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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State researchers recently discovered the African fig fly in Pennsylvania for the first time, giving fruit growers across the state another invasive pest to be on the look out for.
No joke: 2013 is a municipal election year in Pennsylvania. You’ll be voting for township supervisors, borough and city council members, school district directors, and other local offices. The primary isn’t until May, and the general election won’t happen until next November, so why think about this now?
The 2012 Professional Pest Manager's School offers 40 category and 12 core credits that will help you keep up with changes in pesticide regulations, product information and your roles and responsibilities as a pesticide applicator. This program is adaptable to any individual working with pesticides.
New training modules are now available to help directors and staff in childcare centers better manage pests in their facilities. The development of these modules was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Children’s Health Protection.
Each year as children head back to school, find their friends, and play in close-knit groups, head lice also make their return and spread quickly.
Jason and Sherisa Nailor of Cumberland County were selected Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s recipients of the 2012 Young Farmer and Rancher “Excellence in Ag” Award during PFB’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Hershey.
Cumberland County Farmer Continues Processing Tradition
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The discovery this fall of chronic wasting disease in two deer on a game farm in southeastern Pennsylvania has hunters concerned, but they shouldn't overreact, according to experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Agriculture continues to rank as one of the most dangerous occupations in North America.
Help birds and wildlife find food during winter! The Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County are hosting a “Wildlife Tree Ornaments” workshop for youth on Saturday, November 17, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Cumberland County Extension office, 310 Allen Road, Carlisle.
Every season in the garden has something special to commend it to the gardener. Autumn is particularly rich in seasonal delights, both large and small. From mountainsides ablaze in color to woolly bear caterpillars, there is something at every turn to remind us of why we like to garden, even as the gardening season winds down. Herewith, two of my favorite fall things:
Heather earned a B.S. in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech in 2008 and a Master’s Degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics also from Virginia Tech in 2011.
Diversification: more than a Buzz Word The idea of branching out and growing or raising more than one farm product is as old as farming itself. Farms are better able to weather what nature brings if they place their bets on a wider variety of products. Increasingly diversification includes agricultural tourism. This is a form of farm diversification present in all counties of Pennsylvania, especially in the south eastern portion of the state.
What began as an environmental studies project in 1999 at Dickinson College has evolved into a flourishing organic farm. From a handful of eager student gardeners, who began with a small garden plot on campus that grew into a half-acre plot, gradually the program grew as it attracted greater student interest, says Matt Steinman, assistant manager of production for the farm.
Hurricane Sandy reminds us that we need to be prepared for power outages. The loss of power could jeopardize the safety of frozen food. To keep food safe, keep the door closed and control the temperature.
Taught in Spanish, this program will educate Spanish-speaking farm managers and milkers about the proper milking techniques and practices necessary to produce a high-quality product. This program will help to increase productivity and profitability on dairies that participate.
Penn State Extension is offering an Aquatic Pesticide Course for pond applicators that is approved for three Category 9 Recertification Credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. If you register for the course you will receive the Penn State publication entitled “Management of Aquatic Plants” and the corresponding cd containing seven short videos on pond management.
“Brown and furry, caterpillar in a hurry….” Why does the woolly bear cross the road? To get to the other side! Woolly bear caterpillars are a familiar and friendly sight in autumn, as they cross roads and sidewalks on sunny days, searching for that perfect spot under bark or in a log or rock cavity to hibernate for winter.
Youth Water Educators from around the Mid-Atlantic Region gathered together in Harrisburg, PA for a day of learning, networking, and sharing resources. The Dive Deeper Summit, hosted by Penn State Extension on September 27, 2012, was the first of its kind for most participants. A total of 83 educators from a wide variety of backgrounds (conservation districts, cooperative extension offices, schools, nature centers, government agencies, scouting organizations, and more) all reported that they were motivated to use ideas from the summit in their educational programming in the next 12 months.
Autumn is a favorite time of year for many who enjoy the blaze of bright foliage against the backdrop of crisp blue skies. The eastern United States is one of the best places in the world for autumn color. But do you know why this region is prime fall foliage territory?
