The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • What You Need to Know About the Pennsylvania Farm Bill

    Pennsylvania’s first ever Farm Bill was recently signed into law and provides $24 million in funds to support the agricultural industry. It is designed to increase opportunities in areas such as dairy, hemp and organics and remove barriers for young farmers’ entry into the profession. The bill also decreases some regulatory burdens on farmers. 

    The bill is comprehensive, so I thought it might be helpful to highlight some of the areas that might be of most interest or immediately helpful. Here are some of the most interesting parts of the bill:

    • Funding for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Business Development Center to serve as a resource to help  farmers create a business plan, transition plan, or succession plan. 
    • A realty transfer tax exemption for any transfer of preserved farmland to a qualified beginning farmer will be available. 
    • Funding for the dairy industry in the form of  research and development, organic transition assistance, value-added processing, and marketing grants.
    • Center for Animal Agriculture Excellence funding to support the animal agriculture industry by expanding processing capacity, technical assistance, providing resources for food safety compliance, and assisting with the establishment of hemp as an approved animal feed.  
    • A program to reimburse federal meat inspection costs and subsidize the first-time purchase of equipment needed for federal compliance to access to new and expanded markets for small or new producers will be established.
    • Agriculture linked investment program to re-establish this low interest loan program for the implementation of best management practices.
    • Resource enhancement and protection tax credits to increase the lifetime cap and increase availability.
    • Expansion of the allowable width for the use of implements of husbandry on roads, such as farm tractors and combines, from 16 feet to 18 feet. 
    • Farm Bill amends the Ag Area Security Act to allow for subdivision of preserved farms.
    • Funding for agricultural and youth organizations.
    • Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account to allow for a quick response to agricultural disasters, including utilizing animal or plant health officials to contain an outbreak or threat, or providing an immediate response to a food borne illness.
    • Increasing market opportunities through funding of the PA Preferred Organic Initiative to make Pennsylvania the nation’s leading organic state, the PA Preferred Program to support the overall program and to bolster enrollment in the Homegrown by Heroes Program, and the State-level Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to invest in and encourage farming of high-priority horticultural crops like hemp, hops, and hardwoods. 

    There is a lot to take in with this bill, and we will see what the future brings in terms of implementation. In the meantime, more information can be found here:

    Governor Wolf’s statement on the PA Farm Bill https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/021319-farm-bill.pdf

    Information from the PA Department of Agriculturehttps://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Pages/PA-Farm-Bill.aspx

  • Knee High by the Fourth of July: Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

    I had promised my cousin that we would take a camping trip to Codorus State Park in Hanover, Pennsylvania over the July Fourth holiday. I decided to stick with the plans despite a weather forecast calling for high heat and humidity with the added bonus of regular thunderstorms popping up. I went back and forth between calling this post “The Camping Trip from Hell” and “Silver Linings.” Ultimately, I couldn’t decide if it was good or bad.

    I’m more of a fair weather camping kind of girl, I don’t mind a little rain, as long as I can set up when it ‘s not raining and everything has a chance to dry before I pack up. I was frustrated because all my trips last year were affected by rain, despite being out only 1-2 nights each time. I didn’t get my wish for fair weather on this trip. Everything was wet and/or dirty prior to departure. Pennsylvania is getting record rain, and it kind of stinks. At least the corn is high.

    The park itself did not disappoint. I went primarily to see if I could get a glimpse of the newly fledged bald eagles that hatched in an oak tree above Lake Marburg this Spring. They are quite the web cam stars. I did not see the fledglings, but I did get my first look at the parents in flight, having only previously seen them in the nest or resting in a nearby tree. The weather prevented much else in the way of activity.

    Nonetheless, it was not a complete loss. On the way to Hanover, I stopped briefly at Samuel S. Lewis State Park. It looks like a great place for a picnic and has a nice scenic view of the Susquehanna valley. The website also recommends kite flying and sledding, and it seems really well suited for those activities.

    The flag was still trying to fly proudly on the 4th despite the hot and damp weather.
    Here’s the view toward the river.

    I arrived at Codorus and immediately started to set up camp.

    Here is a look at lovely Lake Marburg,

    From the band shell area.

    On the way home, via Lake Redman, I made a few stops. The first was to photograph this hay field that was harvested just the day before.

    Newly harvested hay.

    I also took a few pictures of some of the lovely farms of southern York County.

    Farm, Yoirk County
    Red Barn, York County

  • Like the Spring, I Have Returned

    This weekend, I set off to Chester Springs to check out some garden centers in hopes of finding some aquatic plants for a container water garden I have on my balcony. I found a Louisiana iris and spearwort plant to add to the equisetum (horsetail reed) and water hyacinth I already have.

    Here’s how it looks so far:

    Maker:0x4c,Date:2017-11-17,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y,E-ver:20190214.5310204.002.000

    It doesn’t look like much now, but it should fill in nicely. I will try to keep you updated about my little water garden. The sponges are an experiment to see if birds will use them as landing pads to take drink. I hope to add some fish when the water warms up.

    While I was out, I ran across the charming Chester Springs Creamery at Milky Way Farm. They make delicious ice cream. Here is an impromptu panorama of part of the property:

    The lovely property at Chester Springs Creamery at Milky Way Farm.

  • Mascot Roller Mills and Around

    Mascot Roller Mills in eastern Lancaster County is well worth a stop if you are in the area.  The site of the well preserved water-powered grain mill welcomes visitors. More information can be found at resslermill.com.  The William J. Morton Bird Sanctuary is adjacent to mill.

    Mascot Roller Mills – the original mill on this site dated from the 1730s.

     

    The Ressler family home adjacent to the mill.

     

    The Summer Kitchen next to the Ressler home.

     

    The Groff Store-House across the street from the Mill. Once a local gathering place and store, it now serves as the offices and meeting place for the Ressler Mill Foundation.

    Elsewhere in Lancaster County, fall colors are on display …

     

    The horses were enjoying the sunny day.

     

    An Amish farm.

  • Fall Has Finally Arrived

    It looks like the much delayed Autumn color has finally arrived to Chester County this year. I just hope the season isn’t brief. Here is a sample of some of this year’s color.

    A corn field seems to be on fire in Glenmoore.

     

    It looks like this is what was growing on those stumps in the previous picture. This and another tree were next in line with the stumps but had not yet been cut.

     

    A beautiful farm in Coventryville. I always love the star on the barn.

     

    Another radiant fall cornfield and treetops.

     

    Scotts Run in French Creek State Park. It’s apparently a red and orange free zone.

     

    The barn at the Mansion at Hibernia Park.

  • Columbia County Beyond the Covered Bridges

    Although Columbia County likes to tout their 23 covered bridges, it has much to offer the visitor.

     

    The countryside near the Creasyville covered bridge. Note the pumpkins on the hillside.

     

    Merry October. Christmas trees “on the hoof.”

     

    This clever sculpture immediately caught my eye.

     

    Cattle grazing near my family’s farm.

     

    The side entrance to my grandparent’s old farmhouse. This is door people used most often.

     

    The graveyard down the road from the house my grandparents built after they sold the farm. It’s small patch surrounded by fields. No church in sight. My brother, cousin and I used to walk up here often as kids.

     

  • Farms of West Vincent Township

    Here are some shots from my trip around West Vincent Township in northern Chester County.

    This season’s hay has been baled.

    Peaceful scene of cattle on a hillside by a farm pond.

    I loved the slope in this shot.

  • Cattle Herd and Adorable Calf

    I came across this adorable calf with the rest of the herd in West Pikeland Township, Chester County.

    With mom.

    Meet some of the rest of the herd.

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  • Nearby Lancaster County

    Here are some standard pretty, and some quirky, farm shots from eastern Lancaster County.

    I loved the blue silos on this farm.

    This makes me wonder exactly who, or what, is the “Amish mafia.”

    For some reason this roadside sign really caught my attention, although these types of signs are pretty common in the area.

    And finally, we have a wide view of a baseball field next to a farm.

     

  • Sunset Drive Through East Nantmeal Township

    I took advantage of a lovely evening to head out to East Nantmeal township hoping for some sunset views.

    A beautiful farm at sunset.

    Another view of the same farm.

    A farm pond at sunset.

    A farm on the hill in gathering darkness.

    I came back the next day for some daytime views. The hay has already been baled at this farm.

    A farm pond in the daylight.

    It seems Christmas trees are grown all over Pennsylvania, even in Chester County.

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