Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:26pm.
 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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:22pm.
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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:19pm.
 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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:11pm.
 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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:08pm.
 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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:05pm.
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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:02pm.
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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:00pm.
 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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 11:56am.
 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.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 11:54am.
 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 ...
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