A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 28, 2002
Agriculture Moves Ahead In 2002
(Continued from Page A 1)
ville, Augusta County, drew enough at
tendance on the first day to exceed that of
both days at its previous venue. More than
120 exhibitors were at the show.
A harbinger of things to come, DEP sec
retary David Hess signed a drought emer
gency proclamation for 24 counties.
The Trucker Quality Assurance (TQA)
program, designed specifically for hog
transporters, was formally put into action
as officials announced April as the begin
ning of certification classes.
March
Sam Hayes, agriculture secretary, an
nounced that Pennsylvania and its coun
ties will invest $64 million in 2002 to pre
serve farmland.
The annual Pennsylvania Draft Horse
Sale featured sale averages that were up in
almost every category. Buyers came from
19 different states to purchase Belgian,
Percheron and Haflinger horses.
According to a feasibility study, south
central Pennsylvania ethanol project had
the “qualifications to move forward,” said
the study, which assessed nine possible
sites.
At the end of February, the 90-day de
parture from average precipitation in
three of Pennsylvania's 67 counties was
greater than 45 percent below average
and, in 22 counties, fell between 35 and 45
percent below average. Record low flows
at streamflow stations and water levels at
observation wells occurred in February.
Although drought threatened, flowers
still came to tell of us spring. This shot
was taken at Hershey Gardens, Hershey.
Photo by Michelle Kunjappu
April
New Bolton Center, Kennett Square,
dedicated the new Fairchild Aquaculture
Laboratory.
Pennsylvania’s three largest agriculture
organizations the Pennsylvania Farm
Bureau, PennAg Industries Association,
and the Pennsylvania State Grange
gathered for a rally at the capitol to call
attention to several agriculture issues.
The Conococheague FFA, James Bu
chanan High School, won the Hoard's
Dairyman Cow Judging Contest, topping
412 FFA chapters from across the U.S.
One hundred people were inducted into
the National 4-H Hall of Fame during the
National 4-H Conference. The hall of
fame, existing only on the internet, was
created as part of the 4-H Centennial cele
bration.
May
After nearly two months of negotiations,
U.S. House and Senate conferees agreed
on a national Farm Bill. Shortly thereafter.
President Bush signed the Farm Bill into
law. The bill included increased farmland
preservation funds and boosted conserva
tion and price support measures, among
other changes.
Also in May, Gov. Mark Schweiker ex
tended the drought emergencies in 20
Pennsylvania counties.
avian influenza
(A. 1.) and disposing
of the flocks.
June
A groundbreak
ing team gathered
at Rockspring,
Centre County, to
begin construction
of the Pennsylvania
Department of Ag
riculture's new
Livestock Evalua
tion Center.
In honor of June
Dairy Month, a
90-gallon ice cream
sundae, created by
Pennsylvania dairy
princesses, drew a
crowd to the capitol
building steps.
Penn State an
nounced an eco
nomic impact study
of the Pennsylvania
equine industry be
ginning fall 2002.
Ag Secretary Sam
Hayes introduced
the Great Lakes Forum on Agriculture, a
three-day event.
Julie Sollenberger, Spring City, Chester
County, became National Guernsey
Queen.
U.S. Ag Secretary Ann Veneman an-
i
n
One of 2002’s top stories was the widespread drought. This picture was taken
bia County. Photo by Dave Lefever
w?
-
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nounces the authorization to hire an addi
tional 1,000 employees to expedite imple
menting the Farm Bill.
Atlantic City, New Jersey, was the site
of the 2002 National Holstein Convention.
Officials expected 3,00 attendees for the
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national sale, youth convention, and tours.
The sale averaged $8,207. Holstein Associ
ation delegates also took action on several
bylaw amendments.
(Turn to Page A 23)
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