New Cumberland County Ag Group To Canvas Farmers CARLISLE (Cumberland Co.) Volunteer visitors will canvas about 100 of Cumberland Coun ty’s farmers during January and early February in a survey to un derstand their concerns about ag riculture. The farm visitation program is sponsored by a new organization, the Future of Cumberland Coun ty Agriculture (FOCCA). FOCCA, originally started by the Penn State Cooperative Exten sion board in Cumberland Coun ty, is an alliance of citizens and representatives from various or ganizations who are concerned about the future of agriculture in the county. FOCCA volunteers will visit the farms to conduct face-to-face surveys. These community lead ers are being trained on hmV to conduct the survey, which will pinpoint farm needs, concerns, and development plans. Farmers will be interviewed about a number of topics, includ ing markets, availability of sup plies, and development pressure. Those interviewed were selected from lists of farmers provided by local agencies. Once the interviews are com plete, Penn State faculty and Cumberland County community leaders will analyze the informa tion and prepare an initial draft • Heat with wood and avoid expm»k*&ek. • Efficiently heal pour home, domestic hat shop-all with one strive' • • Heavy Duty design • Wide range of sizes iup to 13 million btv rati • Slide-out ash pan provides for com removal and prevents excessive corrosion • Enjoy the convenience and safety of an oui For More Information and tree Literature Cont Oak Tree Stove Sales Manufacturer j ames Sensenig and 632 Elysburg Road, Danville, PA 17821 Distributor Phone: (570) 672-1096 Fax: (570) 672-3221 We offer the following services for the most complete pest control possible. Whether your need is to control pests, eliminate harmful bacteria, or encourage beneficial insects, we have the tools to help you. report for the FOCCA task force, including recommendations. In dividual farm data will be kept confidential. The FOCCA task force, made up of representatives from across the county, will use the report and a strategic planning process to develop an action plan for ag riculture. Local implementation teams will then spearhead efforts to achieve the goals in the action plans. Farms, agribusinesses, other local businesses, and a vari ety of agencies may be drawn into the process by these teams. According to County Exten sion Director Duane Duncan, FOCCA grew out of a study group that reviewed the chal lenges facing Cumberland Coun ty Agriculture, market and pro duction trends, and possible solutions. A recent Penn State survey found that more than 40 percent of the county’s farmers did not know whether their land would still be farmed in 10 years. Uncertainty means farmers will be hesitant about investment de cisions they need to remain com petitive, making them more like ly in the long run to go out of business. According to Duncan, FOCCA has several goals. In the short run, the group hopes to provide community support for local O^2RB STOVE &M II CLARK • Licensed £r Insured e: 717*361*6065 • Fax: 717*361*0867 ii: roni.clark@prodigy.net H. James Siegrist Stonebridge Sales Schuylkill WekfiiSg Pittsgnve, NJ New Creek, WV Tamaqua, PA (856) 692-2227 (304) 749-8483 (570) 386-1177 Ed Jones Joe Hurst Brighams Mechanicsburg, PA Plymouth, OH Laceyville, PA (717) 766-0426 (419) 687-5801 (570) 869-3029 Farm Services v*. Elizabethtown • Pennsylvania "Unique Farm Services " • Fumigation • Consultation farms, resolve immediate individ ual farm concerns, and increase the public’s understanding of ag riculture’s role in the county. Duncan said long-run goals in clude increasing the competitive ness of local farms and agribusi nesses; sustaining a healthy local Visitors Choose Top Winners In Farm Show Christmas Tree Contest HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Among many of the at tractions at the Farm Show this year was a forest full of trees re siding in the McClay Street Lobby of the Farm Show Com plex. This assortment of fine Fir, Pine and Spruces were all gath ered to compete in the Christmas Tree Competition. Judging the contest was James Thomas, a resident of Bel Air, Md. Darryl L. Bowersoy, Middle burg, exhibited the grand cham pion Christmas tree which was the first place winner in the Con color Fir class. The reserve cham pion was the first place Fraser Fir of Paul Shealer, Auburn. The two champions were cho sen by the Farm Show visitors who cast their votes for the top two from the eight trees placing first in their classes. The winners farm economy and improving the business climate; and implement ing a strategic action plan to en sure the future of farming in Cumberland County. During November, FOCCA sponsored three “Let’s Talk” meetings attended by over 100 citizens and farmers. Concerns will have the opportunity to ex hibit at the national level during the 2004 convention scheduled to take place in Pennsylvania. Thomas judged the 53 entries made by nineteen exhibitors based on competition guidelines. Trees must be between six and eight feet tall, grown exclusively in Pennsylvania, and compared on such categories as Foliage, Taper, Density, Handle, Color, Naturalness, and Damage/ Defects, which could include crooked stems or holes. Thomas scanned the trees looking for quality representa tions in each of eight classes. He also looked for debris like leaves and dead branches, along with insect damage that could mar the overall appearance of the tree. The judge said that the trees should look “as natural as possi ble, and not too tight.” He is an experienced tree grower and judge, critiquing trees in Mary land, North Carolina, and now Pennsylvania, and was a former Director of the National Christ mas Tree Association. Paul Shealer, a Christmas tree grower from Schuylkill County, told about what he likes to see in a Christmas Tree. “A good tree J The Company That w Offers You High Quality Plant Food At Competitive Prices Dealer Inquiries Welcome Talk To Us About Seed Banded Plant Food And Foliar Feeding Place Phosphorus Where It Does Most Good (Seed Banded) 6-24-6 9-18-9 3-18-18 5-15-15 Check Early Order & Quantity Price Zimmerman Lime & Fertilizer, Inc. 235 W. Burkholder Dr (717) 733-7674 Dealer of Raven Liquid Storage Tanks Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 1,2003-A37 and opportunities raised at those meetings helped shape the farm visitation questionnaire being used across the county this month. For more details about FOCCA, contact Duane Duncan at the Cumberland County ex tension office: (717) 240-6500. will have many places to hang or naments.” Additionally, he dis cussed the many color variations within a species, and differences in natural look when a tree has been excessively sheared com pared to one that has been left untouched. Shealer has had the honor of displaying his Christmas trees in Washington D.C. at the White House. This honor comes to those who exhibit and win at the Na tional Christmas Tree Conven tion held once every two years. For Pennsylvania growers to make the trip to the National Convention, they must not only have winning trees in the eyes of the judge, but the public will be the final critics. This year’s class winners were; Class 001; Scotch Pine - Tom & Audrey Balthaser, Millerstown. Class 002: Douglass Fir - McClellans Tree Farm, Middleburg. Class 003: Colorado Blue Spruce - Abrar zmskus Nursery, Catawissa. Class 004: All Other Spruces - Quaker State Plantations, Bloomsburg. Class 005: All Other Pines - Ron Huntzmg er, Schuylkill Haven. Class 006: Fraser Fir - Paul A. Shealer, Au burn. Class 007: Canaan Fir & Other True Fir - Matesevac Christmas Trees, Eliza bethtown. Class 008: Concolor Fir - Darryll Bowersoy, Middleburg. Let Your Crops Dine On Alpine Lititz, PA 17543
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