Mid Atlantic

Heat stress impacts on dairy cow reproduction

by Tamara Scully

The Northeast may not be the hottest region in the country, yet it has seen an increasing amount of hot days, where the temperature-humidity index (THI) rises above 72 points, the level at which thermal neutrality is breeched and dairy cows begin to be negatively impacted by heat stress. Climate change predictions for the region indicate that an increase in the amount of days where a heat stress event occurs, as well as an increase in the duration and intensity of such events, is all but inevitable. [Read more…]

Ag Progress Days 2015 – Simulated Vehicle Rescue

by Bill and Mary Weaver

During this year’s Ag Progress Days, one of the many safety demonstrations put on for those in attendance was a simulated rescue of an accident victim from a minivan. Two volunteer rescue companies, Millheim and Miles Twp., along with PSU EMS, outlined the steps and procedures needed to extract a victim safely and without causing further injury. [Read more…]

High-risk season for HPAI

by Steve Wagner

Insiders call it High Path AI. Yet, if it is high path, why hasn’t avian flu yet reached Pennsylvania? That was the question I put to PA Ag Secretary Russell Redding prior to his chairing of a town hall style seminar titled Preparation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza [HPAI] at the Lancaster Farm & Home Center. “It is H5N2,” Redding said. “What we know at this point is that it does not like hot weather. [Read more…]

Is your hayride safe?

by Sally Colby

A hayride accident that resulted in the death of a young woman and injury to at least 20 others last fall on a Maine farm garnered national attention, especially among those who look forward to fall- and Christmas-themed attractions hosted by farms.Bill Fetherolf, co-owner of Pioneer Evergreen Farms in Orwigsburg, PA, says on the day following the tragic accident, he was inundated with phone calls from both media and concerned people who wanted to know if the hayride at his farm was safe.

[Read more…]

New methods of vaccine production on the horizon

by George Looby, DMV

Animal agriculture has long relied on the addition of antibiotics to increase feed efficiency and to aid in the control of low grade intestinal infections, especially in young animals. This practice has come under increased scrutiny in recent years as the human population has had to contend with the development of so-called super bugs which are resistant to conventional antibiotic therapy. [Read more…]

Frankenfield says ‘Tell your story’

by Steve Wagner

Taking center stage at the 2015 edition of Farming for Success, Andrew Frankenfield with the Penn State Extension, is also a produce grower. Frankenfield told those in attendance, “My customers want to know — ‘Is this Bt sweet corn or Monsanto sweet corn?’” After seven years, this is the first year he is actually not growing Bt sweet corn because, as he says, technology isn’t as effective any more and the seed is nearly twice as much. [Read more…]

Lehigh County farmer recognized for commitment to water quality

State Conservation Commission, Department of Environmental Protection present clean water farm award

NEW SMITHVILLE, PA — State officials visited Lehigh County to honor a family farm for its investments to improve water quality. Joel Loch, a fourth generation dairy farmer in Weisenberg Township, received a 2015 Clean Water Farm award from the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission Executive Director Karl Brown and Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary for Water Management Kelly Heffner presented him with the award. They then toured the operation, viewing the best management practices firsthand. [Read more…]

Sunny Hill Farms Belgians

by Bill and Mary Weaver

One of the highlights at the Main Horse Arena at Ag Progress Days 2015 was the 6-horse-hitch team of high stepping Belgians from Sunny Hill Farms in Myerstown, PA. Ken and Karen Sandoe have been showing these towering draft horses for more than 17 years. [Read more…]

Country Folks

Highlighting Agriculture