sci, '97 Tr Dev(second from right)

Tragedy for one Ag Family creates opportunities for future Ag Students

By noreply@blogger.com (Naomi Knaub, Director Alumni Relations) from Penn State Ag Alumni Society News. Published on June 09, 2009.

The Development office would like to announce the creation of the Sarah Christine Donaldson Memorial Trustee Scholarship.

Sarah received her B.S. in Animal BioScience from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State in 2003 and her M.S. in Pathobiology, also from Penn State, in 2006. Sarah was employed by the College of Agricultural Sciences after graduation and was conducting research in the field of molecular epidemiology at the time of her tragic death in June 2008.

Major Gifts Officer, Mark Theiss, has been working closely with the family, including Sarah’s fiancé, and has enjoyed learning about her and her work while at Penn State.

“After getting to know the family and learning more and more about Sarah, you just know she was an incredible person. What she accomplished in her life, most people couldn’t accomplish in 3 lifetimes. It’s amazing to learn about the impact her research has had, and will continue to have, on the field,” said Theiss.

Keep an eye on other college publications for more stories about Sarah in the future. In the meantime, if you wish to contribute to the Sarah Christine Donaldson Memorial Trustee Scholarship, contact Mark Theiss at mjt118@psu.edu, or 814-863-1373.

Organic Mulch in the Vegetable Garden

By Kate Brandes from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on June 01, 2009.

* Organic mulch in your vegetable garden is a work horse and will give your garden a lot of benefits for the energy required to install it. Mulch will help cut down on weeding, keep the ground moist, insulate the...

Time to Cage Tomatoes

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on May 29, 2009.

This is a good weekend to cage your tomatoes. As the weather warms up, your tomato plants should start to grow very rapidly. If you leave them without a cage, staking or supporting them in some way they will start...

Sun Safety for Kids

By noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Stevens) from Families Living Well. Published on May 29, 2009.

There is nothing better than playing outside on a warm, sunny day. Sunlight actually provides us with Vitamin D which helps our bodies absorb calcium. The bad news is that unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays also causes skin damage, eye injury and can lead to skin cancer. Surprisingly, most kids receive up to 80% of their lifetime exposure to the sun before age 18 and this time in the sun can have a long-term effect. Experts say that just one or two blistering sunburns during childhood can greatly increase the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US and some types can be deadly.

Children with more melanin in their skin are less likely to burn. This chemical gives some natural protection but remember that a “tan” is actually a sign of skin damage. Sunburn is evidence that the amount of ultraviolet ray exposure is greater than what can be protected against by the skin’s melanin. Children at the greatest risk are those with moles on their skin (or whose parents have a tendency to develop moles), very fair skin and hair, and a family history of skin cancer.

UV rays are strongest during the summer months and even more dangerous, in our part of the country, from 10:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. If your children play outside during these hours, be sure to apply a sunscreen. Most of our UV exposure comes from day-to-day activities in the yard and playground – not just at the pool or beach! Also, UV rays are dangerous even on cool, cloudy days when we don’t feel the heat of the sun.

Children six months or older should wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Fair skinned children should wear an SPF of 30 for better protection. Select a broad spectrum (protects again both UV-A and UV-B rays), waterproof lotion and apply it a half-hour before your child goes outside so it has time to be absorbed. Make sure you cover all exposed areas including hands, feet and the tops of ears. There are several kid friendly lotions today that come out of the bottle in bright colors and disappear after being applied. You can also buy lotions that have a bug repellent in them although some sources say this can decrease the effectiveness of the sunscreen slightly. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two to three hours. After swimming, dry your child off and reapply sunscreen. Waterproof sunscreens may last up to 80 minutes in the water.

Many sunscreens have an expiration date on them. If yours doesn’t, most ingredients are fine for up to three years as long as the container has remained closed and kept in a cool place. If yours smells funny or looks different, throw it out. We often keep the sunscreen in hot cars and beach bags which are not optimum conditions for a long shelf life.

Covering up with clothing helps prevent sunburn but the effectiveness depends on the fabric. A typical white t-shirt provides SPF protection of only 10. Tight knit, thick material provides better protection and shirts with long sleeves and pants provide more protection than tank tops and shorts. Make sure children have hats with wide brims that shade the ears, neck and face.

It’s never too early to teach children about sun safety. In Australia where the sun is strong and skin cancer is prevalent, Aussies have developed a national health campaign with the slogan “Slip, Slop, Slap.” This stands for slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat. This is a fun way to remind children to avoid overexposure to the sun’s rays. Enjoy your summer!

Grow Fresh Herbs in a Container!

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on May 27, 2009.

Every spring I plant a container of herbs. This container sits on my porch just outside my kitchen door. I plant culinary herbs like thai basil, thyme, oregano, sage, parsley and clilantro. They are so handy to have right there...

Plan Now for Summer Produce

By noreply@blogger.com (Mandel Smith) from Families Living Well. Published on May 22, 2009.

Memorial Day weekend is finally here. This holiday is always a reminder that summer is just around the corner. With the warmer summer days, can come an abundance of summer fruit and vegetables. Whether you are harvesting from your own garden or purchasing from a local farmers’ market, it can be a challenge to properly store all of the fresh produce. Now is the time to plan how you will save fresh summer produce for use throughout the year.

Canning and Freezing are two of the three main methods of preserving food. The preservation method you use really depends on the types of foods you want to preserve and which method suits your needs.

According to So Easy to Preserve, a food preservation handbook published by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, canning is the process in which foods are placed in jars or cans and heated to a temperature that destroys microorganisms and inactivates enzymes. Freezing reduces the temperature of the food so that microorganisms cannot grow.

To prepare for the upcoming food preservation season keep these tips in mind.
• Determine if preserving food will actually save you money. Consider the cost in growing food in your own garden. If you are receiving food as a gift little cost is involved. Purchasing food from a farmers’ market may offer good prices when you buy at the peak of the season.
• Some foods may be better suited for freezing while others may be best if canned. For help determining the best food preservation method for a certain food, contact your local Extension office for detailed preservation instructions.
• Assemble freezing or canning equipment early so you will have everything you need before your produce arrives. Also make sure your canner is in good working condition. If you have a dial gauge pressure canner plan to have it tested for accuracy. Contact your local Extension office or manufacturer of the canner for information on how to have this done.
• Schedule enough time to finish your food preservation projects. Trying to preserve too much food in a small amount of time can be overwhelming. Be sure to read and follow reliable food preservation methods for the food you are storing. Set aside a realistic amount of time to work with and process the foods you are preserving.
• Take a food preservation class. This is a great way to meet other people with an interest in home food preservation and to learn the latest techniques and requirements for safe preserving. Check with your local Extension office for class schedules or the latest publications.
• Check these links for more information on home food preservation.The National Center for Home Food Preservation http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/
Penn State Extension Home Food Preservation Website http://foodsafety.psu.edu/preserve.html

Council Hosts Farewell Dinner for the Dean

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 27, 2009.

More than 300 guests attended a farewell dinner on April 7 hosted by the Penn State Ag Council in honor of Dean Robert Steele. Dean Steele is stepping down as Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences on June 30 after 12 years in the position and will join the college's faculty as a tenured professor in the Department of Food Science. Speakers highlighted Dean Steele's accomplishments during his tenure as Dean, praised him for building strong relationships with college stakeholders, and shared humorous stories from his years as Dean. Council president, Gregg Robertson, presented Dean Steele with a token of appreciation from the Council for his years of service - a black powder rifle. Photos of the event can be viewed at Dean Steele's Farewell Dinner.

New Dean of College of Ag Sciences Announced

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 27, 2009.

The appointment of Bruce A. McPheron, associate dean for research and graduate education at the University's College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, as dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences was approved March 20, 2009, by the University's Board of Trustees. McPheron begins his tenure as dean effective July 1. He succeeds Robert D. Steele, who is stepping down after 12 years to return full-time to the college's faculty as a professor in the Department of Food Science. Click here for the full story.

College Capitol Day Addresses State Budget

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 27, 2009.

The fourth annual College Capitol Day, sponsored by the Penn State Ag Council and PCCEA, was held on March 16 in Harrisburg with more than 170 college advocates attending. Agricultural advocates, including members of the Penn State Grassroots Network, visited every legislative office to encourage support of the college's agricultural research and extension budget lines found in the Penn State appropriation bill. A copy of the budget request can be seen at College Budget Request 2009.

Please contact your legislator and communicate support for the Penn State agricultural research and extension line items. Contact Mary Wirth in the College Relations Office for more information (mfw10@psu.edu).

College Research Tour Planned for September

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

This year’s PSAC research tour will be held on Thursday, September 24, on the Penn State University Park Campus from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Invitations will be sent via CVENT in August. Please remember to encourage your legislators to attend.

Ag Progress Days Quickly Approaching

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

Ag Progress Days will be held on August 18 - 20. Council members are once again encouraged to provide their organization's banner for display during the College's special guest luncheons. Please contact Rhonda Demchak (rrr11@psu.edu) in the College Relations and Communications Office for more information.

Council members are also invited to attend one of the College's special guest luncheons. Invitations will be mailed in early June, so watch for your invitation postcard and email. You will be able to register online at the College of Ag Sciences Alumni Society website after June 1.

Taylor Doebler Appointed as New PSAC Board Member

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

Taylor Doebler, T.A. Seeds, has been appointed by the Penn State Ag Council Board of Directors to fill the unexpired term of board member Marc Tosiano, who has resigned from the board after accepting a position with USDA in Washington, DC. Please join the board in congratulating Taylor for his appointment, which is effective immediately.

April Program Examines Federal Ag Perspective

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 27, 2009.

Attendees at the April meeting of the Penn State Ag Council heard speakers discuss federal perspectives on agriculture and policy. Newly elected Congresswoman Cathy Dahlkemper and Congressman Glenn Thompson, both serving on the House Committee on Agriculture, gave their views on priorities and issues facing the agricultural community. Colien Hefferan, USDA CSREES, gave an overview of the vision for agriculture under the new administration. Details of their remarks can be found in the meeting minutes. se-1:1 10 5 2 5 3 6 3 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:67110535 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

2009 Leadership Award Nominations

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

The Penn State Ag Council Membership Committee is seeking nominations for the 2009 PSAC Student Leadership and Leadership in Action Awards. You can view a list of past recipients and submit your nomination online. Nominations are due by August 1.

Tailgaters Wanted

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Marcos Fernandez, is seeking Penn State Ag Council members to attend the college Undergraduate Education student tailgates held at the Ag Arena before each home game to interact with current students. We are looking for 2-3 members to attend each tailgate. Please contact Rhonda Demchak if you are interested in attending (rrr11@psu.edu) or call the College Relations Office at 814-863-2822.

College Career Fair October 27

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 27, 2009.

Ag Career Day is the perfect opportunity to meet and talk with the college's bright and talented students face to face about your internship or full-time positions. Even if you are not looking to hire, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to promote your company and make connections through personal interaction with students, faculty, and staff. Click here for more information and to register.

College Launches New Student Internship Initiative

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

The college has created a new Career and Internship Initiative to better connect college students and potential employers. All Penn State Ag Council members are encouraged to inform their company members of this new opportunity. More information can be found at the College's Business and Industry Website.

H1N1 Info Available on College Website

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

Visit the college Website for comprehensive information on the H1N1 Influenza A.

ACRE Update

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

The Pa Supreme Court has reversed the Commonwealth Court's ruling that the Attorney General (AG) can challenge pre-ACRE township ordinances under ACRE only if the municipality takes action to enforce the ordinance (5-2 decision; Castille and Greenspan dissented.) The Court added that under ACRE the AG office acts on its own behalf, not on behalf of the complaining farmer, and that the AG can bring action with or without a complaint from a farmer. For more information see article.

View Creamery Cow to Cone Video

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 28, 2009.

Penn State Ice Cream from the Berkey Creamery! A tradition for generations of Penn Stater's and their guests. But there's more than meets the eye, or the mouth for that matter. Every cone of 'Peachy Paterno', or cup of 'Death by Chocolate' begins with the cream provided by the cows at Penn State's dairy barns only a short mile north of the Creamery Store. Creamery Ice Cream represents the University's agricultural roots, and remains today a symbol of Penn State pride. View our new From the Cow to the Cone video!

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 27, 2009.

June 3 - PSAC Legislative Committee Meeting
June 3 - PSAC Membership Committee Meeting
July 15 - APD Banner Forms Due
August 1 - Leadership Nominations Due
August 18 - 20 - Ag Progress Days
August 19 - PSAC Board of Directors Meeting
September 24 - PSAC College Research Tour
September 29 - 30 - Dean's Industry Tour
October 12 - PSAC Delegate Meeting
October 12 - College Scholarship Banquet
October 13 - PSAC Board of Directors Meeting
October 27 - College Career Fair

Spring into Shape

By noreply@blogger.com (Lois Killcoyne) from Families Living Well. Published on May 21, 2009.

Spring is the time we come out of hibernation from the cold weather, ice and snow and think about getting in shape for warmer weather activities. We often want to slim down in preparation for wearing shorts, bathing suits and sundresses. What can we do to accomplish these goals?

1. Eat lighter. People tend to eat heartier dishes in winter, which may mean added fat and calories. Supermarkets and farmer’s markets will have an increasing variety of produce at an affordable price as local fruits and vegetables come into season. Fruits and vegetables have a high water content (80-96%), no fat, few calories and fiber. The low energy density fills us up on fewer calories and the fiber slows digestion so we don’t get hungry as quickly. We also get lots of Vitamins A and C, phytonutrients and antioxidants to strengthen our immune system and prevent chronic diseases.

2. Cook creatively. Use a variety of vegetables and lean proteins to make a stir-fry, an entrée salad or tasty grilled meal. Broiling and poaching are also fast and low-fat ways to prepare foods.

3. Be discriminating when choosing beverages. Sodas, sweetened teas, fruit drinks and fancy coffee concoctions can add up to several hundred extra calories per day to your diet and do not fill you up so you eat less food. Instead, drink water, unsweetened beverages or low or non-fat milk.

4. Snack sensibly. People who eat 5-6 mini-meals per day are more easily able to maintain a healthy weight. Plan your snacks so they include 2-3 healthy choices from the food groups—whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean proteins. Skip the chips and cookies and have nonfat yogurt with fruit, low-sodium tomato juice with whole grain crackers, or a small bowl of cereal with skim milk and ½ banana.

5. Walk for wellness. If you have been inactive over the winter, start gradually and add some distance each week. Get a walking partner so you can motivate each other. Walking is a great time to touch base with your spouse or friends without the distraction of television or other activities. The sunshine on our skin enables our bodies to produce Vitamin D, which is lacking in many older adults. Breathing in the fresh air results in increased oxygen circulation and energy. Being out in nature with all the beautiful trees and flowers lifts our spirits, and the endorphins created by the activity relieves depression. Other physical activities like stretching, strength training or working outdoors can help us build and tone muscle, increase metabolism and improve our appearance.

So, while planning your garden and your summer vacation, don’t forget to schedule in healthy meals and regular physical activity. The result will be a healthier and happier you!

What are strategies you use to get in shape?

New Community Garden in Northampton County!

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on May 15, 2009.

This is a beautiful place. A clean gardening slate. And it is just waiting for gardeners to come and adopt it! The newest community garden in the Lehigh Valley is at the intersection of Jacksonville Road and Hanoverville Road in...

Organic Nutrient Quality

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on May 14, 2009.

May 14, 2009 Current data from on and between farm comparisons conducted over several growing seasons suggest that there is no simple answer to the organic vs. conventional comparison. The effects of the cultivation system are often obscured by other...

Leaping Lehigh Valley Community Gardens!

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on May 13, 2009.

Community gardens are very popular this year! An amazing number of people have signed up for these extra gardening spaces offered by local municipalities. This picture shows gardeners working at the Easton Area Neighborhood Center on the south side of...

May is the Perfect Time to Shear Sheep and Learn About the Industry!

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on August 24, 2009.

During the month of May, shepherds are preparing for the warmer weather. For many, this means shearing the flock of sheep. In New Zealand, a mother daughter team set a new world record by shearing over 900 lambs in one day! These two sheared 903 lambs in eight hours with the mother at age 54, shearing 433 lambs and the daughter, age 22, shearing 470. The mother daughter team took only three breaks, 30 minutes in the morning, one hour for lunch, and 30 minutes in the afternoon. What a team!

Recently I stumbled upon an interesting type of sheep shearer, a robot. James Trevelyan, a Professor at the University of Western Australia, School of Mechanical Engineering, was responsible for creating this robot called Shear Magic. The robot was tested over 1000 times and has clipped over 400 fleeces at the university. It turns out that the robot could shear the sheep and have fewer skin cuts than human shearers. Watch the video of Shear Magic http://tinyurl.com/cujwtk.

Coming up this weekend is a chance to learn more about sheep production, how to shear sheep and spin and weave wool at the Waynesburg Sheep and Wool Festival in Waynesburg, PA on May 16- 17, 2009. Four city blocks of Waynesburg will be closed to allow for the public to learn about the sheep and fiber industry. The weekend will be filled with crafts, contests, and plenty of free lamb sampling. Enjoy the festivities, fun, and learning experience this weekend! Visit www.sheepandfiber.com for more information.

It Just Won't Stop Raining! Should I Cut the Lawn in the Rain?

By KarenMBern from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on May 07, 2009.

"Mowing wet grass should be avoided as much as possible." Says Penn State's circular on mowing lawns. "Dry grass cuts more easily, does not ball up and clog the mower, and gives a finer appearing lawn. Timing tests show that...

Save the Day with Spinach!

By noreply@blogger.com (Kathy DiGuiseppe) from Families Living Well. Published on May 07, 2009.

As a child I watched Popeye the Sailorman cartoons on TV. When Popeye was in trouble he ate a can of spinach, his muscles would bulge and he would rush in to save the day. "Yeah right," I would think. "Spinach is gross!" As an adult, I now know that Popeye was a pretty smart guy, and I have learned to love spinach!

Easy to grow and now is the time.

I can't remember how old I was when I started eating spinach, but I do remember that eating it fresh from the garden was what changed "Gross!" into "Yum!". Spinach is one of the easier vegetables to grow and spring is the time to plant. Check with your local State Cooperative Extension office for local growing details and resources to help you get started. If you can't grow your own spinach, check out your local farmers market for this fresh picked, nutrient rich vegetable.

There's more to spinach than meets the eye.

Federal labeling only requires nutritional information for the main nutrients of A, C, Calcium and Iron. Spinach has these and so much more! Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin E. And spinach is even a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, niacin and selenium.

Use spinach raw or cooked.

Spinach is great raw in salads and dips. Cooked, it can be added to eggs, soups, and casseroles or as a side dish for breakfast, lunch and dinner making it easy to consume 5-9 servings of vegetables a day. Maybe my kids will not agree with that statement, I have not totally won them over to the wonders of spinach, but they have eaten it more than they know. Spinach has a wonderful mild taste when picked early as small leaves and compliments many recipes, so I add it to my cooking when available. The basic guidelines for selecting, storing and using spinach can be found at:
http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/Nutrition/PBGweb.pdf

So eat your spinach and save the day!

Making Composting Work on the Farm

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on May 06, 2009.

In light of the recent specific restricted materials (SRM) requirements being placed on rendering plants, some may opt out of taking your livestock for processing. Because of this it is always important to have a mortality handling plan for the farm. If you are new to mortality composting there is help available to you. The key thing to remember is the Rule of 2's. Two feet of good sized carbon materials followed by two feet of covering materials over the animal. Above ground composting IMHO is the best way for all livestock owners to care for their on farm mortality. For more info and particular guidance see: http://composting.cas.psu.edu/NatRendering.htm

You've tested your soil! Now what?

By emelie from Penn State Master Gardeners. Published on May 05, 2009.

This spring a lot of people have been coming in to our office to purchase a Penn State soil test kit. Some of them may be wondering how to use the information on the report to improve their garden soil....

Yes to Lamb Check-Off!

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on April 28, 2009.

By an astounding margin of 85.1 percent, the members of the U.S. sheep industry voted to continue the deduction on sheep sales to support the marketing of American lamb. These are the certified results of the nationwide vote that was conducted at U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency offices during February 2009 and announced today by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

"This is the second referendum since the inception of the program in 2002 and both have recorded overwhelming approval for an industry-funded lamb promotion," remarks Peter Orwick, executive director for the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI). "Sheep producer volunteers encouraged a yes vote in the referendum to keep this valuable tool alive in the fight for a piece of the meat market in the United States.

"This promotion effort is designed for American lamb only and is the key to providing additional visibility for domestically grown lamb in the meat cases of the nation's retailers as well as in the restaurant trade," Orwick adds.

ASI President Glen Fisher, a Texas sheep producer, comments that the lamb program is the only livestock checkoff program that has producers, feeders and meat packers all contributing funds to the promotion effort. He relays that the vote had to be approved on both the individual votes as well as the volume of sheep represented. In the volume vote, a record setting 93 percent supported the referendum.

A 13-member volunteer board, known as the American Lamb Board, representing these segments of the industry collects the funds and administers all the programs.

"The promotion board and its programs deliver benefits to the lamb market and it has also been extremely successful in avoiding conflict among industry segments, so much so that the principal concern around the referendum was motivating folks to vote when there was little to no controversy over the issue," Fisher concludes.

- ASI Weekly

Make Toddler Snacks a Learning Adventure

By noreply@blogger.com (Fran Alloway) from Families Living Well. Published on April 27, 2009.

Many toddlers need to snack between meals since their stomachs are small and they may not eat enough at meals to stretch until the next meal. Snacks can contribute to a balanced diet by providing needed nutrients like calcium, vitamins, and fiber. The best snacks contain some protein (cheese, peanut butter, lunchmeat, milk) which stays in the stomach longer than grains or simple sugars (popsicles, juice).

When snacks are a daily occurrence, caregivers can get weary of the same choices. Creating a theme for your snack choices can be fun for your children and yourself – and a learning experience. Preschools often focus on colors or shapes. How about having circle shaped snacks one week like Cheerios, round pretzels, green or red pepper slices, cucumber slices without the seeds, doughnuts or bagels.

Another snack theme might focus on local foods, choosing snacks grown or produced in your community or county. This might require a trip to a local farmers’ market or outlet store. Your child might be too young to appreciate the value of supporting local vendors but would enjoy the field trip.

Snacks might also center around the Nutrition Facts label, choosing snacks that include 2% calcium or labeled whole grain. Check the serving size and see how much your child is eating. The serving sizes are established for adults but give you a reference for making healthy choices.

Many snacks are advertised to children with popular movie or TV characters. If the labels indicate that these are good choices, include these into your themes. While poor snack choices can lead to empty calories, overeating and missed meals, preplanned snacks in proper portion sizes can keep the day going and contribute to your child’s mental and physical development.

Burning issues in food science - Freezer burn!

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on April 23, 2009.

The scope of the term freezer burn varies widely in both scientific and lay literature. In the narrowest use of the term, freezer burn describes only the loss of moisture (also termed as dehydration or desiccation) from the surface of...

Prepare Early for Easy Calving

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on June 05, 2009.

The spring season on beef cattle operations, usually means heavy calving. For many herds, calving season is underway or about to start. Here are a few tips that will help to keep you prepared and make calving season easy!

Be sure to check all facilities and equipment that will be used during calving. Calving stalls should be clean and dry. Bedding should be changed after every calving to prevent the spread of diseases. A warmer environment should also be prepared just in case you have chilled calves.

Managers should have a calving kit ready to assist with the birthing procedure. The calving kit is effective for making sure you are prepared, without the stress of looking for all of your tools. Calving kits should include items such as calf pullers (chains and handles), disinfectant to sanitize, gloves, lubrication, paper towels, frozen colostrum, electrolytes, and iodine for the calf’s navel. Also, it is good to have phone numbers of people to call in case you need help pulling larger calves. Other items that might be helpful would be an oral calf feeder, calf feeder bottle, selenium and vitamin A and D injections, dehorning paste, castration tools, and an ear tagging kit. Calving kit tools can be placed in a bucket or some producers put their equipment in a back pack so they are able to arrive at the birthing scene faster.

Be prepared to check your herd frequently and keep a close watch on first time calving heifers. Pregnant heifers should be moved to a calving area two weeks before their due date to keep a closer eye on them. Once cows have calved, make sure calves receive colostrum and their navel dipped in 7 percent iodine within the first two hours of birth. Ear tagging and tattooing should be completed early to identify calves easily. After two to three days, Cow-calf pairs should be moved out to pasture. Calves will stay clean, dry, and much healthier outside. Be sure to watch calves for scours and other health issues.

On Being a Good Scout

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on March 31, 2009.

Be Prepared !

We always think about this after the car runs into the ditch or when the barn catches fire. Are we really, really prepared for emergencies? We are starting tornado season early this year and I have to think do we have our "ducks in a row" so to speak as to keeping our farms safe from a financial loss.

Be sure to have your insurance evaluated periodically. Ask your agent what ifs so that you can find out for example are the payments for actual expenses or a lump sum for loss. Does my insurance cover tornadoes or floods (some don't). What would you need in order to file a valid claim for losses.

Each farm is a little different, but all of us need to backup important things and contacts and either place them in a safety deposit box or give to a relative or friend out of the area so that you can get what you need when you need it. I have seen folks place photo negatives into vaults and come back to get them after fires or floods. Be sure to have a plan so that should disaster strike, you will be able to survive the aftermath.

George

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on March 31, 2009.

Arriving home yesterday I saw an interesting sight on our farm, a duck following the heifers around the pasture. Interesting enough, I decided that this was the perfect photographic moment, so I scrambled around to find my camera and raced to the field to get this picture.

Now this duck is not your normal duck. The duck, that I have named George, has been living in our barn for the past two months. We found him one cold wintry day in the barn nestled in the cattle trough on a pile of hay. Ever since that day, he has befriended the cattle, the sheep, and the cats. The barn animals seemed to take a liking to George and they treat him like one of their own. Some days we will find him sitting on top of a fencepost and other days we will find him roaming with the sheep. He doesn't seem to mind that he isn't socializing with other ducks or even frolicking in the water. The duck enjoys living in our barn so I think George is here to stay...

Top Five Tips in Preparing Your Farm Taxes

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on June 05, 2009.

April 15^th is closer than you think, so I thought it was only necessary to get you prepared for filing your farm tax returns. As we all know preparing your taxes can be a real headache. In fact, even thinking about doing your taxes can give you enough incentive not to do them. There are many things you can do to ease headache throughout the year to make your taxes more controllable. These are the top five tips that I suggest agriculture producers to take in consideration when preparing your taxes.

Choose your Tax Preparer Intelligently

No one knows your farm finances better than you do so be sure to choose someone you trust knows what to do. Choose a licensed preparer that has not only the tax preparation knowledge but maybe agriculture tax expertise. Each year, new tax laws are put into place; your tax preparer should be aware of all of these updates and make you aware of them also. Use a tax preparer that is recommended by the Farm Bureau, your banker, or your farm neighbors. Chances are that a tax preparer that knows agriculture will be able to do complete your tax preparation quick and efficiently without oodles of questions.

Eliminate Costs by Organizing

Handing your box of receipts to your tax preparer is great if you have an excellent stash of money in your bank account and 5 months to file your taxes. Most tax preparers will charge more fees if they have to organize your receipts because it is time consuming. You are not their only customer. Before you meet with your tax preparer, organize all of your receipts, payments, and expenses.

Fill Out Tax Organizer

It is recommended that farmers fill out a good portion of the tax organizer. If you are running out of time at least have all the information ready to be filled in the tax organizer. You should fill out the personal information, income and expenses, estimated payments, and refunds. Filling out the tax organizer as much as possible eliminates time and tax preparer fees.

Good Records in Good Financial Order

Farmers need to provide the tax preparer with good solid records to receive the most deductions. To provide these solid records, farmers need to have their own accounting system in place on their farm. This will allow the farmer to easily at any time pick up the information and hand it to the tax preparer. Now, most of us do not have all the time in the world and certainly do not want to spend free time always having to keep their finances in good order. Do whatever works for your farm. You can use computer programs, farm books, or simply keeping an accurate log in a financial journal. This will make it easy for when you are ready to go to your tax preparer since you will need to total everything before handing it over.

Be Early

The best tax planning is done in November of December. It is smart to know what you have to work with on your farm in November or December. Most accountants will want you to talk to them around November.

Managing Livestock Mortalities

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on June 05, 2009.

Proper management of animal mortalities on the farm has important implications in nutrient management, herd health, as well as farm family and public health. For this reason it is imperative to be familiar with best management practices for dealing with dead animals. It is also important to understand that most states have laws related to proper disposal or processing of mortalities. State departments of agriculture and regulatory agencies are great places to start looking for information on local laws.

The purpose of proper mortality disposal is to prevent the spread of infectious, contagious and communicable diseases and to protect air, water and soil quality. Also, there are legal issues and requirements related to nutrient management and the permitting of animal feeding operations. In the nutrient management plan, disposal of routine operational mortalities and catastrophic mortalities must be defined.

Unacceptable Animal Mortality Disposal

Though dragging off a carcass to the bone yard has been a historical practice, abandonment is NOT recommended and is likely ILLEGAL in many places. Examples include: carcasses abandoned on the surface, in open pits, ditches, water features and sinkholes or in wells. Abandonment promotes extreme biological and disease hazard, threats to water quality, odors, flies, scavengers, rodents and visual pollution.

Methods of Animal Mortality Disposal

Incineration

This is a safe method of carcass management from a bio-security standpoint. Incineration is different from burning because it is intended for the entire carcass to be quickly and completely consumed by fire and heat. This practice must be done in an approved device with air quality and emissions controls. It is mostly limited to small carcasses (such as poultry) and can be energy intense. The cost of fuel can be an important factor in adopting this practice.

Burial

This is probably the most common method of dead animal disposal in many states, although it may NOT be allowed in some. Most states have regulatory burial guidelines outlining site location, distance from waterways, depth to groundwater, etc. If proper procedures are used, burial is safe; however the land owner should be aware that certain portions of carcasses can persist for years in an anaerobic environment. During construction projects on former poultry farms, old burial pits have been discovered that contain intact birds. Areas with high water tables and sandy soils do not allow proper depth or cover of burial without threatening ground water. Burial pits are considered mass graves and, if not managed properly, may pose additional risks to spreading disease and contaminating the environment.

Composting

For many species, carcass composting is an environmentally preferable method of managing mortalities. When performed correctly, the end product may be incorporated into existing land application of manures. Much information is available on poultry composting and it is not an uncommon practice. It is also possible to compost larger carcasses. Many operations, even in cold climates, successfully compost larger stock including sows and full grown cattle. Technical procedures on composting cattle carcasses are available and continue to be studied and refined; this appears to be a viable option for the future. Most composting requires storm water protection and covering. Additional management and monitoring is required to refine the process, maintain temperatures, attain proper decomposition and prevent scavengers. Nutrients and organic matter in finished carcass compost can benefit forest and crop land; however, nutrient management guidelines should be followed.

-www.eXtension.org

Ban on Non-Ambulatory Cattle

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on March 26, 2009.

The Obama administration amended the federal inspection rules for non-ambulatory cattle. Slaughtering cows that are too sick or weak to stand on their own is now against the law. This ban was proposed by the Department of Agriculture after the largest recall of beef occurred in the United States last year.

The final rule requires all cattle that are disabled prior to slaughter or those cattle that become non-ambulatory after passing inspection be taken out of the line of food supply. Non-ambulatory cattle are now required to be properly disposed of according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service regulations. Inspectors in the plant will tag those cattle as “U.S. Condemned” and will be humanely euthanized.

The administration mentioned that this will further minimize the chance of mad cow disease entering the food supply. Non-ambulatory cows have a larger risk of mad cow disease and also are more susceptible to bacterial infections that could get into the meat supply. The Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack mentioned that the ban is a step forward for standards of humane treatment of animals.

-World Dairy Diary, www.wdepo.com

Trans Fat: When Zero Isn't Really Zero

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on March 26, 2009.

NPR Morning Edition, March 26, 2009 Here's a question to challenge your nutrition literacy: How much trans fat is likely in a package of cookies that are labeled as having zero grams per serving? "I would say zero!" said Joanna...

Mandatory Indentification of Sheep and Goats in Pennsylvania

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on March 26, 2009.

Scrapie is a fatal disease of the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is characterized by the formation of holes in the cells of the brain. Scrapie causes the loss of nervous system functions. Symptoms include weight loss, biting at legs or body, tremors, star gazing, uncoordinated hind leg movement, falling, stumbling, wool pulling, and death.

Since 2000, sixteen flocks have been in infected and seventy five flocks were exposed to scrapie in Pennsylvania. Each year, the presence of scrapie costs US producers between $20-$25 million dollars. Scrapie tags are necessary to trace scrapie positive animals back to their original flock to help prevent this fatal disease from spreading. Since January 1, 2009, scrapie identification of all sheep and goats is mandatory. It is now illegal to transport sheep and goats without official scrapie identification. This includes lambs born in Pennsylvania as well as imported animals.

People transporting sheep and goats without official scrapie identification may be subject to criminal and/or civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. You may obtain your FREE USDA issued ear tags and ear tag applicator by calling the United States Department of Agriculture- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at 1-866-873-2824.

Consumers find grass-fed beef acceptable

By noreply@blogger.com (Morgan) from Animal Science News. Published on March 26, 2009.

A recent study by Penn State University showed that most consumers find grass fed beef more acceptable in taste and tenderness. Grass fed beef has an advantage over grain finished beef because of the increased amount of omega-3 fat content.

Producers should look into ways to produce more grass fed beef. Grass fed cattle must be on a high quality forage diet to finish at 18 months of age or less. The study found that finishing productive, healthy cattle on pastures for 120 days is very important to consumer acceptance of the product rather than frame size or how fat the animal is... Read the whole article at the Penn State University

Fish Health Claims May Cause More Environmental Harm Than Good, Researchers Say

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on March 20, 2009.

ScienceDaily (Mar. 17, 2009) — The health benefits of fish consumption have been over-dramatized and have put increased pressure on wild fish, according to a new research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). In an innovative collaboration, medical...

The joy of soy: The controversial history of the soybean – and the uncertain future of tofu

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on March 05, 2009.

Though it was domesticated more than 3,000 years ago, the editors of the recently published "The World of Soy" state that hardly any other food plant is as modern as the soybean - or as controversial [MORE].

Did Marco Polo bring pasta from China?

By PSU food science from The Science of Food. Published on February 08, 2009.

Long before paper, gunpowder and the compass, the Chinese had invented yet another staple of human civilization. A coil of dry noodles, preserved for 4,000 years, sat beneath an overturned earthenware bowl at an archaeological site in northeastern China. In...

Visit the College at the 2009 Farm Show

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 22, 2009.

The many faces of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will be evident at the 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show, Jan. 10-17 in Harrisburg. The showpiece will be an expanded exhibit with educational stage presentations, but the college's presence will be felt throughout the sprawling Farm Show Complex.

In the college's exhibit in the Main Exhibits Hall just off the Maclay Street entrance, a wide variety of displays will highlight the college's expertise and programs in areas such as land-use planning, bioenergy research, food-safety and preservation, and water quality. More...

You can also take a look at the college Farm Show exhibit via our WebCam

Time to Renew Your PSAC Membership

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on May 22, 2009.

PSAC membership renewal notices were sent out in November for the 2009 calendar year. You should have received a CVENT email notice to renew your membership online with a check or credit card. Snail mail notices were sent to those who we do not currently have email addresses. The strength of the Penn State Ag Council is in its diverse membership – please renew today! If you did not receive an email renewal notice please contact Rhonda in the College Relations office at 814-863-2822 or rrr11@psu.edu.

Farewell Dinner for Dean Steele to be Held in Conjunction with April Delegate Meeting

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

Robert D. Steele, dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has announced that he will step down, effective July 1, 2009. Steele, who has served as dean since July 1, 1997, will join the college's faculty as a tenured professor in the Department of Food Science. More...

The Penn State Ag Council is hosting a farewell dinner for Dean Steele in conjunction with the council's April delegate meeting. The dinner will be held on Tuesday, April 7, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. This is an opportunity to show appreciation for all that Dean Steele has done for the College and the Ag Council.

The delegate meeting will follow on Wednesday, April 8, at Celebration Hall in State College. The program will be “The Changing Landscape of Agriculture: New Leadership, New Opportunities, New Challenges”. The program will focus on a federal perspective of agriculture under the new administration with speakers invited from the new administration, USDA, plus several Pennsylvania legislators.

You will receive one registration that includes BOTH events - you will be able to register individually for either one or for both. Please look for an email invitation soon.

College Capitol Day Scheduled for March 16, 2009

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

This year's College Capitol Day, sponsored by the Penn State Ag Council in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Council of Cooperative Extension Associations, will be held at the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg on March 16. Capitol Day provides an ideal opportunity for the agriculture community to educate legislators on the importance of agriculture to the state and the need to increase funding for agricultural research and extension programs. The day will include a morning training session for advocates, followed by legislative visits, and an ice cream social in the lower rotunda. You will be receiving a registration notice in January. Please plan on attending!

2008 Leadership Awards Presented

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

Jim Davis, Chair of the Ag Leadership Committee, presented the sixth series of leadership awards at the October 27, 2008, delegate meeting. The awards were created to recognize individuals in the agricultural community at large who demonstrate outstanding communications and advocacy skills; exhibit the highest levels of professionalism, performance, innovation, judgment, and problem-solving skills encourage personal development, partnerships, collaboration, and respect; and serve as a role model, mentor, diplomat, and inspiration. More...

Congratulations to the following recipients:

PSAC Leadership Award: Tom Wambaugh
PSAC Youth Leadership Award: Alex Lauffer, Senior, Agricultural and Extension Education
PSAC Leadership in Action Award: School of Forest Resources Alumni Group

You can submit a nomination for 2009 online here.

Ehrhart Elected to Council Board

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

Mathew Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Foundation, was elected to the council board at the October delegate meeting. Ehrhart fills the vacant seat created with the rotation off the board of Past President James Shirk. Reelected to a second term were Kristen Goshorn, County Commissioners Association of Pa and James Davis, PA State Association of County Fairs.

Officers for 2009 were elected at the August board meeting to include:

Gregg Robertson, President, Pa Landscape & Nursery Association
Greg Kirkham, Vice President, Westfield Group
Joel Rotz, Treasurer, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
John Rodgers, Past President, Pennsylvania Forage & Grassland Council

Christ Named as New Senior Associate Dean

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

Barbara Christ, professor and head of plant pathology, has been named senior associate dean in the college, effective Jan. 1. She replaces Paul Wangsness, who retired earlier this year after serving the college as a faculty member and administrator for 37 years.

In her new position, Christ will have broad, college wide duties in planning and implementation related to programs, daily operations, budgets, safety, university policy and procedures, personnel, promotion and tenure, hiring and retention, facilities and land, external relations, and assistance for academic, regional and support units of the college. More...

Messina Named as New Director of School of Forest Resources

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

Michael Messina, professor and associate department head for undergraduate programs in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University, has been named director of Penn State’s School of Forest Resources, effective January 5, 2009. Messina will replace Charles Strauss, professor of forest economics, who is retiring after more than seven years as director and more than 47 years on the Penn State faculty. More...

Leadership Announced for Pennsylvania Legislative Committees

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

Legislative leadership elections have been held in both the house and senate for the state of Pennsylvania. Rep. Mike Hanna will continue to chair the House Ag and Rural Affairs Committee with Rep. Sam Rohrer as the new minority chair. Sen. Mike Brubaker will continue to chair the Senate Ag and Rural Affairs Committee with Senator O'Pake as vice chair. Sen. Jake Corman will chair the Senate Appropriations Committee with Jay Costa as minority chair. Rep. Dwight Evans is the chair of the House Appropriations Committee with minority chair Mario Civera.

On a federal note, two new Pennsylvania legislators, Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) and Glenn Thompson (R-5), have been appointed to the Ag Committee.

2008 Fall Meeting Addressed Water Quality Issues

By noreply@blogger.com (Mary Wirth) from Penn State Agricultural Council News. Published on January 12, 2009.

The fall council delegate meeting was held on October 27 at Celebration Hall in State College. The focus of the program was Upstream Effort, Downstream Impact: Pennsylvania Agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay. For more info click here.

Dean Robert Steele gave a college update, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Marcos Fernandez, presented the new college enrollment numbers, and Ann Dodd, Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives, gave an update on the current strategic plan and implementation strategy. Presentations given at the meeting can be found by clicking below.

Ag and Environment
Foundation for Pa Watersheds
Pa Beef Council
College Strategic Planning
Undergraduate Education

Taking Time To Think Ahead

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on December 16, 2008.

Americans are a bit fickle. They eat huge meals and wash it down with diet soft drinks. Think nothing of drinking bottle water, when nothing was wrong with what was coming out of the tap.

As time goes on we forget the sins we create with policy. Recent FDA actions to stop rendering larger cows and removing spinal tissues from all animal feeds has caused the cost of doing business to go up in price. The price of horses has dropped dramatically and the cost of rendering has increased to the point where the care and husbandry towards horses has actually decreased.

So for this group, we need to help them to either compost their animals or look for other available methods of approved disposal. Just ignoring the subject will not cut it as some will avoid the pickup fee and drag carcasses to the back of the field. Not my first choice in carcass disposal.

Whether we choose to limit antibiotics use or meat consumption, or condos in our neighborhoods, we need to think ahead of what hardships this may cause the general public. As the costs of production rise - guess what, the price of purchases will also increase. Sensible minds need to prevail.

Aftermath of Proposition 2 in California

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on November 13, 2008.

For those who are maintaining flocks in California, Prop 2 will certainly create some confusion as to how they will continue to produce eggs in an efficient way. The Poultry Science Association (poultryscience.org) went on record stating that there is no scientific evidence that current production practices are detrimental to poultry flocks. Other studies have determined that due to this passage major losses in farm revenues will be seen as production leaves the state.

IMHO I think that cooler heads need to prevail. Nobody I know who cares for these animals wishes to see animals abused. It is a fact that farm animals that are stressed in any way are very unproductive. So, it is in the interest of producers no matter which system of production used to do the best job possible.

Welcome to the nest

By noreply@blogger.com (Doc Martin) from The Birds Nest. Published on May 20, 2008.

Welcome to the Nest!

I hope that this blog will help answer some of those nagging questions you may have had in the past. And were afraid to ask.