On-Demand Resources from Penn State Extension

Tomato harvest was in full swing during a recent visit to Earl Lake's Farm.

This growing season we've been following potato planting and harvesting at Huntsinger Farms Inc.

We met up with Kris Rutko and Jared Maurer at Huntsinger Farms to see early potatoes being harvested.

Huntsinger Farm Inc. in Hegins, Pennsylvania specializes in potato production, packing, and wholesale marketing.

Ulmer Farms is a 1,200-acre farm in Clinton County where Seth and Liz Ulmer have been growing soybeans, corn, processing tomatoes, and processing snap beans since 2001.

In September, 2016 we met with Scott Hoffman, Field Manager with Furmano's, for a tour of Furmano's processing plant in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.

In May, 2016 we visited with Scott Hoffman, Field Manager with Furmano's, a tomato grower and packer that was started by JM and Emma Furman in 1921.

This landing page guides you through Penn State Extension's resources for learning more about the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF).

The public can do a great deal to stop the spread of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly, join us to learn what you can do to help!

Not sure where to begin? In this session, experts discuss site selection, soil, mulch, starting plants, and vegetable families. Even experienced gardeners may pick up some valuable tips.

Learn how to construct a raised bed and expand production in the vegetable garden. Experts also discuss how to fertilize, irrigate (water), and manage insects and weeds.

Fruits have varying levels of acidity. The higher the acid level the better the gelling process, low acid fruits require additional acid to obtain a good gel.

Ripeness and type of fruit determine a fruit's pectin content, both critical ingredients to making jam and jelly with a firm, tender texture, and excellent flavor.

Low methoxyl pectin, if correctly used, will create a gel in the absence of sugar and acid for those desiring jams and jelly containing less sugar.

Commercial products are available that create a gel without sugar. Low and no sugar jam and jelly will have different characteristics than regular jam or jelly.

Following proper procedure is critical to prevent jam or jelly from becoming grainy. This video describes causes as well as tips to prevent crystal formation.

This video describes the possible causes of jam and jelly not gelling or setting, as well as tips to prevent this from happening.

Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria that can lead to food-borne illness when not handled and prepared properly. Follow these practices to ensure that you, your friends, and family enjoy a safe meal.

This video informs home food preservers what canning methods are no longer considered safe to use.

In this video, you will learn how to perform a simple mastitis test called the California Mastitis Test. This test will help to decrease mastitis on your farm.

Discover the essential aspects of creep feeding, including setting up feeders, recommended designs, ideal feeds for creep areas, and the crucial do's and don'ts for successful implementation.

In recent years, the use of beef semen to breed dairy cows has increased at a dramatic rate. This video will explore a research program designed to investigate the outcomes of those crossbred matings, the calves.

Discuss the benefits and environmental risks of horse manure on pastures during this informative event!

Learn ways to protect your horses from tick bites this summer!

The Penn State Particle Size Separator (PSPS) is an effective tool to help determine proper particle length and feed distribution in dairy rations and forage samples.

Minimizing introduction and spread of potentially harmful organisms is critical on commercial poultry farms. This video demonstrates how to safely bring a visitor onto the premises.

Knowing a little about what is happening to the sow and piglets during farrowing can help farmers better care for their breeding swine herd, and improve piglet care during the birthing process.

Make the most of your pasture acreage using rotational grazing!

This short video series helps backyard and small flock poultry owners understand Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), its symptoms, and how it is spread.

Lichens are often thought to be a pest or disease to trees and shrubs.

Ethan Tapper, forester and author, discusses the stewardship of his own forest and the acts of compassion he practiced to care for and heal the land.

Forest Mycology is the study of fungi that live in forests. These fungi play many roles in forest ecosystems, from decomposers to tree growth helpers. They are more than just mushrooms!

Pennsylvania is tops nationally for the quality hardwoods our forests grow, and the hardwood lumber we produce and export. It is the heartland of hardwoods.

Mini maple sugaring, also called backyard, small scale, or hobby sugaring, is a popular and sweet pastime. Recent advances have made it less time-consuming and laborious.

Forest landowners needing unbiased assistance managing their property should contact their county’s Service Forester. They work for PA DCNR, Bureau of Forestry, and their help is free.

Lush green vegetation does not always mean a forest is healthy or bodes well for the forest's future.

Tree burls are tumor-like growths in trees that produce dense, beautifully figured wood. They are highly prized and valuable for making one-of-kind objects.

Learn the distinguishing characteristics of the invasive tree-of-heaven that you can use to accurately identify it.

Industrial hemp is reported to have hundreds, if not thousands of uses. Penn State Extension educators spend some time with growers on their farms looking at hemp growing for CBD extraction.

In this video, learn how to take representative soil samples in agronomic fields.

Learn the basics of how to transition your farm to organic crop production.

Intended to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use, this program will address risk factors for substance use and substance-use disorders and share strategies for prevention.

Learn about kinship care through Dean Ott's personal journey and explore the challenges, resilience, and resources that shape kinship family experiences.

Current trends and related statistics of substance use in Pennsylvania, identifying substance use disorders, and where to find recovery support.

Explore addiction as a disease, its effects on physical health, available treatment options for substance use disorder, and the scientific aspects of the recovery journey in current research.

Learn more about Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plans, why these are important, whether your farm needs a plan, and available resources.

This video explains the regulations pertaining to landowners in Pennsylvania about proper use of herbicides in aquatic settings.

Growing Great Buffers is a series of short, helpful videos that describe step-by-step maintenance tasks needed for newly planted riparian buffers.

To protect water resources, we need to reduce the amount of lawn nutrients we add. Find out what you can do.

This video will walk you through how to use the Penn State drinking water test kit to successfully analyze the quality of your drinking water.

When plants and algae grow abundantly, pond and lake owners often think about ways to eliminate the offending plant. Nutrient control is the long term solution.

Learn about harmful algae blooms and their possible toxins during this live webinar.

Manure is a great resource for farms because it contains valuable nutrients that benefit growing crops.

A riparian buffer involves planting or retaining trees, shrubs, or tall grasses along the banks of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.

Many opportunities for water conservation exist outside of your home including plant and watering choices.

Permeable surfaces are alternatives to typical paving methods that can help to greatly increase infiltration and decrease flooding and run-off issues

Repellents are one of the best ways to prepare to reduce the risk of tick and mosquito bites, but which repellents should you use? Watch this video to learn more.

Sometimes ticks are hard to see, and you might miss one while doing a tick check. How do you remove a tick to reduce your risk of pathogen transmission? Watch this video to learn more.

This video will explain what permethrin is and show how to apply permethrin as a tick repellent to clothes.

Vector-borne diseases are caused by pathogens transmitted by a biting arthropod like a tick, mosquito, or flea. There are many vector-borne diseases of global importance, and several are found in the United States.

Vector-borne diseases are those that are caused by pathogens transmitted by a vector which in many cases is an insect or other arthropod.

With over 900 species of ticks worldwide, what kinds of ticks can you expect to find in Pennsylvania?

By understanding the life cycle of mosquitoes, we can apply mosquito control tactics at different life stages of the mosquito.

Understanding the life cycle is important in preventing ticks and subsequent tick bites and tick-borne pathogen transmission.

Ticks and deer keds are both arthropods that may bite hunters, but what is the difference between them? Watch this video to learn what makes deer keds different from ticks.