A Guide to Farm Products: Calling All Producers!

Since 2008, Penn State Cooperative Extension has produced a booklet called A Guide to Farm Products which is a directory of family farms, farmers' markets, vegetable, maple, and honey producers, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA's) farms, u-pick farms, Christmas tree growers, wineries, restaurants, grocers, and other businesses that sell locally produced farm products within Susquehanna County.

This widely-popular guide is updated annually and so far includes over 45 local businesses.  We would like to extend the offer for your "farm" to be included.  The piece will include a short description of the farm or business along with products available and hours of operation, if open to the public and its location on a map of the county.  The guides are placed throughout the county and are also available online at http://susquehanna.extension.psu.edu/Horticulture/farmer%20products%20brochure%20new%20format.pdf

Today's consumer is increasingly looking to buy farm products directly from the grower.  When buying directly from local farmers and shopping and dining at those businesses which support local farmers, consumers are getting the freshest, best tasting food, contributing to a strong local economy and helping preserve our landscape.  It is the hope of those gathering the information that shoppers will make a connection with healthy fresh food, their neighbor farmers who grow it and those markets and businesses that support them by using locally grown food.

Susquehanna County has a number of farm stands, farm markets, orchards, and CSA farms where residents can purchase fresh produce.  Please help us in compiling this guide by calling the Cooperative Extension Office at 570-278-1158 and requesting a network form, http://susquehanna.extension.psu.edu/Horticulture/FarmNetworkForm.pdf,  and map marking your location.  you can mail the completed forms back to us by January 31, 2011.  We are planning on having the booklet published by early spring.

December Preparation for Cattle Herds

December for many cattle producers means much preparation for winterizing their herds. What is on your checklist for this month? Nutrition and winter feeding, body condition evaluation, and calving issues should all be on your list.

December is the perfect time to evaluate your cow’s body condition. Cows that will be calving should have a body condition score that is between 5 and 7. Cows that have scores of less than a 5 should be on a separate diet to condition them with adequate nutrition for calving. If feasible, separate your cows into production classes and feed according to their body condition score and production needs.

If you have not already started, prepare your winter feeding program for your cows. Hay and feed supplements are usually the most expensive in your budget. Evaluate your winter forage supply by determining lowest to highest quality hay. Mid pregnancy cows should receive the lowest quality of forages while late pregnancy cows should receive medium quality and the highest quality hay should be given to calves, lactating cattle, and replacement heifers. Cows should receive 25 to 30 pounds of hay per day.

Feeding corn silage is also a good way to make sure your cows stay at a healthy body condition score. Pregnant heifers and dry cows in mid pregnancy should receive 45 to 50 pounds of corn silage plus .75 pounds of soybean meal or cottonseed meal. Dry cows in late pregnancy should receive 50 to 55 pounds of corn silage and .75 pound of soybean meal while lactating cows should be given 60 to 80 pounds of silage and 1 to 2 pounds of soybean meal. Another important part of the feeding program that sometimes is neglected is the mineral mix. All cattle should receive a free choice balanced salt mineral mix. Also, avoid underfeeding heifers or cows to achieve decreased birth weights. Doing this could cause a longer pregnancy and reduction in calf survival. Research has proven that there is no difference in birth weights or calving ease in comparing cows that are underfed and cows that are fed adequate diets.

For many producers, winter marks the start of calving season. Be sure to check all facilities and equipment that will be used during calving. If calving pens are available they should be clean and dry. A warmer environment should be prepared just in case you have chilled calves. Make sure that all calving assistance equipment is in one location and in working order. Producers should have all of these calving supplies in a ‘calving kit’ to easily grab when a cow is calving. Be prepared to check your herd frequently and keep a close watch on first time calving heifers. These heifers should be moved into a smaller area so you will be able to check them more frequently.

Be sure to prepare your herd for the winter by evaluating your winter feeding program, body condition score your herd, and organize your calving kit. For further information on winter preparation for your cow/calf herd, contact your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office.

Source: http://extension.psu.edu/start-farming

Artisan Cheese Making Class comes to the Northern Tier

The Endless Mountains RC&D Council and its partners are pleased to announce an “Artisan Cheese Making Class” on March 23-25, 2011 at the Tioga County Fairgrounds, Whitneyville.

The instructor is the well know Peter Dixon from Dairy Food Consulting located in Vermont. The workshop is appropriate for all levels of home and commercial cheese makers. Topics during the three-day workshop will include starting a creamery, properties of cow and goat milk and their use in cheese making, choosing starter cultures, making lactic curd, mozzarella, ricotta, and aged cheeses, cheese brining, cheese aging, and information about equipment and facilities. For more information about the instructor, visit his website at http://www.dairyfoodsconsulting.com/. 

Registration cost for PA residents of Bradford, Lycoming, Susquehanna Sullivan, Tioga, and Wyoming Counties is $100, all others is $350.  The cost of registration covers instruction, course manual, and lunch each day.  Registration for the workshop will close on March 9th.  A block of rooms has been reserved at the Comfort Inn in Mansfield, reservations must be made by November 28th.   

For more information contact the Endless Mountains RC&D Council at 570-265-5288, ext. 118.

Beef Quality Assurance Chute Side Training at Applewood Farm

The Pennsylvania Beef Council will be conducting a Chute-Side training session on November 18, 2010. Applewood Farm owned by Jeff and Ann Nogan in Scott Twp. will be hosting the event. The address to Applewood Farm is 127 Tompkinsville Road, PA. There will be refreshments provided with the Chute-Side beginning at 6:00 p.m.


The Chute-Side training session includes information about record-keeping, animal welfare, proper injection site and proper drug handling on the farm. This is a good educational event that is very hands-on. We will be having a veterinarian from Penn State come to perform the necropsy.

Chute-Side training is the second part of a two-part program that enables producers and others to become certified in the PA Beef Quality Assurance program. The BQA program is designed to improve the value and quality of beef by training producers in best management practices.


If you haven’t already completed the classroom training, which is the first part of certification, please feel free to still come. The classroom component of the certification can be done online at http://www.pa-bqa.org/ . This can be done before or after you attend the chute-side training.


Please confirm your attendance by calling Nichole Hockenberry at the PA Beef Council, 1-888-423-3372 or via email at nhockenberry@pabeef.org.

Farm Business Succession Workshop Scheduled

The decisions involved in the process of planning for the succession of a farm business from one generation to the next or from one owner to another are among the most critical set of decisions that a farm manager can make in his or her lifetime. Issues such as planning for the transfer of business decision making responsibilities, managing the impacts of estate, inheritance and capital gains taxes, and deciding how to divide farm assets among multiple heirs can be difficult for most farm managers to work through. The ability of a farm to continue through the generations depends, in part, on the development and implementation of a sound and detailed farm succession plan.


The Agricultural Entrepreneurship Team of Penn State Extension will conduct a workshop for farm families in Susquehanna County who wish to learn more about how they can successfully accomplish their goals related to farm business succession. The instructors for this workshop are individuals who are familiar with the legal issues, tax consequences, family concerns and farm profitability issues that farm families in Pennsylvania must consider every day.

The workshop will be held via video-conference on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 in the County Office Building, 81 Public Avenue, Montrose. The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A fee of $25 per person will be charged to help offset the cost of meals and program materials. Pre-registration for this workshop is required. For more information please contact Michelle Kowalewski at 570-278-1158 or via email, mec190@psu.edu for more information.

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact us at 570-278-1158, in advance, of your participation or visit. Penn State Cooperative Extension programs are open to all regardless of their ability to pay. Please contact us if you require reduced or waiver of fees to attend this educational program. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2007-49200-03888.

Social Networking for Agricultural Businesses

Are you interested in learning how social networking tools can benefit your agricultural business?  Curious how Twitter and Facebook can allow you to stay connected to your customers?  Learn how blogs, YouTube, and podcasts can help you share your farm story and market your business and products.

Join us for a series of four webinars (each held twice) over the course of seven weeks.  Each webinar will address at least one social networking tool and how it can be used by farms and other ag businesses.  The final webinar will highlight how an actual farm has successfully integrated the use of several social networking tools. 

Social Networking For Agricultural Businesses Schedule:

1. Introduction to Social Networking & Twitter - October 6th at 10:00 a.m. or October 12th at 2:00 p.m.
2. Facebook - October 14th at 10:00 a.m. or October 21st at 2:00 p.m.
3. YouTube, foursquare, blogs & podcasts - October 26th at 10:00 a.m. or November 2nd at 2:00 p.m.
4. Putting it All Together - November 8th at 2:00 p.m. or November 18th at 10:00 a.m.

The URL for all webinars is https://breeze.psu.edu/socialmedia/.

Please note, to participate in any webinar you will need to use must have a "Friends of Penn State" account.  Sign up for a "Friends of Penn State" account at https://fps.psu.edu/.  Signing up takes less than five minutes!

9th Annual "Day on a Dairy Farm" Event




Evergreen Lane Farm - The Tompkins' Family

     The 9th annual Day on a Dairy Farm will be held Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Evergreen Lane Farm located on Mitchell Road near Montrose, Pa.  Evergreen Lane Farm is owned and operated by the Tompkins family - Mark, Cindy, Trevor, and Mariah. 

     The event, Day on a Dairy Farm, is organized in part by the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotions Court.  The court consists of the 2010-11 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess Olivia Mitchell, 2010-11 Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess Allison Kiefer, Dairy Ambassadors Mariah Tompkins, Callie Curley, Lydia Watkins, Dairy Maids Madeline Mitchell, Cassidy Greenwood, and Ali Teel.   



Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion Court

     Day on a Dairy Farm is an educational and fun event full of activities for all ages and it's FREE!

     Come on out and enjoy a tour of the dairy facilities, learn how MILK gets from the cow to your dinner table, find out why you need "3 Every Day," play dairy trivia, visit the petting zoo, take a horse drawn wagon ride, enjoy delicious dairy foods including milk, cheese, and much more!

     For more information contact the Dairy Promotion Committee members Evie Goff, ecg4@psu.edu or 570-278-1212 or Mary Puzo, puzofamily@yahoo.com or 570-278-4704.

     Directions to Evergreen Lane Farm: From Montrose take State Route 29 North approximately three miles, turn right onto Mitchell Road.  The farm is located on the approximately one mile on the right.  From the New York State line, Mitchell Road is located approximately 10 miles south on Route 29. 

     Farm Address: 650 Mitchell Road, Montrose, PA  18801  

Pennsylvania MarketMaker

Penn State Cooperative Extension is partnering with several organizations to launch “Pennsylvania MarketMaker.” MarketMaker is an online tool to connect buyers and sellers within the food industry. The tool provides access to free, in-depth marketing information to help farm and food business owners find markets for their products throughout Pennsylvania and other participating states. It also helps those businesses who wish to buy locally-produced food to do so!


Registration is completely free of charge. The registration site is at: http://pa.foodmarketmaker.com/. The national MarketMaker system is being promoted to national restaurant, grocery, and other retail/wholesale associations.

Pennsylvania MarketMaker will provide users with a rich source of demographics and business data to help buyers and sellers find each other. Here’s what users will be able to do with Pennsylvania MarketMaker:

• Access demographic profiles of target markets.

• Locate buyers and sellers within a target region in a map-based format.

• Connect with potentially thousands of buyers and sellers quickly through the Buy and Sell Forum.

Before Pennsylvania MarketMaker has the search capabilities seen on other sites, we must populate the database with agricultural and food producers. While many businesses within the food industry can be obtained through third-party databases, which will be added, we need to populate the database with agricultural producers! The goal is to obtain 250 registrations before Pennsylvania MarketMaker goes live. Register today: http://pa.foodmarketmaker.com/!

Electricity Deregulation Program Scheduled

Deregulation of electricity generation in Pennsylvania means that each electricity customer has the opportunity to select a supplier of electricity. It doesn't matter which supplier is selected to provide the generation and transmission of the electricity; each customer's electricity will still be distributed by the local utility company-also known as the Electric Distribution Company (EDC)-serving the customer's area.

Penn State Cooperative Extension would like to educate consumers as to their options for a supplier of electricity and what they need to know about electricity deregulation by offering two programs on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. and again in the evening from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. The programs will be held in the lower level conference room at the County Office Building, 31 Public Avenue, Montrose.

Presenter for the program will be Dennis Buffington, Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Penn State University. Dennis will review the different aspects of electricity generation, transmission and distribution as well as some of the suppliers for residential and commercial/industrial customers.

Become better informed of options that are available and will become more available when the generation of electricity is completely deregulated throughout the state by attending one of these Extension programs.

There is no charge for the program but we would like to request you contact our office if you plan to attend. When you call, please indicate the number in your party and which program you would like to attend. Phone: (570)278-1158.

Harford Fair seeks local producers to participate in Farmers' Market

The Harford Fair Directors are currently seeking local producers to participate in the "Harford Fair Farmers’ Market" during fair week.

The Farmers Market is a new addition to this year’s fair with hope of increasing awareness of locally produced farm products.

The market will be open from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., to give producers the most exposure to fair goers. The six-day fair will be broken into three time slots: Monday/Tuesday, Wednesday/Thursday, and Friday/Saturday. The charge for a two-day spot will be $20. The fair will provide two daily passes per spot for each vendor per day. All proceeds from sales during the producer’s time slot belong solely to the producer. Additional time slots will be available to vendors after demand is determined when responses start to return to the fair office. Producers must provide proof of liability insurance.

Local producers interested in participating in the Farmers Market should contact Ann Marie Graf at the fair office at 434-4300.