Producers Attend
HONESDALE (Wayne Co.)
Forty people took part in an all
day workshop on alternative farm
enterprises Saturday. March 14.
The educational workshop
highlighted small business devel
opment, agritourism, alternative
livestock and crops, and setting up
food processing business. A half
dozen local speakers addressed
the audience, "including Charlie
Bertram of Bethany, who spoke
on growing vegetables for local
grocery stores; and Grace Hatton
of Lord’s Valley, who described
here goat and sheep operation.
Grant Genzlinger, Hawley, dis
cussed his network of local pro
duce suppliers for his restaurant;
Dick Snyder, Milford, outlined
how he began breeding llamas;
and Robin Peregrin), Clarks Sum
mit, explained how her family has
experimented with various direct
marketing approaches.
Ed Pruss, Wayne County exten
sion agent, and Frank Higdon,
Penn State community develop
ment agent, spoke about exploring
new opportunities. Duane Steven
son, farm management agent.
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
,| PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
'Attractive dairy farms give die consumer greater confidence in the wfaokaomeneas of imlk and I
I'stimulate nalk sales which encourages public support for the dairy industry The award gives |
I recognition to the deity farmer for msaaaawig a wsil-kept farmstead. ■
I eligibility
■ All Northeast dairy farms producing nude for sale are mvitad to submit an application for the award. I
! Dames reoaivmg the 10 highest scores m each of the 21 districts will recem an 11" x 24* Dairy ef |
* Disdactim sign to be displayed in front of then farm. |
J Mailing Ai
I Phone Nua
Il CoopursOve or Hmdlv (whore you ship your mlk).
(Your Hondht will btreorond in ipprowywr irnltlyolity)
■ Location (dnvint dnecaono forjudging torn)
■ Couoy (when your fira is located).
• I baaaby apply to tfx Monfcaaal Daily Finn Beautification Commoca to hava my dauy scored ml
! accordance well tha miaa of tha program for tba puipoaa of obtaamig a D ury cf Distinction sign to ba|
| diaphtyadon my pramtMa. (No producer will be charged for sconof or hid aapoai) |
• 1
| sip—tofOiiiw'np—w
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.
Northampton County, reviewed
business planning and marketing
basics.
The event, a collaborative effort
between Penn State Cooperative
Extension, the Wayne County
Conservation District, Pocono Re
source and Conservation District,
was designed to inform local
farmers and landowners of the
many opportunities that exist in
small-scale food production, pro
cessing, and agritourism.
“We want to begin doing a
regular series of workshops that
help new and established farmers
take advantage of niche markets
for meat, fruit, vegetables, and
processed foods,” said Frank Hig
don, Penn State community devel
opment agent
Duncan Hilchey, featured
speaker from Cornell University,
focused his presentation on farm
based recreation businesses, direct
marketing, and small-scale food
processing enterprises. His pre
sentation covered key manage
ment issues and concerns in start
ing and maintaining a successful
agritourism enterprise including
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 greater sense 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,
Farm Enterprise Workshop
marketing, safety, insurance, and
profitability.
According to Hilchey, “There
are a growing number of burners
who are tapping consumer interest
in farm-based recreation and hos
pitality.”
Farm homestays are an enjoy
able sideline enterprise for many
j buy, sell, trade on bent through the
i d &
A LESSON
WELL
LEARNED...
LANCASTER
FARMING’S
CLASSIFIED
ADS
GET RESULTS!
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 are 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, Gii
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 aid 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
tension.
farm families because hosts enjoy
meeting new people, are proud of
their homes, and love to cook and
entertain in a home-style environ
ment Likewise, visitors enjoy the
intimate and personalized touch of
staying with a farm family.
Hilchey also praised Pennsyl-
U£| CONSTRUCTION (2) chip vans, 45’xl 3.6 and mz 2-way
EQUIPMENT 12 6. good condition,
radio system, 1-base,
- $2,50C) each. 4. mo bile units. $lBOO.
(973)584-3641. 717-273-4185
1978 Cat 955 L,
good condition,
asking $25,000.
717/225-1888.
1989 Case Maxi Sneaker,
series B, vibrator plow, 702
hrs., 8 wheels, 4WD and
diesel. (717)285-3746
(410)838-7600.
1994 JO 3100, 4WO, cab.
e-stick, 1900 hours, excel
lent condition, $37,500.
(301)371-5500.
1-set used 065 Komatsu
tracks. 717-288-6219
evenings.
HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED?
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program, Inc.
Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance and other
factors which can be controlled by the fanner 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 p.cducts 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 propeities 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 15.
HOW THE JUDGING WORKS
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.
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 farmer. 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 shouM 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
guahty 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.
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
be judged between April I st and April 30lh. If they do not qual
ify, they will be rejudged 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
lineastftr faffing. iCmbT
vania for having one of the highest
number of small farms in the na
tion, and for being number one in
the growth of direct marketing
produce sales.
“There are over 53 million con
sumers in the Boston-Washington
megalopis who are hungry for
products that can be raised on
small farms,” said Hilchey.
3508 JO crawler loader,
excellent shape, tracks like
new, $11,500.
717-626-4864 evenings
(let ring) 717-626-7783
42’ deep 25' high w/9‘4*L
beams. (215)723-0540.
'79 Magirus- Ivsco, 20* box
truck, approx, 200,040
miles, runs great, lift gate,
$3,000 080. 1988 Case
580 Super E. extend-a
hoe, 4x4, cab, nice back
hoe, $25,000 080. After
spm or before 7am,
(717)865-5700.
Dairy
of M
Distinction
HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS
Case 590 backhoe boom,
part *0150756, $2,000.
BALANDA EQUIPMENT
P.O. BOX 407 RT 29
Palm. PA 18070
1-800-322-8030
Case 8550 crawler loader,
GP bucket, fresh paint, VG
U/C $27,500.
(301)371-5500.
Cat 930 wheel loader, etb,
heat, excellent shape,
$23,000. 717/273-3823.