The Graziers Grapevine

What a better way to start the Independence Day weekend, then with a spotlight on a Pennsylvania program that assists our Veteran farmers!

We spoke with Mimi Thomas-Brooker, Project Director for the PA Veteran Farming Project and Troops to Tractors. Mimi discusses the different aspects of the project and how she and her organization work to assist veteran farmers in their farming initiatives. She gives an overview of what a Veteran Field Day consists of and shares success stories from throughout PA.

You can contact the PA Veteran Farming Project by calling Mimi directly at 724-691-1087, emailing at [email protected], visiting www.troopstotractors.org, or visiting them on Instagram and Facebook!

Their next field day will be held July 10th in Hanover, PA at Jacobs Valley Farm. More information and registration for the event can be found here.

In this episode, we talk with Aaron De Long, Delaware Valley Program Manager for PASA Sustainable Agriculture. Aaron touches on various topics including the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program, the history of PASA as well as the upcoming virtual PASA Conference in February. Aaron discusses the application process for both masters and apprentices and talks about several success stories coming from the apprenticeship program.

Links to the different programs and topics discussed during this podcast can be found here:

Pasa homepage:

https://pasafarming.org/

Conference:

https://pasafarming.org/conference/

Resources:

https://pasafarming.org/resources/

Apprenticeships:

https://pasafarming.org/soil-institute/farmer-training-development/

National Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship:

https://www.dga-national.org/

 

The previous podcast episode discussing the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program with Jessica Matthews can be found here:

 

In today’s episode, we talk with Dwight Lingenfelter of Penn State Extension as a continuation of our Cover Crop Grazing series. He’s going to discuss weed management with us. Dwight will touch on weed identification, weed management, herbicide usage and application, and give resources to use when on a quest to eliminate weeds from your pastures.

 

The Penn State Agronomy Guide

Fall Weed Control Issues in Forages

Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide

 

Have a question for Dwight? Read about his background and find contact information here.

Hi everyone! Today we’re speaking with Margot Mays of the Mid-Atlantic region of American Farmland Trust. She will discuss the increase in women owned/operated farms and women land owners. She will give us information on the upcoming Women for the Land learning circles that will take place in the Central PA area.

Below you will find a link to register for the events as well as a list of the farms that are participating in each of the 7 counties.

Registration and more information:

Farm Locations:

Dauphin County-  https://jubileecheese.com in Middletown

Perry County- Whitmer Farm in Liverpool

York County- www.hornfarmcenter.org in Hellam

Lebanon County- www.goldfinchmeadows.com in Jonestown 

Adams – no farm, touring the SCD office

 

In the final episode of our series with Shelly Dehoff and Beth Futrick we discuss mortality disposal and the 4 legal methods to handle in in Pennsylvania. While its always heartbreaking to lose an animal, we need to know how to dispose of that animal properly.

Attached below are handouts on what was discussed in this episode.

naturalrenderingFS

Livestock Poultry Mortality Disposal updated FINAL February 2016

Contact information for the PA Ombudsmen

Shelly O. Dehoff

PA Agricultural Ombudsman; Eastern PA

717-880-0848

www.paagombudsman.com

Beth Futrick

PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program

Blair Conservation District

814-696-0877 x 5

 

 

Hi Friends!

This is a continuation of the series with Shelly Dehoff and Beth Futrick. Today we discuss best practices for agricultural erosion and manure management as well as how it relates to good neighbor relationships.

Below you will find links to the material we discussed in today’s episode.

The Basics of Agricultural Erosion

The Basics of Manure Management

49353 – The Time is Now Brochure FINALPROOF rfs

 

Contact Information for the PA Ombudsmen:

Shelly O. Dehoff

PA Agricultural Ombudsman; Eastern PA

717-880-0848

www.paagombudsman.com

Beth Futrick

PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program

Blair Conservation District

814-696-0877 x 5

 

 

Hi Friends!

This episode is part of a small series of podcasts we’re conducting with Shelly Dehoff and Beth Futrick. Both ladies are ombudsman in their respective counties (Lancaster and Blair). Today they will discuss what an ombudsman is, what they do, and what they don’t do.

We’ll also discuss good neighbor relations and the handling of fly complaints.

 

Contact Information for the PA Agricultural Ombudsmen:

Shelly O. Dehoff

PA Agricultural Ombudsman; Eastern PA

717-880-0848

www.paagombudsman.com

Beth Futrick

PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program

Blair Conservation District

814-696-0877 x 5

 

Below you will find resources discussed during the podcast:

48659 – Fly brochure final FINALPROOF rfs

 

Today’s podcast is beneficial to both farmers as well as consumers wishing to buy local. Given the times we’re in currently, Heidi wanted to put together a group where farmers and consumers could come together to give access to local farm products. Her Facebook group, which has grown to over 4,000 members can be found at PA Farm to Family Table+

In this episode of the Graziers Grapevine, we speak with Sjoerd Duiker, Ph.D., CCA Professor of Soil Management and Applied Soil Physics. He’s also the Lead Researcher in the Cover Crop Grazing Project we’ve been discussing as a series. Sjoerd discusses his goals for the project as well as how he became involved in continuous no-till forages. He discusses the benefits to the soil that come with a no-till practice.

Sjoerd’s participation in this project is supported by the USDA- National Institute of Food and Agriculture and McIntire-Stennis appropriations under project number Penn-04685, accession number 1418181