Conference Attendees Celebrate PEACCE MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Farmers have always known that they are stewards of the environment. However at a luncheon Tuesday at the Whitak er Center, several producers re ceived recognition for their con servation efforts. Twenty farm owners who suc cessfully completed the require ments of the voluntary Pennsyl vania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certi fication of Excellence (PEACCE) pilot program received plaques. The luncheon was part of the Ssth annual State Conservation Commission (SCC) and Pennsyl vania Association of Conserva tion Districts (PACD) Joint An nual Conference. The PEACCE program was conducted in Chester, Berks, and Lancaster counties. Promoting environmentally friendly prac tices and recognizing producers who meet the standards of the program are the program goals. The four main components of the program include an environ mental awareness course; an in dependent on-farm review and om James and Sue Younker, Kirbyville Holsteins; Pat Shea, Tammy Renno, and Deb Martz, Berkshire Layers; Dale Snader, Tim Grube, and Doug Metzler, Dutch Country - Deck Road Farm; and Stephen Burkholder, Greater Vision Farm. Front row, from left, are Dr. Joe Jurgielewicz and Michael Werner, Mountain Breeze Duck Farm; Mark Bricker and Rick Keeseman, Mountain View Farm #1; and Darlene Burkholder, Greater Vision Farm. Also receiving the award are Mark, Nancy, and David Wolfskin, Marr-Anne Farms. WATERLESS TOILETS “SUN-MAR” Composting Toilets Severahnodels available including non-electnc. • NO Septic System •NO Chemicals Save the Environment! Recycle Back to Nature l FREE: ' Color Catali 12 Pi assessment; an on-farm evalua tion; and continuing educational requirements. The course is designed and of fered by Penn State and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. A committee is completing the details on the final certification program. Keynote speaker of the lun cheon was Eiepartment of Envi ronmental Protection (DEP) Sec retary David E. Hess. “It’s important that we stop for a few minutes every year and take stock of what were doing and what were achieving,” he said, adding that the time was also important “to honor others who are accomplishing great things. “I want to give you a view from the secretary’s desk,” he said as he shared stories of con servation efforts across the com monwealth. Hess has traveled to every county in Pennsylvania. “I’ve seen many creative pro grams to protect the environ ment. There are tremendous ac complishments and innovation in the conservation districts across Pennsylvania.” Conservation education ef- icers com These producers were recognized for their completion of the environmental PEACCE pilot program. Lancaster County producers include, from back row, left, Luke and Mike Brubaker, Brubaker Farms; Karl Hess, Silver Run Farm; Jay and Lorene Bomgardner, Bomgardner Farm; Todd and Roger Rohrer, Roger & Todd Rohrer Farm; and Dennis and Ellen Eby, Pequea Lawn Farm. In front, from left, are Elma Hess, Silver Run Farm; Steve and Cheri Groff, Cedar Meadow Farm; and Jennifer and Daniel Heller, Flintrock Farms. forts, stream bank fencing, farm tours, and composting were a few program of the examples he gave that il lustrated “the power of part nering,” according to Hess. Other accomplishments in- om row, HEATMOR OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACES Ctofnlocc c#_i 888-763-8617 800-743-5883 atamless OtCCI Jamestown, NY Staunton, VA Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 27, 2002-A29 Cattlemen Address Issues WASHINGTON, D.C. More than 1,000 producers and cat tle industry representatives from across the country came to gether in Reno, Nev., for the 2002 Cattle Industry Summer Con ference, July 17-20. Individuals had the opportunity to bring up major issues that are affecting their farming and ranching operations. “As you might expect, the beef checkoff was one of the key is sues discussed at our meeting,” said NCBA President Wythe Willey. “Our members feel strongly that NCBA should continue its efforts to support and maintain the current sl-per-head beef checkoff.” During committee meetings, members had a chance to discuss top priorities for the year, listen to fellow producers and talk one-on-one with NCBA policy representatives. After four days of meetings and public forums, NCBA members passed resolu tions that address their concerns. The new resolutions passed at the Summer Conference serve as a road map for NCBA members, staff, and state affiliates as they address policy issues. Producers bring the realities of critical issues such as the cur rent drought, cattle health, market conditions, and property rights immediately into the spotlight,” said Willey. NCBA members passed more than 30 resolutions and direc tives during the Board of Directors meeting. elude an extension of, and fund doubling of the Growing Greener (Turn to Page A 32) 4 Sizes - 18 Colors - Wood or Coal Giates Forced Draft - 4 sir Auger Clean Out COMPARISON WITH OTHER OUTDOOR UNITS • Burns up to 1/2 less wood • Emits up to 1/2 less smoke • Corrosion Warranty up to 10 times longer Dealerships Available m some areas Eastern US Distributor Outback Heating Inc.
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