A34-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 25, 2003 Chester County Farmers Attend Keep Farming First Summit WEST CHESTER (Chester Co.) Chester County farmers were front and center for the two day summit “Keep Farming First” last week at West Chester University. The Chester County 2020 Trust, Chester County Economic Development Council, and Penn State Cooperative-Chester Coun ty sponsored the summit, which drew more than 260 members of the farming community plus walk-ins. The 73 presenters represented almost every category of farmer, support service and expert, rang ing from sustainable farming, bio-genetics, organic and value added crops, estate planning, to dairy, multi-generational farms, GMOs and economic alliances. in the Sustain , . ;ky able Agricul described his “Rocky Acres Salad Bar” ture breakout in his discussion about grazing. session, featur ing Fred Kirs chenmann and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agri culture’s (PASA) Brian Snyder was so large that it was trans ferred from a classroom to the ballroom. By the end of the conference, the experts themselves had gained greater familiarity with the challenges faced by farmers in this area of rising land values and increased development pres sures. Additionally, 37 farm families were honored at the summit as registered Century Farmers. Each represents a history of at least one hundred years of farm ing by succeeding generations of the same family. For some of the families, the two-hundred-year mark is fast approaching. Anyone who would like to be notified of future events should send name, address and tele phone number to Keep Farming First, P.O. Box 425, West Chest er, PA 19380. E-mail requests may be sent to info@CC2o2o.org Telephone inquiries are being handled by Chester County 2020 Trust, (610) 696-3180. Flying in from lowa State Uni versity, the director of the Leop old Center for Sustainable Agri culture, Fred Kirschenmann, set a can-do attitude that followed all the way through the closing reception. His keynote speech, “How to Keep Agriculture in the Game,” put responsibility for the future in the farmers’ hands. He urged them to recognize opportunities and realize that different ap proaches to farming had more in common than they might think. Three key goals for healthy farms and farm families were: de veloping new production systems that are less costly to both the farmer and the environment, de veloping new markets that enable farmers to produce more value and retain a larger share of that value on the farm, and develop ing new public policies that sup port communities rather than commodities. Also involved in the opening session were the Chester County Conunisioners chairman Colin Hanna, Karen Martynick, and Andrew Dinniman, who served as honorary co-chairs for the HEATMOR OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACES #e«' Wood-Oil & Corn-Burning Options Outback Heating Inc. 888-763-8617 800-743-5883 Stainless Steel, Jamestown, NY Staunton,VA summit. They have worked to help preserve more than 16,000 acres of agricultural land in the county. Other speakers included Penn sylvania’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Christian Herr and, speaking for Governor Ed Ren dell, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veteri nary Science, Dr. Allen Kelly. Co-chairs Nancy Mohr (Chest er County 2020) and Gary Smith (CCEDC) rounded out the pro- gram. The third co-chair, Cheryl Fairbaim from the cooperative extension was both a presenter and the closing speaker on the second day. Farmers were deeply involved in the planning process for the summit, billed as “planned for and by the farm er.” The full group presentations in cluded Multi faceted Estate Planning, Agri culture As a Business and The Successful, Multi generational Family Farm. The interest 5 Sizes - 19 Color s - Wood or Coal Grates Foiced Draft Ash 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 Summit Offers Several Breakout Sessions MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff WEST CHESTER (Chester Co.) A “Keep Farming First” summit conducted recently drew more than 260 members and friends of the agriculture commu nity to West Chester University. Planners, land trust represen tatives, farmers, people interested in their food source and what is happening to the land around them, and organizers of Commu nity Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms gathered to help find ways for farming to become more profitable to and keep land in the county. A comprehensive overview of the event is in the article on page A 33. Following is a summary of a few of the breakout sessions. A few of Thursday and Fri days breakout sessions included alternatives and options to devel opment, agricultural law, niche opportunities, farm loans, mar keting, grazing for profit, farm business transfer, and starting farmers’ markets. Conrad Fisher, Rocky Acres Farm, Green Land, Montgomery County, and Arden Landis, Kirk wood, teamed up to teach about grazing for profit in their session. 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Visit your Gates distributor to find out more about the powerful Mobile Crimp 4-20 free to take one with you. the WORLD’S MOST TRUSTED NAME IN BELTS, HOSE AND HYDRAULICS Fisher described his “Rocky more energy out of you than the Acres Salad Bar,” which includes other 89,” he said, foxtail, dandelion, and crab grass This year the dairy is com which takes over when the cool- pletely seasonal, with the last season grasses die down, he said, milking on Dec. 30 and the next He raises Herefords on his opera- around March 1. tion. “We have found that when He also broadcasts rye grain you line the herd up with the sea which saves slower-growing son, and get those cows coming grasses and allows them to grow in with the spring grass, that is structure and leaf, as the cattle graze the faster growing rye. The rye grasses are also doing well in forested areas of the farm, he said. He frost seeds March 1 and re seeds on labor Day Thursday and Friday included several choices of breakout sessions. Arden Land is has been grazing his dairy herd since 1993. the cheapest milk. Over winter, “We’re thankful that the journey the cheapest feed is dry cow hay. went from high production back “The more home-grown for to the grass,” he said. “There are ages I have, either with grazed just so many benefits to the fami- grass or baleage, the greater prof ly and the animals.” itability,” he said. Landis spends less than $lO Toni Stuetz, Penn State coop per cow on vet bills. “The cows erative extension agent who need to be able to do it on their _ . _ own, because one cow can take (Turn o age Let us help you harvest maximum tax savings! '|||pf S msmpmy (specializing In' agricultural tax Issues: Certified Public ♦ Farm income Accountants and business averaging DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS 49 E. Mam st, ♦ Ag preservation i Leoia, pa 17540 ♦Depreciation 717-656-7544 A 431 W. Mam St, * AI^ T . 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