A36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 25, 2003
Editor’s note: This is a month
ly column from the Pennsylvania
Ag Statistics Service (PASS), a
field office of USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS) in cooperation with the
Pennsylvania Department of Ag
riculture (PDA). The Website is
www.usda.gov/nassl.
Ag Census
Due Date Approaches
A big “thank you” goes to those
who have been so prompt in re
turning your ag census form. We
have already received more than
20,000 completed census forms
from growers, but we are re
quired to get responses from ev
eryone.
The forms are due back Feb. 3.
If you mail it back in time, we
won’t have to bother you with
another form mailed to your
home or a phone call.
The more census forms re
turned before Feb. 3, the less tax
payer dollars will be spent on the
Ag Census. Nationwide, it will
cost about one million dollars just
to mail the forms out again after
Feb. 3. Then, it will cost about
another $2 million to call or visit
those who don’t mail a form
back.
Small, part-time, and hobby
farms must be counted, too. They
account for nearly half of the
60,000 farms in Pennsylvania.
Remember, you only have to
produce $l,OOO worth of agricul
tural products or have $l,OOO
worth of livestock or equine in
2002 to be counted as a farm. If
you did not raise any plants or
animals in 2002, make a note and
return the Ag Census form. This
will prevent additional mailings
to your home.
Help completing the form is
only a phone call away at (888
4AG-STAT or (888) 424-7828.
Call the same number for a Cen
sus form if you did not receive
one.
Custom Rates
In Pennsylvania, we publish an
annual report with average rates
paid to custom machinery service
providers. It is one of our most
popular reports requested by
farmers. To see the 2002 report,
go to www.nass.usda.gov
a/ and click on “Publications.”
About 1,200 Pennsylvania
fanners have received the 2003
survey asking about rates paid
for custom work. Phone calls
may be made to nonrespondents
in mid-February.
This annual study is done at
the request of the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture. Your
response allows us to publish the
most accurate information possi
ble.
2002 Crop Summary
Published Jan. 10
We all know that the 2002
drought was devastating in parts
of the state. We now have the
final tally of crop production for
last year.
Pennsylvania grain com yields
averaged 68 bushels in 2002, 30
less than 2001 and 59 bushels less
than 2000. Total Pennsylvania
production was 59.16 million
bushels, 39 percent below 2001.
Nationally, production was down
5 percent at 9.01 billion bushels.
Pennsylvania silage com yield
averaged 11.5 tons, 4.5 tons
below 2001. Even though acreage
cut was 14 percent above 2001,
this acreage increase could not
offset such low yields. Production
was 6.44 million tons, down 18
percent from 2001. Nationally,
the crop was up 3 percent.
Pennsylvania dry alfalfa hay
production was nearly 6 percent
above £OOl with an average of 2.6.
tons per acre. Nationally, ' the'
NASS
Agriculture Counts
By Marc Tosiano
Pa. State Statistician
crop was down 8 percent. Penn
sylvania alfalfa haylage and
greenchop production was 21
percent less with 5.3 green tons
per acre. There were 110,000
newly seeded acres planted in
2002 for production in 2003.
Pennsylvania dry other hay
production was up 2 percent
from 2001, averaging a 1.6-ton
yield. Nationally, the crop was up
1 percent.
The summary of all forage pro
duction (both dry and green)
shows 4.77 million tons harvested
on a dry equivalent basis, a 1 per
cent decline from 2001. Forage
was harvested from 2 million
acres, same as 2001. Yields in
2002 were 2.39 tons compared to
2.41 dry equivalent tons in the
previous year.
Pennsylvania oat production
was 7.02 million bushels, 6 per
cent less than 2001; average yield
was 61 bushels in 2002 compared
to 65 in 2001. Nationally, the
crop was up 2 percent.
Pennsylvania wheat produc
tion was 9.99 million bushels, 20
percent above 2001; yields aver
aged 54 bushels compared to 52
in 2001. In the fall of 2002,
190,000 acres were seeded com
pared to 170,000 the previous
year. Nationally, the 2002 crop
was down 16 percent.
Barley production was 4.44
million bushels, 6 percent above
2001; average yield was 74 bush
els in 2002 compared to 70 in
2001. Nationally, the crop was
down 10 percent.
Soybean production was 9.1
million bushels, 34 percent less
than 2001; average yield was 26
bushels in 2002 compared to 35
in 2001. Nationally, the crop was
down 6 percent.
Pennsylvania fall potato pro
duction was 2.59 million CWT,
18 percent less than 2001; aver
age yield was 185 CWT in 2002
compared to 235 in 2001. Acre
age harvested in 2002 was 14,000
acres, up 4 percent from 2001.
Nationally, the crop was up 6
percent for all potatoes.
Pennsylvania-type tobacco
production was 4.41 million
pounds, 7 percent above 2001 be
cause of increased yields at 2100
pounds (up 40 pounds) and 100
more acres harvested in 2002 at
2,100 acres. Maryland-type to
bacco production was 2.41 mil
lion pounds, 17 percent above
2001. Slightly lower yields (down
10 pounds) were offset by 200
more acres harvested at 1,300
acres. Nationally, the crop was
down 10 percent for all tobacco.
2002 Hog Summary
Published Dec. 30
There were 1.08 million hogs
in Pennsylvania on Dec. 1, 2002,
up only 20,000 head from a year
earlier. Market hogs, at 955,000,
were up 25,000 head while the
breeding herd, at 125,000, was
down 5,000 head compared to
the same time last year.
Nationally, there were 58.9
million hogs on hand Dec. 1,
2002, 1 percent below a year ago.
Market hogs were down 1 per
cent from the year before at 52.9
million head. The breeding herd
was down 3 percent at 6.01 mil
lion head.
2002 Turkey Summary
Published Jan. 9
Pennsylvania raised 9.9 million
turkeys in 2002, up 4 percent
from 2001. Growers are intend
ing to raise the same number of
birds in 2003.
Nationally, there were 272 mil
lion turkpys raised in 2002, only
370,000 more birds than in 2001.
Growers intend to raise about 2
percent leSs birds in 2003.
Fearnley Selected As Pa. Holstein Intern
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Pennsylvania Holstein As
sociation has announced that Je
remiah Fearnley began an intern
ship with the association Jan. 2,
continuing through April.
Fearnley is from Susquehanna
County where his parents, Robert
and Dawn, milk 50 registered
Hoisteins. Fearnley is currently in
his junior year at Penn State,
worldng towards a bachelor de
gree in animal sciences. He is ac
tively involved in the Penn State
Dairy Science Club, serving as
the chair of the successful 2002
Nittany Lion Fall Classic Sale
and the spring break trips to the
Pacific Northwest and California.
Fearnley is also a member of
Alpha Zeta fraternity, where he
served as chancellor in 2002.
Fearnley was a member of the
Penn State Dairy judging team
that competed in Louisville, and
he hopes to compete at Madison
next year. He has judged on the
4-H level as well. Fearnley has
show ring experience, exhibiting
at local and state levels. In 2000,
he received one of the “Outstand-
Marcia Taylor To Speak At Pa. Com
And Soybean Conference
GRANTVILLE (Dauphin Co.)
The 2003 Pennsylvania Com
and Soybean Conference will
bring together some of Pennsyl
vania’s top com and soybean
growers to hear some topics on
how they can better plan for the
future and improve their bottom
line. This year’s program will
kick off at 9 a.m., Feb. 7 at the
Holiday Inn in Grantville.
The featured speaker at this
year’s conference is Marcia Zar
ley Taylor. Taylor is a Des
Moines, lowa native with 20
years experience in farm policy,
agricultural finance, and environ
mental reporting. Since 1990,
Taylor has served as editor of
Top Producer magazine. Marcia
recently was awarded the 2002
Jesse Neal Award for her series
entitled “ Brazil the Competitor
You Can’t Ignore” published in
Top Producer.
In her presentation, she will
discuss not only the grain pro
duction potential of Brazil but
also recent investments in grain
processing and hog and poultry
Farm Show Names Honey Winners
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The following winners
were selected in this year’s apiary
products competition at the Farm
Show.
Comb honey square sections - light: 1.
Craig Celia. 2. Elaine Hintenach. 3 Eugene
Taylor.
Comb honey square sections - dark 1.
Eugene Taylor.
Comb honey cobana round - light; 1.
Craig Celia. 2. Jim Boob. 3. Elaine Hmte
nach.
Comb honey cobana round - dark: 1. Eu
gene Taylor. 2. Elaine Hmtenach.
Comb honey - light cut comb: 1. Eugene
Taylor. 2. Harold Jenkins. 3. Bruce Frymire.
Comb honey - dark cut comb: 1. Eugene
Taylor. 2. Bruce Frymire. 3. Elaine Hmte
nach.
Comb honey - 3 Lb. chunk: 1. Dave
Moyer 2. John R. Frey. 3. Monroe Cres
sley.
Extracted honey extra white: 1. Leon
Ochs. 2. Monroe Cressley. 3. George Biles.
Extracted honey white. 1. Mark Bradson.
2. Dave Moyer. 3. Bruce Frymire.
Extracted honey ex light amber: 1
James Stem. 2. John Beamenderfer. 3.
Richard Patterson
Extracted honey light amber 1. Elaine
Hmtenach. 2. Dave Moyer. 3. Tim Komar.
Extracted honey amber 1. Lancaster. 2.
Tim Komar. 3. James Hoffman.
Extracted honey dark amber; 1. Dave
Moyer. *
Extracted honey light - glass jars; 1.
Jeremiah Fearnley, new intern with the Pennsylvania
Holstein Association, mans booth at the Farm Show.
ing 4-H Dairy Member” awards tivities, he can be reached at:
for Susquehanna County. Pennsylvania Holstein Associa-
If you would like to contact tion, 839 Benner Pike, State Col-
Feamley about Pennsylvania lege PA 16801, phone (814)
Holstein Association issues or ac- 234-0364 or fax (814) 234-1698.
production and what we must do
now to remain competitive.
The morning program includes
speakers on soy beverages and
the Penn State football team, how
to maximize the quality of com
and soybeans, and discussion of
how the movie “Signs” was pro
duced using a Pennsylvania com
field.
Our afternoon sessions will fea
ture some in depth workshops on
the Farm Bill and Crop Insur
ance, again with several top
speakers.
Sam Willet, nationally recog
nized expert on the Farm BUI
with the National Com Growers
Association, is another of our
guests this year. Willet will de
scribe and explain the new Farm
Bill components that have direct
financial impact on Pennsylvania
farmers with the help of Penn
State extension agent John Berry.
Willet and Berry will be using
real Pennsylvania examples to il
lustrate the local effects of this
program.
A distinguished panel of crop
insurance experts will be on hand
Monroe Cressley. 2. Eugene Taylor. 3.
Richard Patterson.
Extracted honey dark - glass jars: 1.
Bruce Frymire. 2. William Gilbert. 3. Elaine
Hintenach.
Extracted honey crystallized or creamed:
1. Eugene Taylor. 2. Elaine Hintenach. 3.
James Wentzel.
Beeswax commercial single: 1. Eugene
Taylor. 2. Joe Duffy 3. Shanna Vorlsek.
Beeswax molded or designed; 1. Lucin
da “Joann” Frey. 2. Shanna Vonsek. 3.
John R. Frey.
Beeswax dipped candles: 1. John Bea
menderfer. 2. Scott Baxter. 3. Robert Sing
er.
Beeswax molded candles: 1. Eugene
Taylor. 2. Elaine Hmtenach. 3. Timothy Mill-
Honey yeast breads: 1. Lucinda “Joann”
Frey.
Honey quick breads; 1. Lucinda “Joann”
Frey. 2. Dorothy Martin. 3. Mark Marshall.
Honey cookies: 1. Mark Marshall. 2. Lu
cinda “Joann” Frey. 3. Lydia Eddmger.
Honey candy: 1. Lucinda “Joann” Frey.
Cakes - one round or sheet: 1. Debra
Martin. 2. Dorothy Martin. 3. Lydia Eddmg-
Fruit pies: 1. Mark Marshall.
Gadets for beekeeping; 1. Craig Celia. 2.
James E. Hoover.
Specialty pack; 1. Shanna Vonsek. 2.
Mark Marshall. 3. Eugene Taylor.
Individual exhibit: 1. Lucinda “Joann”
Frey. 2. Tom Jones. 3. Eugene Taylor. Best comb honey exhibit; Craig Celia.
County or association collective exhibit: Best extracted honey exhibit; Mark
v l.xl parades Jfsyeefc BvdsM
liam Gilbert. Best beeswax exhibit; Eugene Taylor.
this year to explore how to more
fully utilize this part of our risk
management efforts. Insurance
agency representatives will give
us information from the perspec
tive of the actual product users.
Gene Gantz and Cliff Parker rep
resent the USDA, Risk Manage
ment Agency and will supply an
swers to our questions on the
formulation and implementation
of crop insurance regulations and
policy. Bring your questions and
concerns. This session is sure to
be a lively discussion of this im
portant topic.
The Com and Soybean Con
ference is a joint program spon
sored by the Pennsylvania Com
Growers Association, The Penn
sylvania Soybean Board, and
Penn State Extension. Registra
tion for the meeting is $2O and
reservations can be made by con
tacting the Department of Crop
and Soil Sciences at Penn State at
(814) 865-2543 before Feb. 1.
For more information, contact
Greg Roth in the Department of
Crop and Soil Sciences at Penn
State at (814) 863-1018.
Mead, dry - less than one percent resid
ual sugar: 1. Eugene Taylor. 2. Dane Snyd-
Mead, semi-dry, one to three percent re
sidual sugar 1. Scott Baxter. 2. Chns Brug
ger. 3. Eugene Taylor.
Mead, sweet - greater than three percent
residual sugar 1. Scott Baxter. 2. Eugene
Taylor.
Mead, augmented - with other type of
fruit added; 1. Dane Snyder. 2. Scott Baxt
er. 3. Eugene Taylor.
Youth, comb honey light: 1. Jessica
Frey. 2. Joshua Brunk.
Youth, comb honey, dark: 1. Shanna Vo
nsek.
Youth, cobana round sections, light: 1
Shanna Vonsek.
Youth, cobana round sections, dark: 1
Shanna Vonsek.
Youth, extracted honey, white: 1. Timo
thy Long.
Youth, extracted honey, extra light
amber 1. Ryan Komar. 2. Jessica Frey. 3.
Georgina Waldman.
Youth, extracted honey, light amber 1.
Kelly Komar. 2. Ryan Komar. 3 Brandon
Komar.
Youth, extracted honey, amber: 1. Shan
na Vonsek. 2. Brandon Komar. 3. Timothy
Komar.
Youth, extracted honey, dark amber; 1.
Brandon Komar. 2. Timothy Komar. 3. Kelly
Komar.