DlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 24,1903 BURLINGTON, Vt. The Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Educa tion Program has awarded $19,714 in grants to six Pennsyl vania farmers to test innovative farming techniques and share what they learn with other producers. The farmers, whose projects range from testing alternatives to fungicides for strawberries to demonstrating stewardship fore stry for farms, will receive the grants through the Northeast Reg ion SARE program’s new Farmer/ Grower Grant program. In total, $96,447 was awarded to 3d far mers in the 12-state region. While scores of farmers have participated in the SARE prog ram’s larger, interdisciplinary research and education proejets, this year’s Farmer/Grower Grant program marks the first time the region has allocated funds specifi cally for farmer-initialed projects. Northeast Region SARE Coor dinator Fred Magdoff said the goal is to stimulate interest in alternative practices that could lead to a more sustainable agricul ture, and to help farmers test inno vauve ideas. “Wc know there is a tremend ous reservoir of knowledge and initiative in the farmers and grow ers in the region,” Magdoff said. “Farmers have a lot of good ideas, but sometimes they can’t afford to take the risk of giving them a try. We hope that what these farmers are doing will be helpful not only for them and their neighbors, but that we may also learn things that can be used in other places.” The Pennsylvania farmers selected for funding are: Farmers Awarded Grants To Test Practices • Dwight Mickey, of Cham bersburg, who will receive $1,839 to evaluate the effectiveness of reduced chemical measures in a commercial peach and apple orchards. The project will use mating disruption and pheromone traps for insect control, and will compare conventional chemical fumigation with using canola oil to control dagger nematodes. Dis eases will be monitored and the participants will make predictions for pears and applies with a leaf wetness recorder. • Ellen Reker, of new Tripoli, who will receive $5,000 to demonstrate the use of cashmere producing goats to reclaim a 13-acre abandoned pasture. Reker’s goal is to show that the goats can be used as a cost effective alternative to chemical week and brush control, as well as to characterize the types of weeds and brush goats can control. • Derek and B.C. Dickson, of Franklin, who will receive $5,000 to build threes constructed wet land on their farm to improve water quality and wildlife habitat and educate other farmers. By tak ing selected areas of the farm out of production, the Dicksons arc JAY ZEIGLER ROOFING CONTRACTOR FREE Estimates Continuous Length Before Applied Over Existing Roof SBBBS. BINS AND AUGERS w Take ’em Down! We Will Assemble & Deliver Bins To Your Farm Standing Seam Metal Roofing Since 1963 • Roof can last for 100 years - cost efficient • Can be installed over existing roof (Asphalt, roll roofing, wood shingles) • Is environmentally safe • Beauty - colorful (galvanized, 40 lb. teme, teme-coated stainless, and painted steel in over 20 different colors.) PO Box 231 Rehrersburg, PA 19550 (717) 933-4666 (717) 933-5305 (717) 933-5174 We Stock Truckkoads Of Chore-Time Bins & Miles Of Chore-Time FLEX-AUGER Northeast Agri FLYWAY BUSINESS PARK 139 A West Airport Rd. Lititz. PA 17543 (717) 569-2702 1-800-673-2580 attempting to balance productivity with environmental goals. • George W. Freeman, of Knox, who will receive $3,890 to demonstrate the effects of diffe rent timber harvesting strategies in Pennsylvania hardwoods. The project will focus on the long-term economic effects of harvesting on the total farm budget. This demonstration/study will be main tained for at least 10 years as a training site for farmers and log gers by the Penn Stale Coopera tive Extension, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, and others. • Diane Matthews-Gehringer, Use On Gerages, Horse Barns, Etc. ADVANTAGES: Bins... Large Or Small Authorized Master Distributor Systems, Call For Information • Can be installed on flat roof with as little as V* " pitch per foot. • Good for homes, farm buildings, garages, commercial buildings. • Sheet in continuous length installed with concealed fasteners with double lock seam for water tight application. Inc. St fep \JSSU, 7:30-4:30 S«t. 7:30-11:30 SB of Kutztown, who will receive $2,155 to compare the effective ness of releasing parasitic wasps and insecticidal baits in reducing fly populations in hog and cattle housing. • James Perkins, of Bath, who will receive $1,830 to experiment with the use of peracetic acid to control soft fruit rots in strawber ries and raspberries. The project’s goals are to determine whether peracetic acid (which breaks down to vinegar and water) could pro vide an environmentally benign alternative to currently available fungicides. / Good For All Roof Angles Put ’em Up! «c Custom Applications FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL OUR TOLL-FREE CUSTOMER • SERVICE NUMBER: 1-800-673-2580
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