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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