r (Continued from Pago A 1) Omer Farms, Rockton, was sup ported for re-election to the State Conservation Board. WaltPeechatka, acting state sec retary of agriculture, said a number of pieces of legislation were passed in the waning days of the last gen eral assembly which primarly come to the Department of Agri culture for implementation. These include consolidated statutes related to the commercial feed act; the establishment of organic food and maple syrup certification prog rams, and the restaurant inspection program taken from DER to PDA, effective July 1. “This restaurant inspection program is particularly challeng ing to the department and to the ag community at large.” Peechatka said. “The department will be the administrating agency and the enforcement agency for all food safety functions from preharvest on the farm through the grocery store and restaurant This means the ag department and the ag com munity must accept this responsi bility honestly and forthrightly if we are going to do the job properly.” Dean Alan Kelly. University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, told the group of curriculum changes that arc of interest to the farming industry. Students can now pick from five tracks: large animal, small animal, equine, mix- Th&nJts & WINDY KNOLL FARMS KING CONSTRUCTION CO. 601 Overly Grove Rd., New Holland, PA 17557 JBa- 717-354-4740 'B®* Phil Van Ueu Home: 717-259-9077 AG SYSTEMS Box 62, Boyce, VA 22620 Art Shane 703-837-1114 England Named Head Of State Farm Council cd, and production ag. “The reason we have initiated the tracks is because we want to emphasize the importance of pro duction agriculture as a route for our students to train and go out to serve the agricultural industry," Kelly said. “We think this is a very important initiative for the school. And coupled with this program, we have a program of incentives to get students to go into large animal practice for production agriculture. “Students increasingly come from urban and suburban environ ments and don’t have enough knowledge or background in agri culture to go out into the industry. In addition, we have very high fees, and during the first and second summers, students go out and get high paying jobs mending roads or in the computer industry to pay for their tuition. What we want to do is use the $25,000 annual subsidy to get students to go to work on the farm and learn all the practical, everyday practices on the farm to give the students enough encour agement and confidence to uld matly go into agriculture.” Kelly also said there is a six-year cooperative program in which .a highly qualified-student can attend both the University of Pennsylva nia Veterinary School and Penn State College of AgricuyltujaLSci ences. This opportunity is to begin in 1996. In addition, the two insti tutions continue to have a coopera- CURTAINS & WATERERS BY: tive dairy management course. Dean Lamartine Hood, Penn State, talked about Penn' Stale's involvement in the Dairy-MAP program to help farmers become better managers. Penn state researchers have surveyed 1,200 Pennsylvania dairy operation and conducted in-depth interviews with 200 farmers who displayed exceptional profitability. These researchers studied how existing management practices influenced profits and expenses. This infor mation helped form the basis for Dairy-MAP. Hood also noted the downlink locations for satelite transmissions to local extension offices in Pen nsylvania. Thirty-two are installed, 17 are in prograss, and 12 are prop osed for the middle of this year. “Penn State Cooperative Exten sion is a publicly-funded, non formal education system,” Hood said. “This system links Pennsyl vania’s people, agriculture and related industries with the educa tional and research resources and activities of Penn State’s College' ~ of Agricultural Sciences and its 67 county extension offices.” From foimal surveys and dis cussions with client groups, a num ber of goals have been created for the 1996-1999 Plans of Work. These goals include: • Strengthen families; enhance the development of children and youth, and build caring, safe, and Rockville, MD 184 Ft. 2 Row Freestall Barn GENERAL CONTRACTOR Sp< In *<'C Retiring president Robert Gabel receives appreciation gift from Laura England, new president, at the annual meet* ing of the Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organiza tions. From left, Roxy LeVan, sec rotary/treasurer; England; Gabel, and Earl Fink, vice president. healthy communities. • Foster the development and maintenance of productive, profit able and competitive businesses and a sustainable food system in Pennsylvania’s changing econom ic climate. ‘ Ensure the long-term vitality and sustainablilty of Pennsylvani a’s natural resources and local environments. • Enable people to reach informed public judgements on complex issues by fostering public dialogue. “These goals are not mutually Custom Design And Construction 0f... Dairy Bams, Heifer Facilities, Horse Barns Equipment Sheds, Etc. 'Authorized Dealer For Keystone Wctffle Slats KIPE 3791 CHURCH ROAD W r mm JCHAMBERSBURG, PA 17201 800-432-4797 717-264-1185 SIT % PAX 717-267-1580 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 11, 1995-A35 The Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organizations promotes the welfare of agriculture in Pen nsylvania by bringing together organizations of state-wide activi ty or influence for the study, dis cussion and solution of mutual problems. In addition, the Council sponsors and supports constructive legislation to help Pennsylvania agriculture. More than 80 organi zations belong to the Council. HEADLOCKS BY: STEEL INC. exclusive,” Hood said. “Many Penn State Cooperative Exetnsion programs contribute to two or mote of these goals.”
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