Event Schedule and Official Program

This tour features a demonstration using horses with hands-on activities in equine pastures. Producers will gain an understanding of pasture management for horses, “do’s” and “don’ts” of sacrifice areas, and tools needed to help improve equine operations. We will walk through the fields and talk about grass and weed identification, innovative pasture methods, and dry lot design for horses on limited acreage at the demonstration site.

This tour features hands-on activities with cattle on pastures. Producers will leave with an understanding of paddock fencing and watering system components, with in-depth discussion about evaluation of diverse cover crop mixes including root structure and soil health indicators. High stock-density grazing will be demonstrated with a small herd of cattle, and we will talk about the use of alternative forages for pasture production. Other topics will be soil health principles and how annual forages can be used to renovate a degraded pasture without doing tillage.

Responding to a farm incident requires specific training. On Wednesday, RescueTechs LLC and Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Company will do two demonstrations of a staged agricultural rescue emergency to show how first responders approach the scene to properly manage a farm-related incident.

Join Aline Novaski, Chenchen Kang, Long He, and Francesco Di Gioia to learn about advancing the sustainability of controlled environment agricultural systems.

NEW TOUR AND TOUR SITE 2024 This tour focuses on the importance of planting and maintaining trees and shrubs to create a multifunctional stream buffer that will improve water quality, wildlife habitat, livestock health, property value, and provide edible or medicinal plants. You will learn about the 3 P’s of tree establishment-Preparation, Planting, and Protection-to increase tree survival and reduce competition from invasive weeds. See demonstration livestock practices such as fencing and stream crossings and learn about financial assistance programs available. See and learn how to plant native grass fields to increase sustainability and help declining pollinators and beneficial insects.

Sign-up required 30 min. prior

Would you know what to do if you were first on the scene and someone was bleeding from a serious injury? Penn State Health and Geisinger Health will provide Stop the Bleed training on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. After completing the 20–30-minute training, each family will receive a free Stop the Bleed kit (while supplies last).

Spotted Lanternfly 101

Beef x Dairy Cattle Tour: This tour will cover the definition of beef X dairy calves and the current marketplace for those cattle. The tour will include a visual observation of a load of crossbred beef X dairy steers and heifers being finished at the PA Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Evaluation Center. American Berkshire Association Progeny Test & Facilities Tour: This tour will lead participants through a window tour of the remodeled swine facilities, overview modern aspects of a swine production operation and discuss the goals of the American Berkshire Association Progeny Test.

This tour will visit each of the University- Research farms at the Rock Springs Facility. Farm managers will present a brief overview of the farm history, current research, and student involvement as well as answer participant questions.

Cover Crop Research Team Updates Possible Speakers: Kara Eckert, PSU Agricultural and Environmental Plant Science Graduate Student Jennifer Harris, PSU Plant Sciences Ecology Graduate Student Emma Rice, PSU Plant Sciences Ecology Graduate Student Brosi Bradley, PSU Ecosystem Science and Management Research Technician Description: Join us for a discussion to share your experience with cover crops, and discuss specifically how multiple benefits of mixtures could fit into your farm goals. Information from our PSU long term cover crop mixtures trial will also be shared.

This tour features a demonstration using horses with hands-on activities in equine pastures. Producers will gain an understanding of pasture management for horses, “do’s” and “don’ts” of sacrifice areas, and tools needed to help improve equine operations. We will walk through the fields and talk about grass and weed identification, innovative pasture methods, and dry lot design for horses on limited acreage at the demonstration site.

This tour features hands-on activities with cattle on pastures. Producers will leave with an understanding of paddock fencing and watering system components, with in-depth discussion about evaluation of diverse cover crop mixes including root structure and soil health indicators. High stock-density grazing will be demonstrated with a small herd of cattle, and we will talk about the use of alternative forages for pasture production. Other topics will be soil health principles and how annual forages can be used to renovate a degraded pasture without doing tillage.

Responding to a farm incident requires specific training. On Wednesday, RescueTechs LLC and Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Company will do two demonstrations of a staged agricultural rescue emergency to show how first responders approach the scene to properly manage a farm-related incident.

Please join us for a panel discussion between industry leaders and Pennsylvanian farmers exploring climate-smart farming practices and their practical applications on Pennsylvania farmland. This session will also cover legislative topics related to climate provisions in the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill.

Meet with Penn State Extension Water Resource Team members at the Entrance JDH