Vol. 49 No. 9
Barbara and Matt Balliet with their dog Bosco continue to build on the success of
their operation using positive thinking. This Luzerne County couple established the
farm in 199 S with 185 acres. Today, they farm about 700 acres.
Photo by Charlene Shupp Espenshade
24)03* A Yea* Of BfV 5 liaises fm VnwmiiA
ry -
DAVE LEFEVER
/ ancuster Farming Staff
F.PHRATA (Lancaster Co.)
Fanners will likel> remember
2003 as the year the drought
ended.
Plentiful precipitation across
the region, including a February
blizzard and a September tropical
storm, helped replenish low
groundwater levels and bring
FARMERSVILLE (Lancaster Co.) Some milder-than
usual temperatures make these cows act like it’s sum
mer, even when cold and brisk New Year’s Day tempera
tures are usually what’s in store. The photographer cap
tured this scene last weekend at the corner of Cider Mill
and Covered .Bridge Road at Bitzers Mill/Eberlys Cider
Mill Covered Bridge. Happy New Year, everyone!
Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
www.lancasterfarming.com
THSaking/fn
flnpact
A FOCUS on
YOUNG FARMERS
high ci op y ields following a
lengthy dry spell that lan trom
Finally , A State Budget
CHARLENE M. SHUPP
ESPENSHADE
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Pennsylvania ended its
Five Sections
f'snrfivi'l'hinkr"* ** ■ j • ’ '•* .
CHARLENE M. SHUPP
ESPENSHADE
Lancaster Farming Staff
Editor’s note: “Making An
Impact" is a series of features
on young farmers who are cre-
2001 through late 2002.
According to the Pennsylvania
distinction as the only state with
out a budget Tuesday as Gov. Ed
Rendell signed it into effect.
Included is more than $2OO
(Turn to Page A2B)
Breaking N*nvs i m
lISF. i aa- A 37
Kighi "'o ?•<»'»!«
- ;r<' n i*\ ’ ’T
e v
Imt u*
fhe Farmer
✓ Farm Show
Schedule page D 25.
✓ Farm Show Ex
hibitors, Maps page
D 26.
✓ Dairy One State
DHIAs page 822, C 2.
✓ Va. Dairy Confer
ences page A 33.
✓ Holiday Treats
page 86.
Saturday, December 27, 2003
ating their own success. This
story focuses on a successful
crop operation in Luzerne
County. Future stories are
scheduled on dairy, swine, and
crop farmers in the southeast
region of the state, in addition
to state and regional programs
affecting young and beginning
farmers.
DRUMS (Luzerne Co.) — The
power of positive thinking, hard
work, dedication, and thought
ful planning are only a few of
the words that could be used to
describe Matt and Barb Balliet.
When looking around their
property, it is hard to believe
that only five years ago, they
began the farm with 185 acres in
Columbia County.
For 2004, the Ballets are pre
paring to raise yvheat, soy beans,
oals, hay, and corn on about 700
acres in Luzerne. Columbia, and
Schuylkill counties.
Matt yyas giaduated hom
Penn State, yyheie he earned a
degree m engineering. But it
didn't take him long after his
graduation to begin to feel the
pull to farm.
“I worked in the construction
industry tor a veai or two atlei
college," said Malt "1 decided
that I wanted to be hack on a
farm, and then 1 went to work
lor a grain farmer lull time "
Aftei woiking on the hum lor
state climatologist, the Imal
counties m Pennsvhania were re
moved Irom diought watch sta
tus by June of this yeai
Look for the new 2004 Lancaster Farming Ag Di
rectory this issue. Featured: a new portion of the
book, “Ask The Experts.” It’s a component of our Ag
Directory helpful for those seeking answers right
at your fingertips.
$37.00 Per Year
(Turn to Page A 23)
2004 Agricultural Directory
Compiled by Ask The Experts
Lancaster Farming includes:
Phone Numbers
; ’ Addresses
T ____ Websites
t 3r
$l.OO Per Copy
four years, the Balliets decided
to take the big step and go out
on their own.
The USDA held the original
farm in inventory. The Balliets
made the decision to purchase
the farm in 1997.
The road to obtaining the
(Turn to Page Al 9)
(£ A lot of people
don’t want to
spend the time
going to meetings,
like being involv
ed in Farm Bu-
reau, but it's part
of doing business.
It doesn’t matter
if you are a doctor
and are part of a
medical group or
a contractor and
are part of a
borne builders as
sociation, it's part
of doing busi-
ness. 9 9
Man Hulhei
‘ ' 4
' -I? t i ,1 it ” ~ t
Si'trffjl* 1
025-2'*