Lancaster Farming: Ephrata, PA
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:52pm.
Apply by Jan. 19 WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday the implementation of the new Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment (DELAP) program. The 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Bill authorized $290 million for loss assistance payments to eligible dairy producers. “Through this program, eligible dairy producers will receive economic assistance that will help stabilize their operations during these tough economic times,” said Vilsack.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:49pm.
 Elizabeth Ferry
Vermont Correspondent BRISTOL, Vt. — If the jingle bells are ringing in Bristol, Vermont, it must be Friday. And as everyone knows, in this small town where the Champlain Valley meets the Green Mountains, Friday is trash day. Every Friday since 1996, Pat Palmer of Thornapple Farm in New Haven, Vt.
Submitted by Editor on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 4:23pm.
Chris Torres
Staff Writer
The USDA and the nation's dairy industry formally agreed Tuesday to help reduce carbon emissions in dairy by 25 percent by 2020, with increased use of methane digesters being the centerpiece of the agreement.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the CEO of the Innovation Center for U.S.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:44pm.
Aim is to Protect Hogs from H1N1 Dave Lefever
Editor Bred gilt exhibitors from across Pennsylvania will be heading to Harrisburg a week earlier than usual for their upcoming show. That’s because state officials have decided to move the dates of the bred gilt and sale, normally held at the opening of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, to one week before the Farm Show.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:41pm.
Charlene M. Shupp
Espenshade
Special Sections Editor HARRISBURG, Pa. — Here’s the question: has Pennsylvania used all of its options to secure a fair, transparent dairy price for dairy farmers? The Pennsylvania Senate’s agriculture and rural affairs committee called a hearing Wednesday in an attempt to answer that question.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:38pm.
 Chris Torres
Staff Writer Some 100 farmers, agribusiness owners and students took to the halls of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last week to give their elected officials a sense of what the dairy industry is going through these days. But are they convinced anything will truly come out of their trip? Depends on who you ask. The trip was organized by the newly formed United Dairy Farmers and Friends along with help from the National Family Farm Coalition and other groups. Two buses filled with people from New York and Pennsylvania left for Washington in the wee hours of the morning last Wednesday with a day full of meetings with members of Congress and their aides. According to Tammy Graves, organizer of the event from New York state, the purpose was to come face to face with decision makers to educate them on the plight of dairy farmers as well as to make suggestions on policies they believe might help. The day started with a trip to the offices of the National Farmers Union (NFU), where the group got a crash course in political lobbying. After that, it was off to a full slate of meetings, 26 to be exact, where the group split off into smaller groups and met with representatives, senators, congressional aides and officials from the USDA. The group came with four talking points: setting a minimum floor price for milk at $17; pushing more accurate cold storage product reporting; tougher oversight of milk protein concentrates (MPCs); and reforming the milk price system to better reflect the cost of production and current supplies on the market. “We pretty much hit all the bases we wanted to.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:32pm.
 Jennifer Merritt
Virginia Correspondent BEDFORD Co., Va. — December 12th is National Poinsettia Day, admittedly a somewhat obscure holiday. It shouldn’t, however, be surprising. Poinsettias are the best selling flowering potted plant and the most popular Christmas plant in the United States with over $220 million of the plants sold almost entirely during the six week holiday season. Bill Kennedy is doing his part to meet market demand.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:29pm.
 Possibility of Unfunded Conservation Mandates of Great Concern Andrew Jenner
Virginia Correspondent RICHMOND, Va. — Conservation has been a priority on Donna Kerr’s Amelia County, Va. dairy farm for three generations over half a century. Speaking to a group of reporters, Kerr described the conservation measures she employs — strip cropping, sows cover crops, buffer zones and stream fencing — for the benefit of her operation and the environment. “I don’t know what [other conservation practices] I can put in,” Kerr said, at a press conference convened by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation in response to a new Chesapeake Bay restoration effort led by the federal government. Calling her farm her “my of life” and “my home,” Kerr said the economic difficulties now facing dairy farmers have stretched her operation to the breaking point, and she would not be able afford additional conservation practices. Kerr and the rest of the crowd assembled at the annual VFBF convention in Richmond, though, fear they may all soon face tougher environmental regulations than ever before, thanks to the latest proposed plan to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:22pm.
Preserved Farm Allowed to
Move Ahead With Dual Project Chris Torres
Staff Writer FRANCONIA TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A special meeting of the Franconia Township Zoning Hearing Board Wednesday gave approval to what is believed to be the first windmill/cell phone tower on a preserved farm in the state. By a 3-0 margin, the board gave approval to T-Mobile and the Yoder family farm to construct a 163-foot-tall windmill, with a 140-foot-tall cell phone tower attached to it on the family’s preserved farm in Telford, Pa. The project has riled a few people in the small community about 20 miles north of Philadelphia. But board members approved the project, with one stating that it was necessary to help out farmers in the area. “Anything that can be done to help out ag in the community is a good thing,” said Judith Stangl, board member. The decision is now open to a 30-day appeal period. David Yoder, son of L.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:19pm.
 Pump Promises Improved Manure Handling on Sand-Bedded Dairies Dick Wanner
Lancaster Farming Staff HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania-made pump used by dairy farmers who bed cows with sand has been named one of the top 10 new products for the year by the World Ag Expo, an annual event held in Tulare, Calif., drawing some 100,000 attendees and 1,600 vendors of agricultural products and services. McLanahan Corporation’s new 44 Super Magnum Sand Pump was chosen by a field of agribusiness professionals from a field of 70 entries.
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