2012
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Ingenuity in the Field- Conservation and Machinery
December 25, 2012
- A farmers’ use of heavy machinery has always been a common sight when passing a farm. Yet as machinery and innovations evolve, so do the practices of today’s producers.
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Tierra en movimiento― Farmer to Farmer Support
December 11, 2012
- A rural farming community such as Adams County has much to offer in ways of expertise, so with generations of knowledge it is only natural to expand, exchange and grow our skills alongside other farmers. This was the basic idea in 2011 when a Penn State Extension sponsored Young Grower Alliance (YGA) group traveled to the rural farming community of Talolinga through Project Gettysburg Leon.
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Adams County Farm Bureau—a voice for farmers
December 10, 2012
- In a land where every voice deserves a chance to be heard, the Farm Bureau is the strong and supportive voice of farmers. Affiliated with the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is an organization of farmers offering various services and information for members as well as legislative support at the local, state and national levels.
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Ag Innovations continues promoting agriculture by learning
August 21, 2012
- As the summer always has to come to an end, so does the Spotlight on Agriculture column which I have been fortunate enough to be able to provide to Adams County residents over the past few months. With students returning to school and producers preparing for a plentiful and busy fall harvest, it is ever so important to remember our wonderful and diverse local ag industry and the ways in which we can continue to support it.
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Innovation and Conservation through Knowledge Sharing- IFTA
August 7, 2012
- While next year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Adams County has more than one reason to celebrate. This year 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln signed the Morill Act creating 76 Land Grant Colleges to improve education in agriculture and mechanical arts throughout the US. This act has forever changed higher education and allowed for the growth of new generations of agricultural producers.
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Collaborate and Stand Out – Differentiating Your Product through Partnerships
August 7, 2012
- When enjoying ice cream made with tree-ripened peaches at a roadside farm market it’s easy to appreciate the local flavor of our community. However, what may not be realized are the unique partnerships and business savvy it took to get that food from seed to delicious first bite.
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Savvy Farm Promotion, Made Simple
August 7, 2012
- On a recent farm marketing tour a group of growers were able to experience the gamut of retail farm marketing from large corporations that incorporate small market aesthetics to small markets making full use of the mobile and internet tools available to them.
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Planning and Development- A Community Approach
July 30, 2012
- Economic development to some means larger businesses, more housing developments and increased populations, yet what does it mean to a rural economy such as Adams County. Planning and development is a careful balance among necessary conveniences, employment opportunities and a continuation of the quiet, country lifestyle. Since the downturn in the economy and in turn a slowdown in development, Adams County has been given a small window of opportunity to discover who we are and how to plan accordingly.
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The Latino Connection in the Evolving Farm Economy―El Enlace Latino en La Economía Agrícola
July 17, 2012
- In America, the highest rate of new farm owners are of Latino or Hispanic origin and west coast states are already seeing this emerging trend as their new generation of farmers is a mostly Latino one. While Adams County has a small number of Latino farm operators and no Latino farm owners, the population overall is identified as 5.7% Latino or Hispanic and rises to 11.2% for the under 18 population.
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What a resource! Ag Center is one-stop facility
July 10, 2012
- The Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resource Center was an initiative spearheaded by Adams County producers and various ag agencies to bring together agencies serving the agricultural community under one sustainable roof. The seven offices within the commonly known ‘Ag Center’ address agricultural education for current and future farmers and conservation, research, technical and program support, farmland preservation, and proper use of agricultural lands within Adams County.
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Farm Bill Passes Senate― Adams County links Producers and Consumers
June 25, 2012
- It is an undisputed fact that to every story there are two sides. When it comes to agriculture and our food system the two sides are producers and consumers or those who make food and those who eat it.
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How to Read a Pesticide Label
June 15, 2012
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Building the Next Generation of Farmers
June 13, 2012
- As a wave of awareness has swept over consumers in the last few years to better understand food production, it has also brought a new light on farming. With the average age of a principal farm operator in Adams County being 55 years old, along with resurgence for local foods; this is the time for a new generation of farmers to step up.
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Asparagus
June 8, 2012
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Get to Know Your Farming Neighbor- Visit a Farmers Market
June 7, 2012
- Memorial Day has gone, the weather is improving and most schools are in their last week of classes—this can only mean that summer is almost upon us. With asparagus fading out of season and cherries about to come in, this is a wonderful time to be eating abundant amounts of fresh and locally grown foods.
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Preserving Farmland and Adam's County's Rural Character
June 7, 2012
- Living in Adams County has always been a challenge when it comes to conveniences. Often we have to travel to neighboring York, Cumberland or Franklin counties to make larger purchases, but metropolises such as York, Carlisle and Chambersburg are not what Adams County residents are after.
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Garden Chat - Garden Tours and More!
June 5, 2012
- Stop the Agricultural and Natural Resources Center to get a tour of our beautiful trial garden, native garden, and rain gardens and learn about the plants!
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The Farm Bill IS a food bill
May 23, 2012
- All stakeholders are working hard to be heard and recognized as Congress writes up this year’s Farm Bill. As producers lobby for crop insurance and research dollars, low income families fight for minimal SNAP dollars to keep food on their family tables.
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Marsh/Rock creeks- a Critical Water Resource Area
May 15, 2012
- If you know anything about water issues in Adams County you know that we live in a county where all water is flowing out. If you don’t’ know anything, you still know that every summer we see droughts and water shortages.
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Farm Bill may become the ‘Ag Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012’
May 15, 2012
- This year will be an important one for food, jobs and agriculture. Congress is already embarking on writing new legislation, commonly known as the Farm Bill, to encompass policies for food, farm, energy, environment, research and trade issues over the next 5 years.
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The 2012 Farm Bill- An Overview for Agriculture and Food Security
April 20, 2012
- As we bustle through our days from work to various appointments and family engagements we seem to have less and less time left for ourselves. Nonetheless there is a rare yet appreciated moment when one crosses over a hill, drives down an unfamiliar road or simply stops and looks around to soak in the expansive beauty of Adams County.
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A Home in the Country -- Life in Adams County
March 8, 2012
- Living in the country involves vast landscapes, new sounds and odors, and often a farmer for a neighbor. Agriculture is Pennsylvania's #1 industry and annually contributes 4.5 billion to PA's economy. As a rural neighbor there are realities to be faced about living in the country as well as efforts to be made to keep agriculture viable.
