Can’t Make It Rain, Can’t Change Colors

Third-Generation African American Cattlemen Farm in Bedford Co., Va.

Andrew Jenner
Virginia Correspondent

MONETA, Va.— After a few minutes’ search, Curtis and Danny Wright find the day-old Charolais cross calf in the upper corner of the pasture, hunkered down in a patch of tall grass.

Small-Scale Finger Lakes Winery Offers Historic Charm

Maegan Crandall
Central N.Y. Correspondent

BLUFF POINT, N.Y. — While there are an abundance of large, ultramodern wineries nestled throughout the Finger Lakes region, Yates Cellars invites visitors to experience something a little different - historic charm and a glimpse into what makes a successful, limited-production, boutique winery.

Yates Cellars - singularly owned and operated by Alan Hunt - is located in Yates County near the shores of Keuka Lake, where growing grapes has been a tradition since 1829.

Vilsack Launches New Agriculture Agency

WASHINGTON (AP) — The USDA must sharpen the focus of its science and research efforts to emphasize areas where it can make an impact on society, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday.

“USDA science needs to change to respond to ...

Bloomsburg Fair Holds Livestock Sale

The Bloomsburg Fair Livestock Sale grossed $88,078.41 in proceeds for 4-H’ers and FFA members selling their livestock animals.

The annual event featured 111 youth showing 264 animals which they have been raising over the past several months.

Kylie Kiess of Cogan Station, Pa.

Marcellus Shale Will Impact Pa.’s Rural Landscape

Charlene M. Shupp
Espenshade
Special Sections Editor

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — For generations, Pennsylvania has been known for its coal, which heated homes and fired steel furnaces for more than a century.

However, in the past few years, a new vernacular has crept into the dialog for landowners in northeastern and western Pennsylvania: “Marcellus shale”.

EPA Has Lancaster County ‘In Its Crosshairs’

Dick Wanner
Lancaster Farming Staff

LANCASTER, Pa. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has Lancaster County in its crosshairs, Don McNutt told a breakfast meeting on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center.

McNutt is chief administrator for the Lancaster County Conservation District, and has taken up a spot somewhere between the EPA and local farmers.

In particular, McNutt has been arguing the case for 25 Amish farmers in the Watson Run watershed in the eastern part of the county, around the village of Bird-in-Hand.

DHIA Detectives Have New DNA Tool at Their Fingertips

Chris Torres
Staff Writer

MANHEIM, Pa. — Mastitis testing is going the route of “CSI”-like technology, thanks to a new, first-of-its-kind machine Lancaster DHIA technicians are using.

Called PCR-based mastitis testing (Polymerase chain reaction), the technology can identify up to 11 major mastitis causing genes, along with a penicillin resistant gene.

The technology creates millions of copies from a single strand of DNA using a cycle of heating and cooling.

Food Club Seeks Out Local Producers

Ayleen Stellhorn
Southcentral Pa. Correspondent

A group of food aficionados traveled from Pennsylvania’s capital to the southern reaches of the state this past weekend in search of the area’s best cheeses, apples, wine, and bread.

Organized by Jeff Katcher, events co-chair for the Harrisburg chapter of Slow Food International, the Adams County producer tour visited Caprine Delight Goat Dairy, Oyler’s Eden Valley Farms, Hauser Estates Winery, Gettysburg Baking Company, and Historic Round Barn and Farm Market.

“The goal was to raise awareness of local foods in this area,” Katcher said.

For Pa. Poultry Producers, Electricity ‘Day of Reckoning’ Is Coming

Charlene M. Shupp
Espenshade
Special Sections Editor

LANCASTER, Pa. — In the coming new year, farmers and customers supplied by PP&L will be the next group to enter into the world of electricity deregulation. Dennis Buffington, Penn State agriculture engineering professor, discussed how it will impact poultry producers at Tuesday’s Poultry Health Seminar at the Lancaster County Farm and Home Center.

Buffington also noted that farmers in the Allegheny Power, Met-Ed, Penelec and PECO regions will be deregulated at the end of 2010.

“What it means is when the rate caps expire, for the first time you will get to select your electricity generation provider,” he said.

A farm’s current electric utility company will still be responsible for the distribution and transmission of the electricity.