Lancaster Farming: Ephrata, PA
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 11:56am.
Charlene M. Shupp Espenshade
Special Sections Editor LANCASTER, Pa. — Agriculture is a keystone in the protection of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, according to Ann Swanson of the Chesapeake Bay Commission office based in Harrisburg. Farmers have a role in the discussion. Swanson shared how farmers can work with the commission to protect the watershed and agriculture at last week’s PennAg Industries Association meeting at the Lancaster Convention Center. “It is mathematically impossible to do it without agriculture,” she said of the cleanup effort. The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a multi-state entity with representation from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 11:55am.
Chris Torres
Staff Writer It’s been at least three years in the making but coming this fall, anyone interested in getting a degree in winemaking in Pennsylvania will be able to do so. And they won’t have to go to California. Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) announced earlier this month that it will add courses in enology and viticulture starting in late August. The college will offer associate degrees in applied science and certificates in enology and viticulture, along with a select-a-course option for those just wanting to brush up on their skills. All courses will be offered online, with some including a “blended format” requiring students to attend weekend camps either at HACC’s campus in Harrisburg, Pa.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 11:53am.
 Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
New York Correspondent LODI, N.Y.— Steve and Barbara Smith consider their business a sort of dairy-oriented community supported agriculture (CSA) operation in which members pay for partial ownership in a herd of Jerseys in exchange for a share of the milk they produce.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 11:50am.
 Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
N.Y. Correspondent CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Raising Simmental beef cattle is a family affair for Randy and Karen Rugenstein. Their 35-head operation, Rugenstein Family Farm, began when daughters Amy and Rebecca — who were then 4-H youngsters — wanted to raise livestock 16 years ago. “We ended up buying them a couple of beef calves, and they were really responsible,” recalled Karen.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:26pm.
 Chris Torres
Staff Writer HERSHEY, Pa. — As a student of the Milton Hershey School in the 1950s, Tony Colistra remembers milking cows twice a day, as many other alumni have done. Agriculture has always been part of the fabric of the school, which chocolate magnate Milton Hershey founded for orphaned boys in 1909 as a way to expose kids to a different way of life and to teach them skills they might not otherwise get. But come July, dairy cows, an integral part of the ag program, will be gone. The school has decided to end the dairy program as a result of declining participation and increased costs. “It is a very expensive program that we operate,” said Colistra.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:22pm.
Northeastern Senators Strongly Question FDA, USDA About Ban Steve Taylor
New England Correspondent WASHINGTON — An embargo on imported Canadian canola meal is said to be costing Northeastern dairy farmers $350,000 per day in inflated feed costs, and six of the region’s U.S.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:19pm.
 Laurie Savage
Maryland Correspondent LIBERTYTOWN, Md. —The last 10 years have been a golden decade of breed expansion for the Jersey cow, say national Jersey officials. Members of the Maryland Jersey Cattle Association celebrated their accomplishments at their 89th annual meeting. Sara Barlass, area representative with the American Jersey Cattle Association, addressed the membership, saying the breed had two great back-to-back years with tremendous participation in all programs, including a new Jersey youth academy. “The Jersey cow is pretty incredible, and what is really incredible is all you folks in the room who believe in her and the association,” Barlass told the members. Nationally, Jersey registrations increased 50 percent from 2000 to 2009.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:11pm.
 Jennifer Merritt
Virginia Correspondent DANVILLE, Va. —John Wilson of New Earth Farm began his talk at the 2010 Virginia Biological Farming Conference with a quote attributed to President Abraham Lincoln in 1859: “The most valuable of all arts, will be the art of deriving a comfortable subsistence from the smallest area of soil.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:08pm.
 Marilyn Hershey
Correspondent CANONSBURG, Pa. — George Cashell and Harry Edwin and Aliene Thompson were inducted into the Pennsylvania Holstein Association Hall of Fame at the association’s recent convention here in western Pennsylvania. In 25 years of dairy farming, Cashell bred or developed 30 Excellent and numerous All-Pennsylvania and reserve All-Pennsylvania champions.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:05pm.
Linda Williams
Southwestern Pa. Correspondent BEDFORD, Pa. — The room was filled to overflowing when fruit growers turned out for the recent Appalachian Fruit Growers meeting at the Arena Restaurant in Bedford. Dr. Rob Crassweller, Lynn Kime, Dr. Henry Ngugi, and entomologist Dr.
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