Plone For Counties

In this profile of a beginning farmer, John Berry, ag marketing extension educator, says he's seen an increase in the number of novice farmers in the last decade or so.

Dean of the college, Rick Roush, and Try Ott, professor of reproductive physiology, discuss the benefits and controversies of GMOs at a legislator's annual agricultural town hall meeting.

Emelie Swackhamer, horticultural extension educator, tells township officials that unchecked bamboo is a problem throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Emelie Swackhamer, horticulture extension educator, and Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology, commented for this story.

Penn State Extension horticulture educator Emelie Swackhamer comments on the prevalence of rose rosette disease.

Jeff Carroll, Penn State Extension’s mosquito borne disease control coordinator for Lehigh and Northampton counties, says the incidence of West Nile virus is high in the Lehigh Valley this year.

Erika Machtinger, assistant professor of entomology, is quoted in this story.

Bob Leiby, former long-time agronomy extension educator and Lehigh County extension director, and Dave Masser, agricultural systems management alumnus and Sterman Masser president, talk about the potato supply chain.

Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology, describes finding spotted lanternflies killed by a naturally occurring fungus in Berks County.

Marc Abrams, professor of forest ecology and physiology, discusses factors affecting the fall foliage display.

Michael Skvarla, extension educator and director of the Insect Identification Lab, talks about the population dynamics of a rare caterpillar recently observed in Bucks County.

This gardening Q&A column cites a Penn State Extension news story and other extension resources with tips for managing SLF infestations.

This column cites and offers information from several Penn State Extension webpages.

Brian Moyer, extension program assistant, comments for a story about a local business that's tapping into the local food trend by offering customers the convenience of delivery.

David Jackson, forest resources extension educator, explains how selective cutting of timber can help in forest management.

In this story about the expansion of the state's SLF quarantine zone, Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology, says she doesn't expect the winter's snowy weather to affect the survival of spotted lanternfly egg masses. Similar stories in print and broadcast media across the state mentioned Penn State Extension resources for managing spotted lanternfly infestations.

Dennis Calvin, associate dean and director of special programs, and Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology, comment on research testing the effectiveness of a fungal biopesticide to control the spotted lanternfly.

Jim Savage, an assistant teaching professor of horticulture, talks about the educational opportunities and job market in aboriculture.

Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology, and Julie Urban, associate research professor of entomology, talk about what lab-rearing of spotted lanternfly will mean for future research efforts.

Treating the farm as a business is the first step for smaller growers to compete with large grocery retailers, said Brian Moyer, extension program assistant.

Dave Swartz, Penn State Extension assistant director for animal systems programs, says farmers worry about the rapid consolidation of the dairy market.

This story mentions Penn State Extension and Amy Korman, entomology extension educator.

Denise Gardner, extension state enologist, comments on the quality of this year's grape harvest in the Lehigh Valley.

Emily Lhamon, poultry extension educator, says raising backyard chickens is "not an impulse purchase. You have to be fully prepared before you bring a chick home or place an order."

Connie Schmotzer, consumer horticulture extension educator, comments on a mobile app -- developed by an eight-year-old boy in part with information from Extension -- designed to help users create pollinator-friendly gardens.

John Berry, ag marketing extension educator, comments on the growing trend of "agritainment" and "agritourism."

Louise Bugbee, extension educator and Lehigh County West Nile program coordinator, says Asian tiger mosquitoes , which may be capable of spreading Zika virus, are increasingly found in the region.

Dave Messersmith answers questions about natural gas pipeline development in Pennsylvania.

In a story about a project to raise hogs organically, Bob Mikesell, senior instructor in animal science, says he doesn't envision pasture-raised hog farming overtaking conventional production methods.

Jim Schupp, professor of pomology, and Don Seifrit, tree fruit extension educator, explain how weather has affected this year's apple crop in Pennsylvania.