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End of an Era at Milton Hershey School as Dairy Program Ends

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:26:23 -0500

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. Today he is president of the school, which offers a pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade education.

The school owns about 140 head of dairy animals, with between 55 and 60 of them in production. The milk goes to Land O’Lakes cooperative.

All of the cows will be sold by July, while the facilities will be used for other programs.

Between 30 and 40 students are involved in the program, but only 15 take part in the day-to-day care of the animals, said Rachel Teller, instructional adviser at the school’s animal center.

The news has been hard for the kids involved.

“It’s been very tough for everybody,” Teller said. She’s been at the school for nearly five years.

“It’s a tremendous impact on the students. It teaches a lot of them about responsibility, work ethic. These kids bond with these animals,” she said. “They were definitely disappointed. They were sad and upset. It’s something they have grown to love.”

Some of those kids, Colistra said, have paid visits to him, urging the school to change its mind.

But he maintains the reality of keeping the program going with its high costs and low student participation have made it unfeasible.

At the same time, the school’s two dairy herdsmen have indicated their desire to retire.

But the real tipping point in the program’s downfall may have been the impact the faltering economy has had on the school’s endowment.

“It just did not appear to be feasible to continue that program. This decision was made because we are struggling with costs,” said Colistra, who pointed to the struggles of the Hershey Trust Company, which hold’s the school’s massive endowment.

While most of the monies from the trust are protected to keep the school running in perpetuity, the money made from investments has suffered as a result of the recession.

“Like everyone who invests monies, last year was very difficult. The trust has experienced what every other investor has experienced,” said Tim Reeves, spokesman for the trust.

In 2008, it was reported by the Patriot News that the trust lost $2 billion as a result of the financial recession. The school’s total endowment went from $7.8 billion to $5.9 billion in the course of a year between 2007 and 2008.

“We have to balance out the financial well-being of the school, what we can and cannot do,” he said. “Twenty-seven positions are not being filled across the school so this isn’t the only program that is being effected. We are trying to be good stewards of our resources.”

Dairy has a rich history at the school.

Many of the former student homes had barns attached to them. Students at one time were required to milk cows twice a day, along with attending school.

But running all of the dairy facilities and taking care of the cows became too expensive for the school to keep up with.

In the 1980s, according to Colistra, the decision was made to do away with most of the dairy barns, and a new Agriculture and Environmental Education program was established. As a result, most of the school’s ag facilities were clustered together as the school moved to a more centralized campus.

Mike Benner, director of ag programs at the school, said even without dairy the school still has programs that can’t be matched by other schools.

“We still have an unparalleled range of ag opportunities — horses, horticulture and other things. We actually have a herd of beef cattle, goats and others,” Benner said. “The bottom line, despite the fact that dairy will be discontinued, we still offer a wide range of programs.”

The dairy barn and facilities were renovated around five years ago, Benner said, adding that the barn could be used for other livestock at the school.

He has not ruled out bringing dairy back in the future. “We want to remain flexible,” he said.

Neither Colistra nor Benner indicated that other ag programs were on the chopping block.

But the uncertainty of the economy and the reality that the dairy program is ending has Teller worried about what could be next.

“I’m not going to lie, I am concerned,” she said. “But I am going to continue with the clubs and making a difference in these kids’ lives.”

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Canola Embargo Means Huge Costs to Farmers

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:22:01 -0500

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. senators want something done about it.

The six — Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders and Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Arlen Specter and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York — fired off a letter last week to Margaret Ann Hamburg, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, demanding to know what FDA intends to do about its ban on canola imports from north of the border.

Canola meal interchanges with soy as a protein source in dairy and livestock rations, and since FDA barred the product from entry last year out of concern over salmonella contamination, soybean prices have been boosted by the absence of large volumes of canola meal in the U.S. feed ingredient market.

“As you may know, 2009 was one of the worst years on record for the U.S. dairy industry, with milk prices received by farmers at a 40-year low,” the senators wrote the FDA’s Hamburg. “The canola meal shortage has been an added burden on northeast dairy farmers at the worst possible time. “

The FDA imposed the ban on Canadian canola meal imports 10 months ago after it detected salmonella bacteria in some shipments of the product. A canola processing mill in Saskatchewan has since been cleared to ship meal to U.S. customers, but other Canadian canola plants remain embargoed. The Canadian mills have been shipping much of the meal that would have come to the U.S. to buyers in Mexico instead.

In their letter, the six Northeastern senators say they understand why the canola meal embargo was imposed and that they support regulatory action to protect the human and animal food supply chain. But they voice concern that FDA hasn’t established a plan to resolve the canola meal contamination issues “in a thorough and expeditious fashion.”

They relate reports from their states that FDA has imposed “inconsistent, lengthy, and at times duplicative procedures for testing canola imports” and they call for “transparent and consistent procedures and timelines” for resolving the canola situation. FDA needs to confer with farmers representatives, canola meal manufacturers, feed dealers and other stakeholders to fix the problem, they conclude.

Asked by Lancaster Farming for a response to the six senators’ letter, Ira R. Allen of the FDA Office of Public Affairs answered via e-mail:

“FDA is very concerned about this issue and will respond to and looks forward to working with Senators Sanders, Leahy, Shaheen, Specter, Casey and Gillibrand to ensure animal and human health and safety.”

The Northeast Ag & Feed Alliance, an Albany, N.Y. based trade group, in a recent briefing paper contends that the unavailability of canola meal from Canada has increased feed costs for the region’s dairy farmers by between 20 and 25 cents per cow per day. On 1.4 million cows that equates to the $350,000 daily hit farmers in the nine states are absorbing that the senators cite in their letter to FDA chief Hamburg.

On an annualized basis, the loss is $128 million, the alliance argues, and further losses can be laid to depressed milk production caused by lower-quality substitutes for canola meal being used in herd rations.

Maryland Jersey Cattle Club Celebrates 89 Years

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:19:25 -0500

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. December was the highest month in history for registrations.

Barlass also pointed out that the Jersey ear tag program has been successful, simplifying the registration process as compared to using tattoos. Jerseys also continue to lead other breeds in productive life.

She updated the group on the Gratitude cow, a well-known Jersey found to have some Holstein genetics in her bloodline. Barlass said Gratitude is thought to be less than 16 percent Holstein.

“Technology is so much newer and better, and they made this discovery,” she said.

The annual state event, which was held Saturday, March 6, included business meetings for both the senior and junior groups and various recognitions.

State Jersey officials announced the annual Jersey Field Day would be held Saturday, July 17, at the Howard County Fairgrounds, a new venue. A small per-head fee will be charged to cover cleaning out stalls by a local farm family.

Paul Spurrier, with the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, reported that the governor’s administration may be considering large cuts to the state’s fairs and shows. He encouraged members to share their concerns with their legislators.

The current slate of Maryland Jersey Cattle Club officers will remain. They are Kathy Albaugh, president; Allen Stiles, vice president; and Marcia Molesworth, secretary-treasurer. Three-year directors are Julie Mayer, Katie Albaugh, Duane Norman and Kathy Sentelle. Two-year directors are Wayne Stiles, Mike Birch, Carol Kahler and Richard Kepler. One-year directors are Mike Forsythe, Jessica Stiles, Duean Stiles and Pat Beachy. Abby Fawley Rigglman takes over as the junior director.

New Jersey junior club officers are Hannah Hood, president; Michelle Malone, vice president; Jessica Sentelle, secretary; Brandon Kahler, treasurer; and Amber Lippy, reporter-historian.

A number of Jersey youth were rewarded for their recordbook work. Winners are as follows: junior girl, Daisy Gardner, first; Gabrielle Bowers, second; and Kaitlyn Blank, third; junior boy, Wyatt Kahler, first; intermediate girl, Autumn Lippy, first; intermediate boy, Dusty Kahler, first; Ryan Hevner, second; Christopher Stonesifer, third; and Andrew Stonesfier, honorable mention; senior girl, Tracey Forsythe, first; Ashley Hevner, second; Amber Lippy, third; Morgan Cole and Brianne Hevner, honorable mention; senior boy, Brandon Kahler, first. Taking the overall recordbook trophy was Tracey Forsythe.

Junior All-Maryland and Reserve Junior All-Maryland Jersey Awards went to Katie Grace Weant, fall calf; Patrick Youse, reserve fall calf and senior 2-year-old; Jessica Sentelle, winter calf, spring yearling, winter yearling; Catherine Savage, reserve winter calf; Gabrielle Bowers, reserve spring yearling; Amber Lippy, honorable mention spring yearling; Autumn Lippy, reserve senior 2-year-old; Dusty Kahler, four-year-old; Brandon Kahler, 5-year-old; and Katie Grace Weant, dry cow.

Jersey production awards were presented to Queen Acres Jerseys for their herd of 40 or more cows, and OCS Dairy topped the 10- to 39-cow category. OCS Dairy won the J. Hanson Hoffman Senior Award for their high-producing herd.

Individual production awards went to OCS Dairy, senior yearling in milk; Bar None Jerseys, junior 2-year-old, senior 3-year-old, 4-year-old and 5- to 7-year-old; Queen Acres Jerseys, senior 2-year-old; Ehrhardt Farm, Inc., junior 3-year-old; Robert Fry and Judy Gifford, 8 years or older; and Jack and Stacey Kahler, lifetime.

Juniors who received individual production awards were Daisy Gardner, junior 2-year-old; Ryan Poole, senior 2-year-old; Amber Lippy, 3-year-old; Tracey Forsythe, 4-year-old; and Brandon Kahler, 5 years and older.

Daisy Gardner was awarded the J. Hanson Hoffman Junior Award for her high-producing junior 2-year-old.

The John Stiles Award, which goes to the most active Jersey junior, was presented to Michelle Malone. The Warren Fender Scholarship was awarded to Katelyn Beachy, and the Charlotte Stiles Scholarship went to Tracey Forsythe.

A Maryland Jersey Cattle Club scholarship was presented to Brittany Arnold.

Beachy is a 10-year junior Jersey club member who attends Frederick Community College with plans to transfer to Virginia Tech for veterinary school. Forsythe is also a 10-year junior Jersey club member attending Delaware Valley majoring in agribusiness and minoring in horticulture. Arnold has been a club member for three years and attends Penn State majoring in agriculture education.

New state Jersey royalty were crowned. The new Maryland Jersey Queen is Hannah Hood, and the new Maryland Jersey Princess is Amber Lippy.

Mike and Leah Birch received the Herbert Hoopes Senior Award for their outstanding service to the Maryland Jersey Cattle Club.

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Going ‘Beyond Organic’ at the Va. Biological Farming Conference

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:11:25 -0500

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. No community, whose every member possesses this art, can ever be the victim of oppression in any of its forms.”

“It’s one of my favorite quotes,” said Wilson who raises fruits, vegetables and pastured raised eggs using organic methods on his Virginia Beach, Virginia farm.

“I had my first garden with my grandfather when I was a child,” said Wilson. “He was a big victory gardener in World War II.”

Wilson has been active in farming for almost 30 years and dropped out of the organic certification system when the USDA took over. Today, along with his wife, Katherine Fogarty, he runs a CSA (community supported agriculture) from his farm. At first he was a reluctant participant in the CSA, cajoled into it by his wife and interns, but his opinion has changed.

“I love the CSA. I think CSAs are just fantastic,” said Wilson. “I wasn’t prepared for how good it would feel to have people coming to the farm.”

Wilson spoke about “Getting Started in Commercial Production of Organically Grown Vegetables” to a room full of experienced and novice farmers all intent on getting the most out of their “smallest area of soil.”

Almost 400 farmers and participants attended the 2010 Virginia Biological Farming Conference at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Institute Conference Center in Danville, Virginia. The theme of this year’s conference, held on February 19 – 20 was “Beyond Organic” and included a variety of lectures and workshops.

Participants were able to choose from over 20 different topics ranging from “Edible Forest Gardens” and “Thinking Like an Island” to beekeeping, specialty mushroom production and tomato production. Before the conference began, Ken Newman of Royal Oak Farm gave interested conference attendees a tour of his 25-acre composting facility in Bedford County. The Evington property is the largest solid waste composting operation in the state of Virginia.

Children were treated to two days of programs as well specifically for them. The Youth Program, available for an additional fee, included hands on workshops, a puppet show and a presentation by the Mill Mountain Zoo.

Throughout the conference, 24 exhibitors including equipment and tool distributors and seed companies took part in a trade show.

Hosted by the Virginia Association for Biological Farming (VABF), the conference was co-sponsored by Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the Farm Service Agency and RMA.

“It was just fantastic,” said Marilyn Buerkens, VABF.

VABF includes farmers and gardeners, both certified and non-certified, who are committed to sustainable and ecologically sound practices. In addition to providing networking opportunities for farmers and producers, VABF’s mission includes supporting and encouraging “the development of healthy, sustainable farms and communities in Virginia.”

“Farming is not a get rich scheme,” said John Wilson of New Earth Farm.

After the 2010 VABF conference, however, attendees may have a better idea of how to attain sustainability — including financial — and maximize their “smallest area of soil.”

More information on becoming a member of VABF or next year’s conference, also scheduled for February in Danville, can be found at www.vabf.org

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Cashell, Thompsons Go Down in Pa. Holstein History

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:08:18 -0500

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. Seven of the cows scoring Excellent were developed within a six-year period on Cashell Farm.

During their years of farming in Chambersburg, the entire Cashell family was heavily involved in 4-H and the Pennsylvania Holstein Association as well as many other farm and home related activities.

Cashell is a DHIA technician for Dairy One, serving 30 herds. He was hired in January 1985 with a 14-herd circuit. By December of that year, he had increased to 36 herds. Commitment and hard work helped Cashell win Rookie of the Year and the Merit Award, and be hired as a senior technician.

Winning the Pennsylvania DHIA Distinguished Service Award in 1993, the Dean Amick Award of Excellent in 1999 and being a two-time Exceptional Service Award winner are just a few examples of Cashell’s heart for not only doing a good job, but doing it with excellence.

Over the years, he served on the Franklin County Holstein Board as tour chairman, youth chairman, membership chairman, field day chairman and banquet chairman.

Cashell served as state director to the Pennsylvania Holstein Association and on the board for five years, helping to accomplish a variety of goals.

In 1988 Cashell agreed to be a host for the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show. He was appointed as floor manager of dairy cattle in 1989 and still holds that position today.

George and his wife Diane have run two auctions to benefit the Premier National Junior Shows in Harrisburg, Pa., raising more than $50,000. In 2008 he started a foundation for the Premier National Junior Shows, giving credit to Chip Savage for donating a calf that raised $18,000 to start the foundation.

A recent honor that Cashell received was the 2009 Obie Snider Award, a top honor from the All-American Dairy Show.

There are three generations of All-Pennsylvania and Junior All-American Dairy winners in the Cashell family, starting with George then followed by his children and grandchildren.

The Thompsons
Harry Thompson started milking cows at the age of 10 when his father went to the hospital with appendicitis. The first registered Holsteins were purchased in 1944. In 1947 the family was able to purchase 135 acres in Newtown, Bucks County. The property was known as “the fountain farm” because it provided a watering spot for animals on the Newtown-Langhorne Pike.

Thompson attended a one-room school where his “favorite” aunt taught him through eighth grade. Harry was taken out of school three months into the 12th grade to help on the farm full-time because of World War II.

He married Mary Aliene Bisson in 1948 and Fountain Farm was established. A partnership of John Sr., John Jr., Harry, and Rodman Thompson operated the farm until Rod and his family went out on their own.

In February of 1971 a barn fire destroyed the 150-year-old barn. A new one-story barn with 80 comfort stalls was built in order to continue the dairy operation. John Jr. and Harry continued the partnership until 1983 when the cattle were dispersed in April of that year. In the foreword of the sale catalog the late Whitey McKown wrote, “Fountain Farm is one of the longest established and most successful breeding establishments in Pennsylvania.”

By the 1980s, Bucks County was becoming a suburb of Philadelphia. The ground that the farm rented became Oxford Valley Mall, Sesame Place, and housing developments. The 130-acre farm was bordered by a shopping center, an industrial park, and housing developments with a highway bypass in the near future.

When his brother wanted to retire and sell the farm, Harry and Aliene made the decision to look for another farm. After searching for several years and looking at over 100 farms they finally found two farms in Carlisle, Cumberland County. Although the farms do not border each other, they are close and within sight of each other. This was to be the home of Harry and Aliene, son H. Edwin Jr. and daughter Kathy and husband David Walton and families. The Fountain Farm and Tower Vue Holsteins herds were pared down to fit into a Civil War-era historic brick-end barn with 32 stalls. Settlement was made in July 1987 and the whole farming operation was moved by September 1987. Harry was 61 and Aliene was 60.

Farm buildings were added a few at a time. A calf and heifer barn, equipment shed, workshop, and hay storage building were added to the 200-acre farm on Burnt House Road. A 73-cow comfort stall barn with a parlor, machine shed, hay storage building and dry cow barn were added to the 327-acre farm.

Aliene and Harry are both 61-year members of the Middletown Grange. Harry was proud to direct the building of a dairy exhibition barn on the fairgrounds.

The Thompsons have been active in Holstein programs, having served as president of the Bucks County Holstein club, state director from Cumberland County, on national and state Holstein convention committees, and as a delegate to national Holstein conventions in South Carolina and South Dakota.

In 2009, the Thompsons were named the Cumberland County Conservation Farmer of the Year.

The Fountain Farm prefix compiled 1,400 registered animals from 1946 to the present, with 53 Excellent, 29 Dams of Merit, 13 Gold Medal Dams and two Gold Medal Sires. In the Fountain Farm herd, Thompson still breeds for longevity with the emphasis on cow families.

Showing Fountain Farm cattle holds a special place in the Thompsons’ life, with many memories and awards to show for it.

By 1997 Harry convinced his daughter Kathy to organize a Showmanship Contest at the All-American Dairy Show. The All-American Show Advisory Committee and Board of Directors gave their enthusiastic approval of the idea with the stipulation that new monies be solicited.

At the age of 83, Harry continues to direct farm activities, manage the heifers, do fieldwork and guide grandsons Craig and Scott. Aliene’s major heart surgery and pacemaker in 1999 have limited her outside activities but she continues to manage the farm checkbook and records, and negotiate with salesmen.

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IPM, New Apple Varieties Discussed at Grower Meeting

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:05:11 -0500

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. Greg Krawczyk, all from Penn State, presented programs based on helping fruit growers with pest control, new products, and marketing.

The event was chaired by Thomas Ford, Blair County Cooperative Extension.

Ford gave two presentations, one on factors that influence pesticide efficacy and pesticide poisoning symptom recognition and treatment protocols.

The first topic focused on some of the environmental factors that can influence pesticide efficacy. Particular attention was directed to the subject of alkaline hydrolysis and how water quality (high pH and high alkalinity) can impact the effectiveness of some common pesticides. The educator also discussed how water turbidity can influence the efficacy of glyphosate in field settings.

Ford’s closing talk provided growers with an overview of the common signs and symptoms that can be attributed to pesticide poisonings. He provided an in-depth discussion on the following classes of pesticides: organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorines, phenoxy herbicides, and synthetic pyrethroids.

Ford also discussed contraindications between prescription medications and common pesticides and the basic treatment protocols for severe pesticide poisoning episodes.

Speaking on integrated pest management (IPM), Krawczyk turned to the biological control of spider mites. The number of mites per leaf will indicate the need to spray. He also noted the tufted apple bud moth is growing in number.

The greatest impact on IPM in the last thirty years has been the food quality protection act of 1996, according to Krawczyk. With this act, Congress presented EPA with an enormous challenge of implementing the most comprehensive and historic overhaul of the nation’s pesticide and food safety laws in decades.

Krawczyk suggested that monitoring is the first key to keeping pests under control He cited the codling moth as having longer and longer emergences and flights.

Stating that not all insecticides are created equal, Krawczyk showed a chart noting which chemicals can withstand larger amounts of rainfall and still be effective. A Web site with information regarding this is available through Penn State.

Krawczyk also noted the differences between the 20th and the 21st centuries.

We have gone from limited information to abounding information. In the 20th century we had broad spectrum poisons, but now have more selective pesticides.

Crassweller talked about new varieties of apples and marketing opportunities.

One of these is the Luna, which is scale resistant, doesn’t bruise easily and tastes good. Several varieties introduced from British Columbia and ripening in mid-August are the Zestin and Sunrise. In mid-September, look for Silken, Pink Pearl, Arlet, and Blondee.

Crassweller noted that Pink Pearl apples have been marketed in areas around Penn State and always sell out quickly.

He referred to some heritage apple varieties as “spitters.” “In other words,” he said, “They taste so bad you spit them out.”

The Blondee stores well, Ruby MacIntosh is a popular variation of the MacIntosh, and Ruby Jon is a scab-resistant apple that ripens early.

In a survey conducted by Penn State, it was discovered that 40 percent of people 65 and older do not purchase apple products.

Calling fruit grown within 50 miles of the purchase point “locally grown,” 43 percent of the public looks for locally grown apples. About 55 percent of those shoppers purchase their local apples at the grocery store and 29 percent buy them at a farmers market.

Forested Buffers Get a Hearing in the House

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:02:39 -0500

Chris Torres
Staff Writer

HARRISBURG, Pa. — When it comes to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, the discussion usually centers around a few solutions: getting wastewater treatment plants up to date and getting farmers to manage their nutrients better.

But at a meeting Monday at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, the discussion centered on something that often gets overlooked: trees.

The House Majority Policy Committee hosted the meeting, which included representatives from several environmental groups as well as the group representing the state’s building industry, the Pennsylvania Builders Association.

The talk centered on the importance of tree buffers in tributaries and whether or not the state should require minimum buffers along waterways.

There is currently no minimum buffer requirement in the state. However, local governments can make their own requirements.

Last year, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Quality Board proposed changes to existing regulations which would potentially require 150-foot buffers for “exceptional value waters.”

Of the state’s 91,000 miles of streams, 3,000 miles would receive this designation.

The regulations were forwarded last August to the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission. No action has been taken yet.

Maryland and Virginia already have minimum buffer requirements for waterways on the books.

One of the legislators on the committee, Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D-156), is considering legislation that would go beyond the DEP’s regulations, requiring 100-foot minimum buffers on all streams and waterways, with exceptions for buildings within the buffer zone and other exceptions.

McIlvaine Smith said DEP’s proposed regulation doesn’t go far enough because of the large number of impaired streams in the state.

While she has no timetable for introducing a bill, she was interested in getting feedback on the proposal, especially from the builder’s association.

Grant Gulibon, regulatory specialist with the builder’s association, said the association opposes mandatory buffer requirements, stating that it would hamper job creation and economic development.

“To require mandatory buffers would lead to significant consequences,” Gulibon said.

The association, instead, is in favor of a “BMP offset option,” which would be funded by builders and would allow them to pay for off-site BMP (best management practice) improvements as an offset to their potential nutrient loads.

Bernard Sweeney, director of the Stroud Water Research Center, said the presence of trees, or lack thereof, is an easy indicator of overall water quality in a stream.

“If you have a stream with very little forest cover, the water quality is very low. So trees do count,” Sweeney said.

He pointed to a report released by the American Water Works Association which pointed to higher costs for treating water with very little tree cover.

The biggest issue, he said, is stormwater. In areas with little tree cover, stormwater can’t infiltrate the ground as well and as a result, can go right into an adjoining stream.

Sweeney said trees should be part of an overall best management practice strategy in a given watershed and are not the answer to every problem.

But they do work to promote a healthier ecosystem and he suggested a buffer of 100 feet or more.

“The debate always turns to, what’s the minimum we can get by with. Yet many people die because of what’s going into their drinking water after long-term exposure,” he said.

Marel Raub, Pennsylvania director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, said the state has come up with a strategy to put in 19,000 acres of forested buffers by 2011. This will work towards the state’s first two-year milestone as part of its efforts to reduce nutrient loads into the Chesapeake Bay.

David Wise, Pennsylvania watershed restoration manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said cost share programs will be key to getting a lot of this work completed.

Wise pointed to the success of the Conservation Resource and Enhancement Program (CREP) in particular, which he claims has led to the establishment of 24,000 acres of forested buffers across the state.

Even though the program can fund up to 50 percent of the cost to install a BMP and offers rental payments to take land out of production, Wise said many landowners don’t know the program even exists.

Panel Discussion Highlights Ag in the Community

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:00:19 -0500

Marilyn Hershey
Southeastern Pa. Correspondent

ATGLEN, Pa. — “Agriculture in the Community” was the subject of a panel discussion at the recent Keep Farming First seminar here at the Octorara High School.

About 180 people listened to the discussion by panelists Dr. Tim Kelsey, Penn State professor of agricultural economics; Lowell Fry, Fulton Bank; Mike Brown, Honey Brook Township; and Glenn Cote, Laurel Valley Farms.

Each panelist began by sharing his connection to agriculture.

Cote spoke on the mushroom industry, which is 120 years old and represents the number one cash crop in Chester County. The county leads the nation in mushroom production, growing 493 million pounds annually.

Mushroom growers have been at the forefront of recycling ag products by turning waste products into fertilizer for local ag and horticultural businesses.

They also benefit the ag industry by purchasing several tons of mulch hay, straw, poultry litter, cottonseed hulls and miscellaneous products.

Because mushrooms are harvested by hand and are labor intensive, the Chester County mushroom industry alone provides 9,500 jobs. The industry has a $2.169-billion economic impact in Chester County and is a long-term economic force.

Brown, a supervisor in Honey Brook Township, spoke about his experience in local government and the impact of agriculture in an urban sprawl environment.

Agriculture is a critical mass in the Honey Brook Township. Brown said that in taking a long-term look at the community, residents need to not only look at land usage but also land costs. According to Brown, it is “cheaper to keep the land in agriculture than to develop into houses.” Brown was a strong supporter in passing a referendum requiring taxpayers to contribute 1.5 percent of their taxable income to land preservation in the Honey Brook area. Brown stressed that taxes “are not an evil but a part of sustainability that needs to be managed.”

Townships need to educate citizens on keeping agriculture a viable community.

Fry challenged participants to “view agriculture as a business,” and questioned what the community sees. “Do they see a business when they look at our farms?”

Fry compared celebrating the opening of a new business with local officials on hand compared to the starting of a new farm operation that intentionally doesn’t draw outside attention.

Because the farm is not viewed as an outside business, the agricultural society does not spend enough time catering to the general public, Fry believes. He noted that neighbors need to “understand the economic power of the agricultural industry” and stressed that farmers must find opportunities to educate in venues that are not typical. Although there is not one “silver bullet in educating the public, there is a broad brush of opportunities” in farm tours, career days in school, and one on one contact, he said.

Fry also presented a breakout session, “Farm Management in Tough Times: Are You a Survivor?”

He said that farmers need to “know the industry, the trends, competition and their neighbors.”

There are fundamentals of management that include knowing your core business, cost of production, liquidity, leverage and minimum risks. A weakness in the East Coast, Fry said, is that cost of production is not a term often passed down from generation to generation. But it takes more than just working hard to keep a farm in business.

The eighth annual Keep Farming First seminar was hosted by Chester County 2020, the Chester County Economical Development Council and Penn State Cooperative Extension.

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Gingrich Outlines New Egg Safety Program

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:56:59 -0500

Charlene M. Shupp Espenshade
Special Sections Editor

LANCASTER, Pa. — After more than a decade of consideration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to launch a new federal egg safety program. Dr. Eric Gingrich of the University of Pennsylvania presented an update on what the new rules could mean for the state’s egg producers at last week’s Poultry Progress Days at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center.

The rules are to address salmonella endarteritis (SE) infections from infected flocks. Leading up to the rules, the industry had already voluntarily taken steps to reduce the risks by certifying brood flocks were clean and following protocols to minimize risks of transferring the bacteria.

For example, the establishment of PEQAP (Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program) certified flocks and eggs that were SE-free.

FDA is preparing to roll out its egg safety program. This year, farms with more than 50,000 layers need to be registered. Farms with less than 50,000 layers but more than 3,000 layers need to be enrolled by 2012. Farms with less than 3,000 layers are exempt.

No testing will be required at the time of sign-up. However, one potential cause of delay is that the program’s guidance documents, which were due for publication in January, are still unavailable, said Gingrich.

Gingrich said that for Pennsylvania producers the basics are the same as the PEQAP program. However there are some noticeable changes. The stricter federal egg refrigeration rules could require farms to increase their cooler capacity.

The program also includes a fly control component and written on-farm SE program.

As for the program’s on-farm inspections, Gingrich said that exact methods have not be finalized.

If on-farm manure tests positive for SE, egg testing will be required. A challenge will be if FDA mandates egg recalls until verification testing can be completed. Gingrich noted that the Food Safety Enhancement act has given FDA the power to mandate a recall, which could include all eggs collected at the time of the first positive sample.

The fact that testing takes 10 days could make this a significant challenge. For an impacted farm, the farmer would have to decide whether to ship eggs on the hope that they will be cleared, hold all the eggs until cleared or divert to another buyer, such as a breaker egg market.

Gingrich said work is being done at the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions to develop faster tests. Test results would be available in one to two days. The university is preparing to enter the validation process on their protocols. Afterward, FDA will need to certify.

A challenge for the industry will be how to divert eggs if SE is discovered. Pennsylvania producers, Gingrich noted, have alternative markets, but in some regions of the country, flocks could be destroyed for a lack of options.

Gingrich said there is still plenty unknown about the federal program. The standards could be more stringent and require more testing, ultimately leading to more expense for producers. Until the guidance documents are issued, questions will remain.

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Philly Presents A Floral World Tour

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:54:02 -0500

Michelle Kunjappu
Reporter

PHILADELPHIA — Come on in, out of the cold. Forget the last vestiges of snow still clinging to the side of the house. Forget the snow shovel still within easy reach. Step inside instead and smell the unmistakable scent of ... ahhh ... spring.

For one short week, a small part of Philadelphia is permeated by the smells of thousands of flowers during the annual Philadelphia International Flower Show, an event produced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and presented by PNC Bank. This year the show ran from Sunday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, Mar. 7.

Covering 10 acres of exhibit space in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia, the event has been a Philadelphia attraction since 1829, where it began as a gathering of professional growers showcasing their prized plants and grew to an event that draws thousands of people and raises $1 million for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

More than 3,500 volunteers ran this year’s presentation, “Passport to the World.”

Newly renamed the Philadelphia International Flower Show, the event reflects increasing participation of other nations in the show, and is the oldest and largest indoor flower show.

Major exhibitors included landscapers, colleges, flower societies, contractors, garden clubs and florists, who vie for achievement awards for their display gardens.

This year, about 60 of these professional groups created the large-scale gardens and displays that are the mainstay of the flower show. Many of those exhibitors spend an average of 18 months preparing these displays.

One of those exhibitors is Karen Snyder, who worked at the show while representing the Netherlands American Business Association, a group organized to help showcase spring bulbs and increase tourism to Netherlands.

She and her husband, Tom, spend the entire week of the show at their exhibit, greeting visitors. “Everything else in life just comes to a stop,” she said. Besides the eventful week, the Snyders put in plenty of pre-show time. Aided by 30 friends, the group works for two full days just to plant all the bulbs, according to Karen.

Another part of the flower show is the The PHS Village, where visitors can learn about PHS programs, see demonstration gardens and learn how to plant vegetables, herbs or shrubs, design a small-space or container garden, or get answers to their horticultural questions. Short lessons also included children’s gardening demonstrations.

Growing in one of those demonstration gardens were a few woody plants that have won the “Gold Medal Plant Award” distinction. The PHS picks what they consider to be exceptional, yet little-known and underused woody plants every year. For a complete listing of those plants, see www.goldmedalplants.com.

Besides taking in the many floral displays, show visitors have a chance to shop in the extensive marketplace, which has more than 150 vendors selling plants, flowers, artwork and garden-related supplies.

PHS has already announced that the show theme for next year will be “Springtime in Paris.” Next year’s show dates will be March 6 - March 13, 2011.

PHS, with a membership 16,000 strong, is well known for its outreach program, “Philadelphia Green.” The program provides support to Philadelphia-area residents and organizations to help transform communities and public landscapes into green, growing areas.

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