Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 1:07pm.
 Dave Lefever
Editor Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff confirmed this week that he has been approached by members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team as a possible candidate for the U.S. secretary of agriculture post. Wolff's name appeared Wednesday on a list of nine potential ag secretary candidates in the Illinois-based Agri-Pulse Newsletter, and last Friday on a list of five possible picks in an online article in The Packer, a Kansas-based newspaper serving the produce industry nationwide. In his characteristic soft-spoken manner, Wolff said by phone Wednesday that he had conversations with some of Obama's team after the election last week in which they discussed the possibility of him being considered as a secretary of agriculture candidate. His name surfacing on a short list "came as a surprise," Wolff said, although the idea of being considered didn't catch him off guard completely.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 1:05pm.
Chris Torres
Staff Writer Farmers from Lancaster County and surrounding areas will have the unique opportunity of influencing the USDA's latest food security initiative. E-magination, a market research company based in Baltimore, is looking for 18 farmers to participate in a focus group looking at USDA software designed to help implement security measures on farms. The software, originally used by the military, has been adapted by the USDA to take a look at farm security. Farmers who are selected to participate in the focus group will be sent CDs of the software, which take about three hours to review. They will then be able to critique the program for USDA officials at a meeting lasting a little more than two hours on Nov.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:58pm.
Maegan Crandall
Central N.Y. Correspondent AUBURN, N.Y. — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) held a listening session at the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA) annual meeting to discuss the recent proposed pasture rule for organic livestock. The proposed rule — that takes into consideration previous comments from the organic industry, consumers and other organizations — will give organic dairy farmers the tools to better manage pasture and demonstrate compliance with the National Organic Program.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:53pm.
Andrew Jenner
Virginia Correspondent MADISON, Va. - This year had been a tough one for the beef industry even before the fall financial crisis added even more uncertainty to the market. Facing a list of challenges shared throughout agriculture – rising input costs, shrinking margins, etc.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:32pm.
 ‘Plastofuel’ Seen as Possible Solution Chris Torres
Staff Writer HARRISBURG, Pa. — Even the ag recyclables business appears to be reeling from the worsening economy. At a forum last Thursday sponsored by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center and the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, industry reps gathered to discuss ways of opening new markets for ag recyclables now that the traditional overseas markets have all but dried up. Traditionally, ag recyclables such as plastic silage bags, bale wrap, feed bags, plastic mulch and even potting materials were sent in cargo containers to countries such as China, which were willing to pay for and process the material even with all of the dirt, debris and water that comes along with it. It is estimated by Penn State’s James Garthe that around 1 billion pounds of ag plastics are discarded each year in the U.S. Now that the economy is struggling, the overseas market has all but closed, and according to Timothy Breneisen, recycling program manager at the markets center, it has created an ag plastics backlog. “It looks we have problems,” Breneisen said.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:23pm.
 Sara Miller
Staff LANCASTER, Pa. — The success of Lancaster Farmland Trust celebrated at its recent annual banquet was two-fold. The trust helped preserve nearly about 20,000 acres of farmland in 20 years. The 20th anniversary also marked the preservation of the 300th farm. The banquet was at the Eden Resort Inn in Lancaster, Pa.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:21pm.
Chris Torres
Staff Writer KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Nearly 30 percent of rural youth surveyed in the 2005 Pennsylvania Youth Survey said they had tried either alcohol or tobacco before the age of 10. Moreover, 80 percent of youth surveyed said they had tried alcohol by the time they were seniors in high school. This was just a sample of the findings Keith Aronson, assistant director of the research institute on children, youth and families at Penn State, shared at a Web-based meeting on rural drug use Wednesday. “Reclaiming Our Communities: Reducing Drug Use in Rural Pennsylvania,” was held at several sites throughout the state, with several speakers talking about the issues facing rural communities as they battle drug and alcohol abuse. While alcohol and drug abuse has steadily declined among youth throughout the years, the rate of decline among rural youth has not been as dramatic, according to Aronson. Rural youth, he said, drink more than their urban counterparts in their middle school and high school years. He also said the survey found that rural boys tend to use smokeless tobacco at much higher rates than any other group. “This is a really significant problem,” he said. While marijuana use is not as prevalent, it still exists, with many rural, as well as urban middle school kids, reporting having tried the drug. With fewer resources than their urban counterparts, Barry Denk, executive director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, said it is no surprise that drug and alcohol abuse has become a problem in many rural areas. Between 1970 and 2006, Denk said the income gap between urban and rural residents increased from $5,000 to $12,000. It leads to less tax revenue which in turn leads to less money available for drug and alcohol related programs. The ratio of physicians and healthcare providers is much lower in the more rural parts of the state. And Denk said there are many more single parent households than there have been in the past. Sgt.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:18pm.
 Emily Caldwell
Central Pa. Correspondent STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Over the course of 24 years, the Nittany Lion Fall Classic Sale has featured almost 1,500 dairy animals, grossed more than $3 million and averaged about $2,000 per lot. The 25th Silver Anniversary of the Nittany Lion Fall Classic Nov.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:14pm.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The National Beef Ambassador competition was held Oct. 9-11 in Oklahoma City, Okla. From 20 contestants across the U.S., the winners selected are Jessica Sampson, Gazelle, Calif., Sierra Simpson, Kremlin, Okla., Sharon Byrne, Nottingham, Pa., Allison Grainger, Brenham, Texas; and Bradley Copenhaver, Blacksburg, Vir. The contestants vied for a place on the elite team of agriculture advocates and $5,000 in cash prizes sponsored exclusively by Tyson Foods, Inc.
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:10pm.
 Joan Garver
Maryland Correspondent MAUI, Hawaii — Early in the morning as you drive down the highway from Up County on Mt. Haleakala you might smell the odor of something burning. You might even need to turn on the car headlights in order to see through the dust and smoke. Native Hawaiians are acquainted with what’s happening.
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