LEESPORT (Berks Co.) The Regional Infrastructure for Sustaining Agriculture (RISA),a three and one half year program focused on long-term farm issues in southeastern Pennsylvania, is seeking proposals from southeast Pennsylvania dairy and vegetable fanners for on-farm research or demonstrations that address an aspect of sustainable agriculture. Specifically, RISA is interested in proposals for sustainable tech nologies or practices farmers want to evaluate on their farm, as well as innovative strategies for sus taining the long-term viability of farming operations. In southeast ern Pennsylvania, RISA will pro vide some technical and financial support to the project. Priority will be given to pro posals that address the following issues: nutrient management, mar keting, intensive grazing, water quality, soil health, integrated pest control, total farm management and alternative crops. Other ideas that contribute to the long-term sus tainability of farming will also be considered. RISA is a cooperative project being conducted by Penn State Atlantic Dairy Cooperative PA Dept of Agriculture PASA Penn State University, Berks Cooperative Extension Penn State University, Montgomery Cooperative Extension Rodale Institute Research Center .. Rodale Institute Research Center .. Jim Barnett Leeßentz Tim Bowser Jonda Crosby Tim Fritz Cary Oshins Leon Weber Are N.Y. ALBANY, N.Y. At a recent news conference sponsored by the New York State Association of Counties, New York Farm Bureau President Charles Wille said that unbearably high property taxes are squeezing the profitability out of farming and putting New York farmers at a competitive disadvan tage with their counterparts in other states. During the news conference, the Center for Government Research (CGR) unveiled a study on the high cost of state mandates and their impact on county tax payers. The study focused on a direct county-to-county compari- WHITEWASHING with JnMJrw JnUtM XnFShUFJB* RrJPUIiXtMV • DRIES WHITE •NO WET FLOORS • IS COMPATIBLE WITH DISINFECTANT AND FLY SPRAYS • DOES NOT RUB OFF EASILY • WASHES OFF WINDOWS & PIPELINES EASILY CALL US ABOUT ON THE FARM FLY CONTROL Serving Southeastern Pa. And More BBITZEL’S SPRAYING Witmer, PA 17585 717-392-7227 or Toll Free 1-800-727-7228 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS LICENSED 32 Years Experience INSURED 5 Trucks For Air Cleaning And ’Whitewashing RADIO DISPATCHED TRUCKS Barn Spraying Is Our Business, not a sideline. Spraying Since 1961 RISA Seeks Proposals For On-Farm Projects University, Rodale Institute Research Center, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), Atlantic Dairy Cooperative, Read ing Terminal Farmers Market Trust, and the League of Women Voters. The project is based in southeast ern Pennsylvania, including Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks, Berks, Montgomery, Philadel phia, Delaware, Lebanon, Lan caster, and Chester counties. It seeks to address the food system infrastructure in the rapidly urban izing counties, and better ways of integrating farmers and con sumers, production and markets. RISA activities are under way to identify and broaden the under standing of barriers to and oppor tunities for sustaining agriculture in the region. The southeast on farm demonstrations will provide farmers the opportunity to test and demonstrate innovative agricul tural practices which work for them and a way to share the results with others. Proposals for projects sched uled for 1995 are due by Dec. IS. For more information, contact any member of the RISA On Farm Demonstration Team listed below: Farmers At Disadvantage? son between Monroe County, in western N.Y., and several similar ly-sized municipalities around the country. At the news conference, from left, Bob King, Monroe County executive; Dr. Kent Gardner, CGR’s director of economic analysis and director of the study: Patricia Malgieri, president of CGR; Joseph Bade, president of NYSAC and chairman of the Cat taraugus County Legislature; Charles Wille, president of New York Farm Bureau; and Mary Hanak, executive director, Super visors and County Legislator’s Association of NYS. SERVICE AVAILABLE WITH COMPRESSED AIR have your bim cleaned with air it will dean off dait, cob webi A lou of the old lime. This will keep your bam looking cleaner & whiter longer. .215-322 0200 .717-772-5204 .814-349-9856 .610-378-1135 .610-489 4315 .610-683-1415 .610-683 1401 BARN CLEANING * h v Steve Groff, center, hosted a field day at his vegetable farm last summer in Holtwood. ON-FARM RESEARCH/DEMONSTRATION PROJECT APPLICATION The RISA project is soliciting proposals from fanners for on-farm research or demonstrations that address an aspect of sustaining agriculture in southeastern Pennsylvania. We are looking for proposals about technologies or practices you want to evaluate on your farm, and innovative strategies for sustaining the long-term viability of your farm. RISA will provide technical support to the project. Priority will be given to projects that address the following issues: nutrient management, market ing, intensive grazing, water quality, soil improvement, pest control, farm management, and alternative crops.' Other ideas that contribute to the long-term sustainability of your farm will also be considered. Please call if you have questions about whether your idea for a project is appro priate. Project Title: Name; Address: Funding request; lup to $500) 1. Objective (What research question or problem do you want to answer, or what innovation do you want to demonstrate?) 2. Why is this an important issue to address? 3. Project description (Describe what you intend to do and how you will do it). 4. If applicable, draw a diagram of your proposed project and attach it to this form 5. What results do you hope to achieve? How might those results be measured? 6. Additional information about the project (optional). For further information feel free to contact any of the following On-Farm Team members: Jim Barnett, Atlantic Dairy Cooperative, 215-322-0200 Jonda Crosby, Berks Cooperative Extension, 610-378-1135 Tim Fritz, Montgomery Cooperative Extension, 610-489-4315 Leon Weber, Rodale Institute Research Center, 610-683-1401 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 5, 1994-C3 ' .. , A Telephone #: Best time to call: County