Complex Issues Addressed At Ag Progress Days ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.) Declining profitability, envi ronmental protection, biotech nology, globalization, and emerging diseases these issues present multifaceted chal lenges to farmers, and the solu tions can be as complex as the issues themselves. By visiting the College of Ag ricultural Sciences Exhibit Building at this year’s Ag Prog ress Days event, Aug. 14-16, vis itors can learn how Penn State research and educational pro grams are addressing these issues. “From the Ground Up: Building a Better Environment” is the theme for the event, “Ag Progress Days gives us a chance to showcase some of the work we’re doing to address problems such as land and water pollution while enhancing farm profitability and human health,” said Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricul Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 11,2001, Ag Progress Section- tural Sciences. “Research and education are critical to finding our way through today’s com plex issues to answers that work not only for those of us who are here, now, but also for our chil dren and their children.” One College Building exhibit will focus on new uses for farm waste products. The College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State are work ing collaboratively on various projects in this area. For exam ple, plastic jugs used to store chemicals can present a disposal problem for farmers. But new research is uncovering ways to turn used farm plastics into pel lets that can be used in manufac turing or as a fuel source. An innovative truck that gob bles up plastic jugs and turns them into a usable product will be demonstrated at the show visitors are encouraged to bring empty plastic pesticide contain ers from home to be recycled by the machine. The exhibit also will feature other research aimed at turning agricultural waste products into profit generating biofuels that may help to address the country’s critical energy needs. Visitors also will learn how they can conserve water re sources and take measures to protect water wells from con tamination. In addition, land owners will see why wetlands are important, both as habitat for plant and animal species and as buffer zones to soak up excess farm nutrients and other pollu tants that might otherwise con taminate rivers and streams. Livestock farmers will learn how new quality assurance pro grams can help them ensure the safety of their food products and find affordable and practical so lutions to on-farm environmen tal challenges. The programs address a broad range of farm practices from feed rations and managing manure to animal health care in a holis tic manner. Other exhibits will provide information about launching profitable small farms through niche marketing. Presentations in the theater area of the building will address current health issues such as foot-and-mouth, West Nile, and Lyme diseases. A farm vehicle and equipment safety workshop and a public forum on hot topics in today’s agriculture also are scheduled. On Thursday morn ing, Aug. 16, the Pennsylvania House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a “town meeting.” Farmers and other members of the public who wish to discuss current issues with committee members are welcome to attend. Crop insur ance issues will be addressed at an afternoon session in the the ater on Thursday. In addition, visitors to the show will be able to take home a variety of free publications produced by the College of Agricultural Sciences and get information about un dergraduate programs. Because of concerns over the possible transmission of foot and-mouth disease and other foreign animal diseases, visitors who have been overseas within two weeks of attending Ag Prog ress Days are asked not to visit the event’s live-animal exhibit areas. Penn State’s Ag Progress Days,(s ftejld, at (he, Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rockspring, nine miles southwest of State College on Rt. 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admis sion and parking are free. For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free through Aug. 16 or visit the Ag Progress Days Website at http ill apd.cas.psu.edu. Lancaster Farming Classified Ads ;»W searchable on the Internet ✓ Check Out Our Web Site www.lancasterfarming.com ;- * HS* - - m«;blb>w® 5ll<“ , -■ ” i, !gS2SS*S2-;;?..l - -i iSßas——~ ; * *. Os' Prieferl • Arenas /S. • Box Stalls / • Corral Panels / C3 L^' S \ • Roping Chutes / & Accessories ti / • Feeders / • Dog Kennels / • Estate Fencing >/ • All Items Are Powder Coated Creekside Farms 12865 Worleytown Road Greencastle, PA 17225 717»597*5711 V* mm 201 Ic
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