A36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 25, 2002
Editor's Note: This is a monthly
column from the Pennsylvania Ag
Statistics Service (PASS), a field of
fice of USD A's National Agricultur
al Statistics Service (NASS) in coop
eration with the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture (PDA).
The Website is www.usda.gov/nassl.
Farm Bill
The newly enacted Farm Bill will
be in effect for six years. It is formal
ly called the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002.
Statistics from the National Agri
cultural Statistics Service (NASS)
will be an important part of the de
velopment and administration of the
commodity programs in Title I of the
Farm Bill. The Farm Service Agency,
which administers farm programs,
has already begun meeting with
NASS staff to discuss the statistical
needs of the new Farm Bill.
NASS statistics may also be used
in evaluating the impact of other
Farm Bill titles, too. For more details
on all 10 titles in the new Farm Bill,
see www.usda.gov/farmbill/.
Here is a list of the northeastern
commodities included in Title I of
the Farm Bill: dairy, corn, sorghum,
barley, oats, wheat, soybeans, minor
oilseeds, apples, other fruits vege
tables and specialty crops, wool and
mohair, and honey.
NASS surveys may directly affect
the commodity programs on which
growers will rely on during the next
six years. Your timely responses to
our surveys will help to provide accu
rate agricultural statistics for the ad
ministration of these programs. This
is one of many ways that statistics
work for agriculture. “Thank you” to
all growers that take the time to co
operate on NASS surveys!
2002 Crops And »
Hog Counts
Over the past many months,
drought has received a lot of atten
tion. Ironically, much of the state has
received more than normal precipita
tion since April 1. This has allowed
major field crops and pastures to be
rated as mostly in good condition.
Although weather always impacts
yields, we need to have a good mea
sure of field crop acreage as a first
step to understand potential crop
production for 2002.
The annual June Agricultural Sur
vey collects data about plantings,
and this year it also contributes to
the upcoming 2002 Census of Agri
culture. The survey also measures
grain stocks, livestock, farm num
bers, and land values. The quarterly
Hog Survey is conducted at the same
time and coordinated to reduce addi
tional contacts for hog farmers.
These surveys are all under way from
late May through mid-June.
The survey includes different
phases to keeps costs low and quality
high. Our interviewers will visit
about 200 land segments across the
state that are about one square mile
each. They will contact all operators
within the segment to draw operation
boundaries on aerial photographs
and account for all land use within
the selected area.
Surveys that use these aerial pho
tos will also help the Ag Census to
measure what is missing from the
census mail list. If you are visited by
our staff with these photos, your co
operation is very important because
these 200 square miles, plus 100 more
in the fall, represent all 45,000 square
miles in Pennsylvania.
In addition, we’ve sampled about
1,300 crop farmers and approxi
mately 300 hog growers from our list
of agricultural operators. They will
get letters to explain the upcoming
survey. They will be contacted dur
ing the survey period to answer acre
age and livestock questions that
don’t require using the more complex
aerial photos.
These USDA surveys are all com
pleted at the same time nationwide.
So it is important that Pennsylvania
producers be properly represented
among the other states. Crop statis
tics provide producers with vital in
formation for cash crop farmers and
NASS
Agriculture Counts
By Marc Tosiano
Pa. State Statistician
current and potential feed supplies
for milk and livestock producers.
Hog growers can review national
trends to help with production deci
sions.
As with all our surveys, by federal
law, your name and address and
data about your operation are com
pletely confidential. Survey results
are published as totals so that no in
dividual data can be discovered or
calculated. The same law also pro
tects your data from requests under
the Freedom of Information Act.
By law, no one can gain early ac
cess to the results of any survey. The
reports are available to everyone at
www.usda.gov/nass/. Use the
“Search” button to find “Acreage”
report, June 28 (8:30 a.m.); “Crop
Production,” July 11 (8:30 a.m.) with
potatoes; “Grain Stocks,” June 28
(8:30 a.m.); “Quarterly Hogs and
Pigs,” June 28 (3 p.m.); or “Farms
and Land In Farms,” every Febru
ary.
We count on your help to repre
sent Pennsylvania agriculture prop
erly. If you are contacted personally
or by telephone, please remember
that your response is important so
that we can publish the most accu
rate statistics possible, because agri
culture countsl
Floriculture Report
Published April 25
A big “thank you” is due to the
Pennsylvania producers who helped
in this annual effort. The report can
be used by growers to evaluate crops
raised and average prices in Pennsyl
vania and surrounding states.
Pennsylvania is the sixth largest
floriculture state with $180.6 million
in sales in 2001. This measures only
one part of the greenhouse and nurs
ery industry, which is the fourth larg
est sector of Pennsylvania agricul
ture, after milk, cattle, and
mushrooms (based on 2000 cash re
ceipts).
The Nursery Crops Report is pub
lished every other year the most
recent report is for the 2000 produc
tion. The reports can be found at
www.usda.gov/nass/ by using the
“Search” button and looking for
“Floriculture Crops” or “Nursery” in
the “Commodity” listing.
Biotech Consortium Seeks
Broad Improvements
COLUMBUS, Ohio In recent
years, biotechnology has largely
been associated with genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), ge
netically engineered organisms
(GEOs), or some other form of
cross breeding or genetic altera
tion.
However, for over 70 research
ers at 11 universities throughout
Ohio, biotechnology embraces a
much broader range of scientific
study that not only seeks to in
crease opportunities in agricul
ture, but have a positive impact
on the environment and benefit
people as well.
Through research projects
ranging from botany to zoology,
participants of the Ohio Plant
Biotechnology Consortium share
information on issues that are im
portant to Ohio’s agricultural and
natural resources industries.
“The idea was to optimize in
teraction between scientists with
different areas of expertise
throughout the state to the end of
providing information and poten
tial products that consumers,
farmers, and businesses could
use,” said Terry Graham, an Ohio
State University plant pathologist
and chairman of the organization.
“Research activities are broad,
going from really basic research to
more applied projects. It is impor
Farm And Home Foundation Awards
Seven $4,000 Scholarships
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
Seven high school seniors planning to
pursue ag-related or consumer sci
Recipients of Farm and Home Foundation Scholarships,
seated from left, are Katie Nickles and Krista Yoder.
Standing, from left, are G. Eldon Miller, Jordan Martin,
Justin Risser, and Derick Bollinger.
ence college degrees each received a
$4,000 scholarship Tuesday evening
at the Farm and Home Center.
“Since its inception, 396 schol
arships have been awarded,” Leon
Ressler, county extension director,
said. The Lancaster County Farm
and Home Foundation scholarships
are derived from irrevocable trust
fund earnings set up by the late
Elmer L. Esbenshade.
High school seniors in all Lancas
ter County schools are eligible to
apply for the scholarships. Schol
arships are awarded in the amount of
$l,OOO each year for four years as
long as recipients continue ag- or
consumer-science related studies.
This year’s recipients include the
following:
Jordan Martin —Growing up on a
dairy farm influenced Jordan to pur
sue a degree in ag science at Dela
ware Valley College. Although he
lives in the Cocalico School District,
Jordan attends Ephrata High School
in order to participate in the ag pro-
tant to realize that many projects
that fall under the realm of bio
technology don’t even involve ge
netic engineering.”
Universities that are part of the
consortium include Ohio State,
Bowling Green State University,
Cleveland State University, Kent
State University, Medical College
of Ohio, Miami University, Ohio
University, University of Cincin
nati, University of Toledo, Wright
State University and Youngstown
State University.
Research projects include con
trolling disease in chestnut trees;
developing new com hybrids; de
veloping defense mechanisms in
soybeans to control insects and
diseases; developing new yeast va
rieties to improve wine making;
establishing genomic libraries for
crop plants; working with preda
cious insects to control crop pests;
and working to make seed oil
more nutritious.
The Ohio Plant Biotechnology
Consortium, which has been in
existence for two years, is funded
by a competitive grant program
administered through Ohio State
University’s Ohio Agricultural
Research and Development Cen
ter (OARDC). For more informa
tion on the consortium log onto
http://opbc.osu.edu.
gram. He is Cloister Chapter FFA
chaplain and a member of the Na
tional Honor Society.
The son of Dennis and Sharon
Martin, Stevens, Jordan selected Del
Val College after visiting the campus.
He hopes his career choice will en
able him to participate in testing at
research farms.
Justin Risser —The Gerald and
Joyce Risser family milk 175 cows
three times a day oh their Bainbridge
farm. Their 18-year-old son Justin
knows the characteristics of every
one.
“I love working with cows,” Justin
said. He’s headed for Delaware Val
ley College to study dairy science
with the hope of returning to the
family farm to help expand it fur
ther. The Rissers own 600 acres and
have recently expanded the herd and
added a free-stall barn with tunnel
ventilation.
The second oldest of four sons,
Justin helps whenever possible on the
farm. He is also quite busy at Eliza
bethtown Area High School, where
he is FFA president, and team mem
ber of three career development
events that won local, state, and re
gional awards. His ag salesmanship
team competed at the national level.
At school, Justin is also a member
of the student council, National
Honor Society, basketball team, and
Bible study group leader for the Fel
lowship of Christian Athletes. He
was one of 14 selected from the coun
ty to attend the Washington D.C.
Forum Close Up. At church, Justin is
a member of the youth group and an
usher.
G. Eldon Miller —Eldon is the
second member of his family to earn
a Farm and Home Foundation
Scholarship. The third of six siblings,
Eldon’s interest in culinary nutrition
was honed through cooking for the
family. His mother and older sister
are professional seamstresses and
Eldon said he was often consigned
cooking duty. “At first I hated it, but
now I love cooking. It’s so much fun
to experiment and be creative, espe
cially with desserts,” Eldon said.
He enjoys cooking so much that he
turned down a science-related schol
arship.
Because the 19-year-old can’t
stand a dirty kitchen, he cleans up
after himself.
Eldon will pursue a four-year de
gree in culinary nutrition at Johnson
and Wales University. His goal is to
become a chef on a cruise ship.
At Donegal High School, Eldon is
a member of the National Honor So
ciety, the Math Honors Society,
member of the newspaper staff, and
captain of the wrestling team. He
also is active in his church youth
group.
“I love challenges and anything to
improve myself,” Eldon said.
Derick Bollinger —Through De
rick’s prolific involvement in raising
steers, sheep, and pigs, his photo is a
familiar one in this newspaper. The
18-year-old also works on a neigh
boring 80-herd dairy farm.
Derick wants to study large ani
mal science at Delaware Valley Col-
lege. Derick said that he is the first of
his family of two older sisters to at
tend college. He is the son of P. Eu
gene and Carol Bollinger, Manheim.
Last summer, Derick participated
in a six-week Pennsylvania Gover
nor’s School of Ag Science at Penn
State. But Derick selected Delaware
Valley because he prefers a small at
mosphere that enables more connec
tion with teachers.
“I don’t want to be a number. I’d
like the professor to know my name,”
Derick said.
An FFA student at Manheim Cen
tral High School, Derick has been se
lected as Lancaster New Era’s Teen
of the Week.
Katie Nickles Ag science and
environmental resource management
perked Katie’s interest when she
studied local and state history last
year. The Conestoga Valley class of
fered students trips to local sites,
where Katie’s appreciation grew for
the county’s rich farming history.
Katie also participated in an outdoor
school at Trout Run Environmental
Center, where she taught soil science
concepts to middle school students.
Katie is accepted in the Shreyer
Honors College at Penn State Uni
versity’s Main Campus. The honors
program, based on SAT scores and
essay writing ability, enables her to
take advanced courses with smaller
classes and other perks.
At Conestoga Valley, the
18-year-old daughter of Bruce and
Becky Nickles, Akron, is co-editor of
the yearbook, a member of the Na
tional Honor Society, student coun
cil, and the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes. Katie plays field hockey
and Lacrosse, which she helped to es
tablish at her high school. She is a
Nathan Hoover is also a
scholarship recipient.
member of the community Leo Club,
affiliated with Lion’s Club, and was
selected to attend the Washington
D.C. Presidential Classroom Confer
ence. Katie is active in her church
youth group and has participated in
many community service projects.
Katie has also received a $l,OOO
scholarship from the Lancaster
County Conservation District and
another $l,OOO scholarship from
Com Cast Cable Company.
Nathan Hoover —Agriculture ag
business management is Nathan’s
major at Penn State. The 18-year-old
son of Lloyd and Elaine Hoover,
Leola, attends Lancaster Mennonite
High School.
Krista Yoder —As a member of
Lancaster Mennonite High’s hockey
team, Krista became interested in
how to eat healthy and stay in shape.
Now she wants to study dietetics. She
is especially interested in how eating
habits affect cultures.
Krista plans to attend Gordon
College, Massachusetts.
“I love the area and it has a good
hockey team,” Krista said of her
choice.
In addition to field hockey, Kris
ta’s school involvement includes
membership in the National Honor
Society, senior class committee, and
Campus Chorale. She was president
of her church youth group.
Krista and two younger brothers
live with their parents, Nelson and
Patricia Yoder, in Narvon.