'tW7 Farming’s UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) With maiket demand for healthy, nutritious foodstuffs as solid as ever, it’s remarkable that the Northeast’s largest industry— agriculture is also one of its most endangered. “We’re losing farmland at a quicker rate then anybody ever expected,” said Jill Schwartz. American Farmland Trust Mid- Atlantic field director. “Working together to save farmland is mote critical now than ever before.” Others in farming, government, and communities throughout the region agree. Presentations about innovative partnering for farmland preserva tion and ways of enhancing farm vitality are a key part of the “Farming for the Future” confer ence on Feb. 7-8 at the Nittany Lion Inn on the Penn State Cam pus, University Park. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agri culture (PASA), the conference includes dozens of sessions for food producers, resource mana gers, other agriculture profession als and consumers, a trade exhibit of sustainable products and ser vices, and plenty of discussion sessions and networking with par ticipants, including the “Chat ’n Chew” cafe. farm Buimes mo mam Let Gahring Make Those Buildings SHINE^ "lh» Firm Ptinfinj SptekHti" We Are The Fussy “NOTOBWEMNTHANOtr Mi Hwi Thi Equipment To Do Tour Job COATINGS FOR: • Roofs • Wood, Steel and Masonry Structures (AGRICULTURE • - CHURCHES • Barn Pjintmg • Moth House • Roof Costing • Water Proofing Silos • Stucco Farmhouses For FRF F FslimalrCAl 1 / GAHRING’S PAINTING & WATERPROOFING 636 Eut End, Lancaster, PA 717-397-4187 Gandy Has Positive Displacement! Get outstanding accuracy and protect the environment without chemical dribble Gandy Company introduces a new positive displacement metering system for new and existing Gandy row crop granular applicators Ground driven system adjusts rates to match field speed Unit also is available for hydraulic motor drive or electric motor operation This year, stop wasting chemical Put the Gandy positive displacement metering system to work on your farm See your dealer today l Or call us at 800-443-2476 | n( j uttrtt | Q r Lcwisberry, PA 17339 IT’S GANDY (717) 938-5100 • FAX (717) 938-8769 Future: Regional Strength ‘To maintain a vibrant agricul ture in Pennsylvania and the Northeast, it’s time for serious cooperation on behalf of our soil and other resources, our farin fam ilies, and our communities.” said Tim Bowser, executive director of PASA. “This year’s conference 'looks at a number of vVays to encourage cooperation though farm-protection programs, community-based marketing, farm improvement clubs, better grazing, integrated pest control, wise nutrient management, recy cling of organic materials ... and more” Featured presenters include: •Montana rancher and keynote speaker Tom Elliott, who will describe some of the value-added food production, educational out reach and cooperative marketing methods of his 48,000-acre N-Bar Land and Cattle Co. Elliott and the N-Bar staff market nearly 1,000 head of Angus cattle yearly with the help of on-ranch livestock auc tions. and the Internet, pasture 3,500 sheep each summer in a cooperative venture with their neighbors and sell bulk organic grains and specialty crops to food stores and restaurants. •Steve Groff, with the latest on no-till transplanting vegetables Distributed By i.'u'l'l'i* ftV 8 .<w’| Vii V■ « 1 •Dairy farmer Roman Stolt zfbos and other pasture-based pro ducers. hosting a mini-conference on grazing management, meeting nutritional needs of pastured cattle, extending the grazing sea son. and marketing strategies. •Eric Gibson, author of Sell What You Sow, on the importance of local markets and educating consumers about your products. •Compost consultant and soil specialist Will Brinton, founder of Woods End Research Lab in Maine, reviewing ways to minim ize expenses when composting “Building Value Days” »«tMrwtry at). 31. * 22. I<m »■’ ’i .■ § ii’ F :i»iip| m II ill ij.li, mfm ■ I liAillA Ilwl In CONTACT! 717-624-3331 908-454-7900 33M York Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17328 RO. Box 128, Phillipsburg, NJ 08888 into cover crops to improve soil, manage pests, and increase pro fits. He’ll also review the potential for 15-inch rows to boost com yields and improve weed control while reducing herbicide costs. •Maryland organic fanner and county planning commissioner Marty Rice, on Frederick Coun ty’s AgriFuture Roundtable and other efforts to ensure farming is part of a community’s economic development plans. “Farmland more than pays its way in property tax revenues, while residential and commercial development often demand far more in services than they pay in taxes,” said Rice, based on results of a recent Roundtable study. ;i$U I FREE WATCHES WITH PURCHASE! i Receive His & Her Wenger swiss army watches with the purchase of any new Morton Building. Wenger, maker of genuine Swiss Army Knife, now offers the Swiss Military Watch Collection. These striking his & her watches are made with the finest in Swiss quartz movements, all-metal cases, stainless steel screw on backs and scratch resistant mineral crystals. Or Coming Calamity? tad the latest on using compost for disease suppression in crops.- •Vegetable and dairy sheep far mers Ufa and Angelika Luebke of Austria, describing how to build soil health through biologically active compost, nitrogen-fixing cover craps, effective rotations, and reduced tillage. •Vegetable fanner, regional food system advocate, and closing keynote speaker Elizabeth Hende ron, with heartening news on how farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture, food co ops. and other action-oriented approaches by sustainably minded groups can reinvigorate U.S. £> « .r 4*3 W' BREAKING MILK RECORDS! Lancaster Farming Carries DHIA Reports Each Monthl 11l *!«■ ■run SPjWS!| ii,i „/i, ii '' , ‘i ft . liSil If 1 agriculture. The conference includes input fromthe New Yoik Sihtainable Agriculture Working Group (NYSAWG). Nonprofit, member based organizations, PASA and NYSAWG promote ecologically sound, economically viable, socially responsible, and community-based food and farm ing systems. Walk-in registration and single day conference attendance will be an option. To find out more or to request conference registration materials, contact PASA, P.O. Box 419, Millheim, PA 16854, (814) 349-9856.
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