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When we think of color in the garden, we usually picture the bright colors of flowers – yellow, pink, red, blue, purple, white, and orange. But the predominant color in any garden or landscape, and the one that tends to get overlooked because of its ubiquity, is the green of foliage.
Penn State Extension will be offering Strong Women in several locations this fall. This strength training program is geared for middle-aged to older women and men and is based upon years of research on how strength training and proper nutrition improve the health of people of all ages. The program was developed to help women increase their strength, bone density, balance and energy and help them look and feel better. Participants meet two times a week for one hour sessions and there is a fee to participate in the program. Participants may want to provide their own hand and ankle weights.
MOUNT JOY -- How do you find time to travel, or visit with people, when you are managing the nonstop demands of a dairy farm? This was the dilemma in 1959 for a young Eileen Benner, who had just moved with her husband, Galen, to farm in Mt. Joy, Pa., down the road from where she grew up. Initially, Galen had farmed steers and the couple grew tomatoes on the 130-acre farm. Eileen's two brothers also farmed nearby. But by 1965, Galen had switched to dairy farming with about 50 cows. Eileen had helped with the farming up until the dairy started, at which time she decided to focus on the house and raising children.
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Penn State's Ag Progress Days will once again show the many faces of agriculture, bringing together people with a wide range of perspectives on the production of food, fuel and fiber. This year's expo will feature several new or special attractions: A renewable energy showcase, a new crops, soils and conservation building, a special focus on the 4-H robotics program, a pollinator garden and a special hands-on science of reproduction exihibit. Popular features returning to Ag Progress Days include learning about careers in agriculture and related fields, a Marcellus Shale center, information from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, research and conservation tours, children and famimly activities, machinery and equipment demonstrations, the equine experience and farm safety demonstrations.
If you want proof for how the emerald ash borer can leap across the landscape, check out the latest map from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Midstate crops from sweet corn to soybeans are recovering from the first round of attacks by a tiny worm with a big appetite. An infestation of armyworms, 1½-inch-long critters that move across fields in armylike fashion, has devoured crops and left devastation in its wake.
With warm summer weather comes more outdoor activities, and the possibility of running into stinging insects like yellowjackets. Yellowjackets are actually a type of wasp that are often mistaken for bees. They can be quite aggressive,especially when their nest is disturbed, and unlike bees, they can sting more than once.
(Camp Hill) – Key changes to regulations affecting the operation of farm trucks shepherded by Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) have been included in legislation signed by President Obama that reauthorizes federal highway and transportation funding through 2014.
When trying to lose or maintain weight, most people will decide a certain number of calories they will eat each day to reach their goal. Does it matter how much of these calories come from fat, protein, or carbohydrates? If 1600 calories daily is the amount you need to lose weight, should you lose the same amount of weight no matter what kind of diet you are on? This article will answer these questions and describe the results of a recent study published on this topic.
Q: The leaves on my tomato plant are curling upward. I’ve never seen this before. What’s happening to my plant?
A resurgence in the tick population in Pennsylvania is resulting in an increased number of tick bites and Lyme disease cases.
Temperatures are soaring in many parts of the country, it's important to remember how crucial water is to keeping horses healthy. Always ensure your horses have access to fresh, clean water at an appropriate temperature, and ensure they're drinking the fluids provided.
The inaugural Today's Agriculture Display, unveiled prior to the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show, showed how crops are grown and food animals are raised. Hold on tight because discussions are underway and the exhibit will be taken to a whole new level in 2013! Many organizations, with employees who are passionate about the agriculture industry, are collaborating to develop a bigger and better display: larger area; better use of visual media; more ways to become engaged; even more farmers and industry representatives available to answer questions; and a closer connection to the food on your plate. Stay tuned for more information about the 2013 exhibit -- you won't want to miss it! This landmark exhibit will be on display January 4-12 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Beginner and experienced beekeepers and those thinking about taking up backyard beekeeping can get the information they need to be successful from Beekeeping 101, a new online beekeeping course offered by Penn State Extension.
‘The Bride’ pearlbush has been around in the nursery industry for several decades, but it is not utilized as often as other spring flowering shrubs such as forsythia, azalea, spirea, and deutzia.
Farmers in 21 Pennsylvania counties are eligible for aid, mostly emergency low-interest loans, to cover losses from this spring’s unusual weather.
When it comes to maintaining summer lawns, a little laziness is a good thing. “The spring recipe for lawn care is to fertilize, mow up to twice a week and treat for weeds, but you should back off on all those practices during the summer,” says Pete Landschoot, turfgrass specialist for Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania farmers are reminded to report crop damage to their crop insurance agent and local Farm Service Agency office within 72 hours of discovery. ''Farmers are already seeing widespread crop damage from armyworms and late blight,'' said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. ''Help ensure you get the most out of your crop insurance policy by reporting damage to your crop insurance agent immediately.''
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania farmers and homeowners should remain aware of possible armyworm infestations that could continue to appear within the next week in hay pastures, grain fields and lawns near agricultural fields.
June 25, 2012. Brown rot is a major disease of stone fruits and warm, humid weather favors brown rot infection. Two species of fungi are responsible for brown rots: Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia laxa which can infect blossoms and cause brown rot on fruit. M. fructicola is the specie that is known and widespread in Pennsylvania orchards. M. laxa is suspected of causing blossom blight early in the season but has not yet been identified in PA orchards.
