m DIGIT 16802 326 P 2 66738 030 f\ -w'' "'• » - 296288 \ mm IV" "—\,. ■—" I■ i ' **"' — 1 | ‘ SLR lALS RECORDS I I ** —* PATTEE LIBRARY APT W 209 | i Vol. 48 No. 9 Look what we’ve included in the 2003 Lancaster Farming Ag Directory this issue! We have hundreds of contact numbers for the decision-makers in regional agriculture. Something new this year for our third an nual directory: several “essential contacts” pages, a quick reference for those new to farming or interest ed in starting a farm. Forrest Strieker manages about 270 tillable acres, including this three-acre paddock, at his dairy farm near Wernersville in Berks County. The grass-based farm includes 105 head, made up of Holstein, Jersey, and Holstein-Jersey crossbreeds. Photo was taken in April this year. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor \ational Organic Standards: What Do They Mean In Pa. ? PCO Annual Meeting Set DAVE LEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff CENTRE HALL (Centre Co.) New USDA organic standards should help boost sales for organ ic growers and marketers, according to members of Penn sylvania Certified Organic, the state’s main certifying agency. On the other hand, some smaller growers worry that the rules may cater to large-scale op erations and compromise organic production methods. The National Organic Pro gram’s new rules were released this October, specifying uniform standards across the country. PCO was recently accredited as a Pages D25-D29 include com plete Farm Show 2003 maps, ex hibitor lists, schedules, and lots of information so you can plan ahead. www.lancasterfarming.com certifying agency under the USDA program. That means PCO-certified products are in line with national standards and eligible for a USDA Organic logo. The new rules brought some minor changes to what Pennsyl vania Certified Organic (PCO) had required of its organic grow ers and handlers in Pennsylvania prior to the new rules, according to Penny Sandoval, certification director at PCO. “Some things are a little differ ent as far as regulations go,” she said. PCO is “helping farmers be aware of the changes.” One of the more significant changes under the new rules is that certified organic crops and produce must now be started from organic seeds except in cases where organic seeds are not commercially available. Especially relevant to poultry, beef, and lamb producers is that these products can now be certi fied organic. “For years, red meat and poul try hasn’t been able to be called organic,” said Robert Eberly of Eberly Poultry Farms, Stevens. (Turn to Page A 26) Five Sections A Year To Remember Agriculture Moves Ahead In 2002 MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.) As the numbers roll from 2002 to 2003 and we reflect on the past year from the scorching, re cord-breaking drought of the summer to our latest Christ mastime snowfall Lancaster Farming would like to take a little time to reflect on the color ful, unforgettable year. Happy voyages through the New Year! Lancaster Farming captured this scene Christ mas Day at the Farmersville Road bridge in Brownstown. For the first time in more than three decades, up to a foot of snow fell in some regions of southeast Pennsylvania on Christmas. (Unofficially, Brownstown had about seven inches of snow). The staff of Lancaster Farming wishes all its readers a safe, happy, and profitable New Year. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor Having a New Year’s party? Be sure to check out Shirley Orfanella’s tips on page 82. She’s an expert in cooking and decor, and throws annual parties for 150 and more guests. Photo by Lou Ann Good, food and family feature* editor Saturday, December 28, 2002 January We again kicked off the year with the Farm Show. According to Sam Hayes, agri culture secretary, the “largest in door agricultural event in Ameri ca” offered a record $315,000 in premiums to exhibitors. The event featured more than 8,000 entries, including 5,000 head of livestock, and more than 325 commercial exhibitors. Poultry exhibits were canceled $36.00 Per Year because several cases of avian in fluenza were discovered in Penn sylvania in December. By the end of January, Gov. Mark Schweiker announced the 2003 Farm Show schedule would be expanded from six to eight days. February The Virginia Farm Show, relo cated from Richmond to Fisher (Turn to Page A 22) $l.OO Per Copy
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers