Gardeners Advised To Heed Seed Package Information
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.)
The gardening season is just around the
comer. The forsythia is beginning to bud
and spring bulb stems and foliage are be
ginning to emerge from the ground. It’s
time to start deciding what to plant in the
garden this year.
Wanted: Well-Kept Farms For Dairy of Distinction Merit
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.)
- Pennsylvania dairy farms are invited
to apply for this year’s Dairy of
Distinction Award from the Northeast
Dairy Farm Beautification Program.
Applications must be submitted by
April 15.
The award is based on the idea that
attractive farmsteads enhance
consumer confidence in the
wholesomeness of milk and stimulate
milk sales and public support for the
industry. Dames receiving the highest
scores m each of 10 Pennsylvania
districts will be awarded an 18- by 24-
inch Dairy of Distinction sign to
display in front of their farm.
“This program is run by volunteers
and recognizes the hard work and
dedication of dairy producers who
promote a positive image for the dairy
industry” said Mike O’Connor,
secretary of the Pennsylvania Dairy of
Distinction program and professor of
dairy science extension in Penn State’s
College of Agricultural Sciences.
Roadside mdging will take place in
May. Judges will look at factors that
can be controlled by the farmer, such
as clean and attractively finished
buildings; neat landscaping, ditches,
roads, and lanes; and well-maintained
fences. They also will take into
How Is Your Farm Scored?
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 observations 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 producers 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
How The Judging Works
Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May Farms
will bq 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 property of the committee, not the property of the dairy
farmer All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent
of their Dairy of Distinction score card Your c ooperative or milk
handler will be contacted to approve \our milk qualm
I The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee
(NEDFBP)
2 The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by
the dairy farmer NEDFBP suggests that a wood post
4"x4”xl2’ or iron pipe 2”xl2’ be used Posts or pipe should
be installed and maintained in true vertical position with 8’
above ground Top of the bracket should be lower than six
inches from the top of the post In addition, NEDFBP
suggests that the sign be mounted in a frame to provide
additional stability
3 The sign shall be displayed in from of ihe dairy al roadside
An attractive post and bracket, or other frame shall be used to
display 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 The sign should be secured on all sides to
avoid wind damage
4 Signs shall not be moved to other premises New owners of a
Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign
5 Replacement of damaged signs shall be at the discretion of the
committee
6 No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expenses
7 The judges’ decision will be final
8 Judging will lake place between May I and May 31
9 Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years
will be judged between April I and April 30 If they do not
qualify, they will be rejudged between May 1 and May 31 so
they have the opportunity to keep the sign
10 Farms that do not requahfy will return the sign to their
regional Dairy of Distinction Committee
Planting seeds offers gardeners a low
cost opportunity to stick with favorite
plants and try out new ones. When consid
ering seeds, advises a horticulture expert
in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sci
ences, you should ponder information
found on the package.
account other aspects of the farm, such
as cleanliness of animals, the
barnyard, feed areas, and manure
management.
Winning farms will be notified in
late June. Because this is a yearly
award, previous winners are
reevaluated each year to see if they are
still maintaining excellent standards.
To receive an application, call Mike
O’Connor at (814) 863-3913 or e-mail
Rules
Crystal Spring Farm, Mifflintown
• Dairy of Distinction
• 2002 Pennsylvania Application
• PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
• Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the •
• wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages •
• public support for the dairy industry. The award gives recognition •
• to the dairy farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead. *
• ELIGIBILITY Z
• All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to •
• submit an application for the award. Dairies receiving the 10 •
• highest scores m each of the 21 districts will receive an 18”x24” •
• Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed m front of their farm •
• APPLICATION •
9 Your Name Farm Name #
• Mailing Address
Phone Number
• Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your milk, be specific)
• (Your Handler will be contacted to approve your milk quality)
_ Location (dnving directions forjudging team)
County (where your farm is located)
I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification
Committee to have my dairy scored in accordance with the rules of
the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy of Distinction
sign to be displayed on my premises. (No producer will be charged
for scoring or sign expense.)
Signature Owner/Operator
Return application by April 15 to:
Pennsylvania: Michael O’Connor
Department of Dairy and Animal Science
324 Henning Building
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
✓ NEW YORK - Carol Keene-Amsille, 3993 Jordonville Road,
Jordonville, NY 13361
%/ NEW JERSEY - Joy Ricker, 91 Beemer Road, Sussex, NJ 07461
v' VERMONT - Elisa Clancy, Vermont Department of Agriculture,
16 State St., Drawer 20, Monteplier, VT 05620-2901
Early-spring planning with seed pack
ages, according to Elsa Sanchez, assistant
professor of horticultural systems manage
ment, makes a garden better in summer.
• Picture: A picture of the plant in
flower or harvested fruit or vegetable typi
cally is found on the front of the seed
Dairy
of m
Distinction
him at MOConnor@das.psu edu
Since 1987, Pennsylvania’s Dairy of
Distinction Program has recognized
more than 750 dairy farms. The
Pennsylvania program is part of the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification
Program, which also includes New
York, New Jersey, and Vermont.
Dames in these states can contact the
program secretary in their state for
applications.
Date
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 6, 2002-B5
package. The picture offers useful inform
ation like flower type and color and what
to expect when harvesting a fruit or vege
table. Remember that the picture is
usually of the flower, fruit or vegetable at
its best, so use it only as a guide.
• Plant Description: Often it is difficult
to determine the form of a plant based on
the picture. Seed packages usually provide
a written description of the plant including
the plant cultivar, plant height, days to
harvest or bloom, and habits, such as
“climbing, upright,” etc.
• Uses and Weight: Seed packages
often suggest uses for the plant. Some ex
amples are for containers, beds, winter
houseplants, trellises, etc. The number of
seeds or weight of the seed also is found on
the package.
• Date; The package will have the year
for which the seeds were packaged. For
example, “Packed For Season 2002.” This
information is important because as seeds
age they loose viability. If seeds have a
germination rate of 80 percent in 2002, the
rate can be expected to be lower in 2003;
for example, 50 percent.
• Planting Directions: The seed pack
age should have directions on when to
plant the seeds, depending on where it will
be planted in the United States. The direc
tions should include planting depth, plant
spacing and plant exposure requirements
(full or partial sun or shade). This section
also will advise whether the seeds should
be planted indoors prior to planting out
doors. The planting directions often also
will contain basic directions for the care of
the plant.
Seed packages for some plants contain
additional information.
• Perennials: The hardiness zone for
the plant will be found on the back of the
package. The cold hardiness zone is based
on the lowest temperature the plant will
grow in. Since cold hardiness zones in
Pennsylvania range from three to seven, it
is important to know what zone the plant
will be grown in.
This information sometimes is included
on the seed package; it also can be found
in gardening books. Seed packages for per
ennial seed also will include when the
plant will bloom.
• Seed Mixes: Typical packaged seed
mixes include: wildflowers, gourds and
salad mixes. Additional information of
fered on these seed packages is the per
centage of each seed type, the area the
seeds will cover, the life cycle of the plants
(such as annual, biennial or perennial),
and the percentage of inert matter or ver
miculite. Inert matter and vermiculite are
included to help broadcast the seed un
iformly.
“It is a good idea to keep the seed pack
age after planting the seeds as a reference
for future care, harvesting and planting,”
says Sanchez. “The diversity of seeds is ex
citing because it offers gardeners virtually
limitless planting combinations of flowers,
fruits and vegetables to grow and enjoy.”
f mmE\
PEANUT \
HULLS I
For 1
BEDDING I
Most effective I
as bedding for all 1
kinds of beef and I
dairy cattle, hogs,
x horses, sheep and
V poultry
X Any amount delivered
X or call for at farm.
Esbenshade
Turkey Farm
(America’s OWesl—Slnc® 1880)
P080*337
i Paradtee, Pa.
(717) 687-7631