Proposed regulations are bad for Pennsylvania farms, advocates assert

Farmers in Pennsylvania take exception to some proposed federal regulations that aim to prohibit children younger than 16 years of age from various tasks that are helpful to farms, The Associated Press reports.

Among those jobs are operating power machinery, assisting in silos and applying pesticides but the proposed regulations would not apply to children at their parents' farms but they would if those farms are incorporated. At least 4,000 remarks have been submitted to the U.S. Labor Department, which asserts the government must step in to address statistics indicating a child is killed on a farm every three-plus days.

But Larry Cogan, vice president of the farm bureau in Somerset County, told the Daily American of his resistance to the federal regulations enacted as law.

"It is very important that kids help; it goes back to the idea that they are family farms," he told the publication. "To have chores when you grow up on a farm is part of farm life. You learn by doing. Think of our conservative population - Amish and Mennonites - it is ingrained in them to work on the farm."

Also opposing the regulations are the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania State Grange and the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators.

Stink bugs are best dealt with in the winter

Many farmers might consider the winter to be a time of planning ahead for the next season rather than actual agricultural work. However, there are a few things farmers can attend to during the colder months to ensure a successful spring and summer.

The past few years has seen a rapid increase in the presence of a foreign pest that can be dealt with even during off-peak seasons. According to the Staunton News Leader, the Mid-Atlantic area has been experiencing a massive uptick in the number of stink bugs infesting area farms. Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania are being hit particularly hard.

One of the best things that new farmers can do to make sure that their land isn't infested once again come spring is to clear the area near their fields of Trees of Heaven. These invasive plants, also known as Ailanthus altissima or China Sumac, are native to Asia and provide a home to the stink bugs that also originate there. Reducing the number of this flora found near plots of land will go a long way toward preventing these kinds of infestations.

Investigate Pennsylvania farms at this year's farm show

There are many online resources and books from which prospective farmers can learn about their intended areas of expertise. However, sometimes the best education can be had from firsthand sources and experts. That's why people considering careers in agriculture should be sure to check out the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg this January.

The show will be held at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center at the state capitol from January 7 to 14. It is one of the biggest indoor agricultural expositions in the country and will feature 6,000 animals and over 10,000 exhibits. The event is celebrating its 96th year and is one of the oldest farm shows in the country.

If you're uncertain about which breed of cow to raise, how best to feed your livestock, which products make the best investments or where to begin investigating your options for financing your farm, this is the perfect opportunity. People who have been exploring farm land loans and want to know everything there is to know about farming in Pennsylvania should drive to Harrisburg after the new year and take some notes.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit establishes Leadership Endowments

Three-year commitment to support4-H and RULE programs

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA—A $25,000 gift, building on an existing relationship with the state 4-H program, will create The Farm Credit State 4-H Council Endowment for Leadership, and an equal amount will continue funding of the RULE (Rural Leadership) Scholarship and Study Institute.

One of the largest agricultural lenders on the east coast, MidAtlantic Farm Credit has been providing significant support to rural leadership initiatives in Pennsylvania since 2007. Past gifts have allowed 4-Hers to take part in leadership opportunities in the context of Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and have provided funds, allowing RULE to enhance rural leadership programming while lowering financial barriers to participation for RULE Fellows.

The RULE program, designed to encourage and foster the development of community leaders, is recognized for its global impact and regional outreach. RULE’s graduates have not only attained high public office, but are also known as positive community change agents. The Farm Credit gift will provide ongoing support for RULE participants and programming.

The newly announced Endowment for Leadership will help support the Pennsylvania 4-H Leadership Conference, a weekend-long educational experience that brings together hundreds of 4-H delegates from across the state for a conference that builds and enhances their skills they will use in 4-H leadership roles and beyond.

Pennsylvania 4-H Program Leader Christy Bartley commented, “The creation of The Farm Credit State 4-H Council Endowment for Leadership will help provide perpetual funding for the State 4-H Council and a sustainable funding stream to bolster the state 4-H Leadership Conference. This generous support from MidAtlantic Farm Credit will allow 4-Hers to work with leadership educators to build and perfect their skills. “

“We’re fully committed to the next generation of agriculturalists and rural leaders,” says Bob Frazee, CEO of MidAtlantic Farm Credit. “We’re very excited about this partnership, and we know that it will be a wonderful learning opportunity for talented people across the state.”

Pennsylvania 4-H provides a solid foundation of leadership experiences to more than 180,000 young people each year. 4-H thrives on its ability to nurture youth of every socioeconomic background through building relationships with a caring adult mentor. This unique focus allows 4-H volunteers to focus on core life-skill-building needs.

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The 4-H program is all about people sharing, doing, and learning together in all kinds of projects, events and activities through local clubs, special interest clubs, school-based and after-school programs and individual memberships.

Media Contact:
Sandy Wieber, Senior VP of Marketing
MidAtlantic Farm Credit
swieber@mafc.com / 800.333.7950

Gifts from Delaware abound

The First State is rife with holiday gift ideas that were locally grown and produced, according to a press release.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture presents the Delaware 2012 Value Added Food Guide, which holds delectable items like ales, beers and wines. Baked goods are available as is ice cream, jams and jellies. Consumers can purchase marinades, sauces, meats and cheeses.

"I am proud of this diverse array of quality products that will delight the taste buds and enhance the holiday experience for all," Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee said. "The Delaware Department of Agriculture is available to assist our specialty food processors with marketing and promotion information for their products. DDA wants to help them grow."

Jack Markell, governor of the state of Delaware underscored the value of purchasing locally grown quality gifts as they contribute to the local community.

Buying locally helps keep people in Delaware working while also helping small business owners spend money on other small businesses, according to the governor.

Pennsylvania farms to be visited by agricultural officials

Randomly selected Pennsylvania farms will be visited by federal representatives probing conservation and farming practices' impact on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, according to The Reading Eagle.

The visits are part of a larger effort in the region as more than 1,500 farms in Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia and West Virginia also will receive the federal representatives through the end of next month.

"The National Agricultural Statistics Service wants to develop a science base for managing the agricultural landscape throughout the watershed in order to restore the health of the Bay," Reading-based field representative Elwood Blake with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection told the Reading Eagle. "The survey also will illustrate the good work of farmers, improve and strengthen technical and financial programs, and strengthen the bottom line of Pennsylvania's farm producers."

The representatives will ask farmers to show data on various production practices such as the application of chemical, fertilizer and manure, as well as how they handle integrated pest management. The federal officials also will look into adopted conservation practices.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service is under the umbrella of the U.S. Agriculture Department and it probes the gamut of agricultural issues in the nation.

Poultry farmer named to Virginia Farm Bureau board

The board of the Virginia Farm Bureau voted to tap the owner and operator of a poultry farm as a member, according to a published report.

Robert Mills Jr. of Briar View Farms Poultry was elected to a three-year term on Thursday, during the bureau's 2011 annual convention in Norfolk, GoDanRiver.com reports. The co-owner of M.C. Cattle replaces a board member who opted against re-election and he said he very much looks forward to facilitating the entry of young people into the industry.

The 38-year-old Mills, who was once the president of the Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau, said that he was excited for the opportunity that this position will present.

His poultry farm raised roughly 34,000 birds for Perdue Farms and he has two sons who help him cultivate burley and dark-fired tobacco.

The Virginia Farm Bureau works with farmers and policymakers to encourage the prosperity of agriculture and the industry in Virginia.