Susquehanna County (Continued from Page A 1) Dairy farmers and agri business people. Department of Agriculture representatives, and others com prise their core group. However, they arc always open to including new people who can contribute new ideas. They also have tre mendous support from the school personnel including the custodial staff, cafeteria workers, teachers, and administrators. The event has grown ever since it started nine years ago. “The first one we had about 4SO people,” said Place. “We were impressed with that and it’s been growing ever since. Most years we have between 500 and 600 parti cipants but the last couple of years we’ve had over 700.” Place admits that the actual number of dairy farmers is hard to estimate but he is sure that the bulk of the attendants ate either dairy farmers or tied to dairy fanning in some way. “We feel that there’s education that takes place and think it does a lot with building the dairy com munity in the area. Hopefully peo ple leave with a positive feeling. That’s hard to measure, but I think that’s something I’m really happy about... to get people together with a common cause.” Jake Stoltzfus of Star Silos agrees that Susque hanna County Dairy Day in a positive experience. “I think this is one of the best dairy days in the state,” he said. “They try to have something for everyone.” This year’s program included workshops on alternative agriculture ideas including heifer raising as a business and stone quarry manage ment, as well as agronomy issues such as adjust ing your com planter, biotechnology, and pre venting pesticide drift. Other participants could listen to a presenta tion called “Headbanging 101,” which related stress management ideas, provided valuable tips on food safety, allowed them to take advantage of free blood pressure screenings, or bare their arms for a tetanus shot Representatives from Farm Credit and the Cooperative Extension Ser vice were also available to answer questions about estate planning. Participants were invited to listen to the encouraging words of Maria Fanning, director of career services and cooperative education at Keystone College, before bidding on one of 27 pies that were entered in the annual pie contest When not attending one of the informational seminars, participants had the opportunity to vis it 72 exhibitors and grab a carton of free milk to quench their thirst In a well attended program on alternative agri culture, David Bradstreet enthusiastically told the group that alternative agriculture can enhance on-farm income. “You’ve got to throw out all the rules of what you’re used to and try new things,” said Brads treet “There are lots of opportunities out there.” Examples of enterprises that could wok on your farm include small fruit production, bees/ honey, rabbits, greenhouse, kennels, and orna mental plants the list goes as far as the imagi nation can take you. Brads treet knows of one farm family that cuts and dries weeds and sells them to crafters. Another is involved in raising game birds for var ious hunting organizations. “The most important thing,” said Brads treet, “is that the whole family buys into the project” Also important is that the new enterprise fits into the time the family has. Alternative agriculture doesn’t necessarily mean buying into a whole new enterprise. It could be as simple as adjusting the way you do things. “You could consider a different production system that is unique, such as organic produc tion, or you might consider direct marketing.” More than 800 people and exhibitors attended the 1998 agronomy tips, and estate planning. Visitors could also Susquehanna County Dairy Day. Featured at the event were spend time at each of the 70 exhibitors and bid on a prize workshops on alternative agriculture, stress management, winning pie from the pie contest. Because it’s derived from fungicides found in certain wild mushrooms, new QUADRIS" fungicide has its roots firmly planted in nature. As a result, it carries less risk to workers and the environment than other currently registered fungicides. Yet QUADRIS is merciless to a broad spectrum of tomato diseases. Its novel mode of action combines preventative and systemic powers to control early blight, late blight, anthracnose, Septona leaf spot and other problems. All told, QUADRIS is the strongest and most unique disease prevention ever available. Thanks for the idea, Mom. . i . # QuadHs rUNOICIOE y FMPtf A CdWS Zentxilnc, Zcncc iAn Products is i business unit ot Ztnect Inc QUAHRIS 1 is i tr idem irk of a /uuu tiroup t omp my F irm S iiel> Ag Products Alw i\s fi id and follow I ibd directions OS 0400 040 Saturdi Lancaster Fai 1998423 March