C4-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 21, 1998 ANNAPOLIS, Md. U.S. Congressman Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland will headline a two-day conference on the economic and environmental future of Mid-At lantic agriculture that is expected to draw scores of farmers and agri culture groups, agencies, educa tors, and researchers to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in March. Titled “Ag Alternatives ’9B Fanning for a Better Tomorrow,” the conference on March 3 and 4 in the main auditorium of Chesa peake College in Wye Mills, Md., will focus on agriculture in Mary land and Delaware and how it can meet the growing economic and environmental challenges it faces. The Future Harvest Project, a 4-year-old effort by local farmers and residents and agricultural and environmental groups to foster and promote the economic, en vironmental, and social sustaina bility of area agriculture, is spon soring the event. ‘Today food is expected not Dairy Of Distinction Program Again Seeks Nice Looking Farms STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) - Do you take pride in main taining your dairy farm? Does your dairy farm project an attrac tive, wholesome image to con sumers? If so, the Dairy of Dis tinction Program of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, will consider your farm for the pro gram’s annual recognition awards. The Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program that over sees the Distinction program was first started in 1983 in Pennsylva Dairy of Distinction 1998 Pennsylvania Application I j purpose of program I ‘Attractive dairy fanm give the consumer grceior confidence in die whotaaomanass of milk end I IJsnmulate milk silee which encourages public support for the dairy industry the award gives I I recognition to the dairy fanner for nuaiaming a weQ-kapt farmstead . | EUGIBELITV > All Northeast dauy bums producing milk for sale are minted to submit an application for the awmd. I I Dames receiving the 10 highest scores m each of the 21 districts will receive m II" * 24' Dairy sf | " Diatuction sign to be displayed in from of then fans. ■ Address. I Phone Number I Cooperative or Handler (vtoe you ship your milk). |i (Yok Handler mil he ooasuadu approve year Balk quality) ■ Location (dnvmg dirocoooa for judging team) fans is ll I hereby apply to the Norton Dairy Farm Beautification Committee to have my dairy scored ml II aooordance with the nilea of the program for the purpose of bbttnnng a Deny of Distinction sign to be) J diapiayed on my pranuaea. (No producer will be charged for scormg or apt expeoaa.) I >| Signature of OwnerrOpenaor I I ! Return your application by April IS. Send to: • PENNSYLVANIA, Michael O’Conner, 324 Henning Building, Dept, of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802. • NEW YORK STATE, Carol Keene, RDI, Box 31, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. • NEW JERSEY, August Knispel, 641 Sidney Road, Pittstown, NJ13077. Conference only to be affordable but also to be produced in a safe and environ mentally responsible way,” said Michael Heller, Future Harvest Project director. ‘To that end, this conference will provide informs toin not only on innovative pro duction and marketing options available to farmers, but also on new and improved farming prac tices and techniques that safe guard the quality of our soil, wa ter, air, and other natural re sources.” Gilchrest, who has long cham pioned farmland protection and other agricultural conservation is sues in the U.S. Congress, will speak on “Stewardship and Land Ethics in Our Farming and Natur al Environment” Other prominent speakers and topics will be Drs. Russ Brinsfield and Ken Staver of the University of Maryland Wye Research and Education Center on the controversial issue of “Nitro gen and Phosphorous Transport from Agriculture to the Bay,” Dr. nia to recognize the hard work and dedication of the farmers who maintain attractive farms. The purpose of the program is to in still a of confidence in the wholesomeness of dairy products, and increase their sales. Farms that apply are judged on the roadside appearance of build ings, grounds, and surroundings, since this is what our dairy prod uct consumers observe as they drive by the farm. , APPLICATION Farm Name. To Examine Ag’s Future Fred Magdoff, professor of agio- ‘ nomy at the University of Ver mont and one of the nation’s most respected soil scientists on “Soil Quality and Soil Health, Ann Har vey Yonkers, Washington Post food writer, farmers’ market man ager, and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, who will moder ate a panel (four growers and a chef) discussion on “Successful Direct Marketing What Really Works,” Dr. Michael Kemp, Chesapeake Bay water quality ex ST. LOUIS, Mo. Purina Mills, Inc, announced recently that the company will close its feed manufacturing facility in Richmond, Va. Production at the plant will be transferred to Purina Mills’ facilities in Wilson and Statesville, N.C.; Hagerstown, Md.; and Harrisburg, Pa. The plant will close by March The cleanliness of the barnyard, feed areas, and manure manage ment are all areas taken into con sideration when a team of judges takes a look at your farm from a roadside point of view. Judging is conducted during the month of May. Award winners are an nounced during your local June Dairy Month activities. To qualify for consideration, you must be actively dairy farm ing and shipping milk. Applications arc available for Pennsylvania dairy farms from Michael O’Conner, 324 Henning Building, Dept, of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State Uni versity, University Park, PA 16802. Phone: (814) 863-3913. For New York State applica tions are available from Carol Keene, RD 1, Box 31, Gil bertsville, NY 13776. Phone: (607) 783-2169. For New Jersey applications, send to: August Knispel, 641 Sidney Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867. Phone; (908) 735-4989. All applications must be com pleted and returned to your state secretary by Wednesday, April 15, 1998. The Dairy of Distinction pro gram is financed in Pennsylvania by Dairy Farmers through the American Dairy Association Dairy Council and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program in coopera tion with many local agribusiness organizations. The program is conducted with advice and help from Penn State Cooperative Ex tensi.on. pert and University of Maryland professor, on agriculture’s impact on the bay, and Tim Bowser, co chair of the national Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture and exe cutive director of the Pennsylva nia Association of Sustainable Agriculture, on the new directions of agriculture and formation of a local organization to help shape its future here. Other topics to be addressed in clude the latest environmentally safe farming production practices Purina Mills Will Close Richmond, Va. Plant 31,1998, affecting 10 employees, be. Eastern Regional vice prest- Purina Mills will retain ownership dent of this facility for potential future Purina Mills is America’s lead production of a specialized line of er in animal nutrition. It is the products. largest commercial supplier of “This transfer is the result of the animal feeds in the United States migration of commercial agricul- and has the largest team of animal tore from the Richmond market- nutrition researchers of any corn place and the need to manufacture mcrcial feed supplier. The com our products at more modem and pany’s headquarters are in St efficient locations,” said John Zcr- Lays, Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance and other factors which can be controlled by the farmer. Attractive background scenery should not be weighed heavily in judging. All judging obser vations should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the road, the nearest lane). Judging should give equal consideration to old wood construction and new construction of metal or concrete block. The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or promotion activities for dairy products or dairy farming. Farmers who apply for awards agree that; if selected they will cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both the exterior and interior of their properties in an acceptable condition. The owner or operator of the dairy farm should sign the applica tion and send i< to NEDFBP secretary by April IS. Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May. Farms will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to remove their sign. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the proper ty of the committee, not the property of the dairy farmer. All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of Distinction score card. Your cooperative or milk handler will be con tacted to approve your milk quality. 6) No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expense. 7) Judges’ decisions will be final. 8) Judging will take place between May Ist and May 31st. 9) Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years will bejudgcd between April Ist and April 30th. If they do not qual ify, they will be rejudgcd between May Ist and May 31st so they have the opportunity to keep the sign. 10) Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their regional Dairy of Distinction Committee. Dairy Aft of m Distinction HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED? Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program, Inc. HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS HOW THE JUDGING WORKS RULES FOR THE DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee. The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the dairy fanner. It is suggested that a wood post 4’ x 4’ x 12’ or iron pipe 2' x 12’ be used. Posts or pipe should be installed and main tained in true vertical position with 8’ above ground. Top of the bracket shou' i be lower than six inches from the top of the post. Sign shall b_ displayed in front of the dairy at roadside. An attractive post and bracket, or other frame, shall be used to dis play the sign. No more than three signs should be displayed from the sign frame or post, and all shall be of a style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy of Distinction sign. Sign should be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage. Signs shall not be moved to other premises. New owners of a Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign. Replacement of damaged signs shall be the discretion of the committee. for organic grains and vegetables. The conference is open to the public Registration is $4O. includ ing lunch on both days. Interested registrants should contact Robin Haggle at the Chesapeake Wild life Heritage. (410) 822-5100, or Mark Davis at Delaware State University, (302) 739-6946, or send a $4O check in care of Chesa peake Wildlife Heritage, PO Box 1745, Easton, MD 21601. Regis tration deadline is Feb. 25.
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