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Join the Berks County Department of Agriculture for the 12th annual Agricultural and Natural Resources Career & Job Fair on Thursday, November 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This year’s event will be at a new location: the Leesport Farmer’s Market at 312 Gernants Church Road, Leesport, PA 19533. The focus has expanded to also include a job fair element, so employment opportunities will also be available. This event is perfect for both those looking for jobs, those exploring a new career path and educators who are interested in finding out the diverse careers that agriculture has to offer. It is free and open to all: high school students, college students and adults.
Participants should register here by Wednesday, November 1 to be entered to win a door prize.
Agricultural and natural resources businesses that want to participate as exhibitors, please register here by Friday, October 6th to ensure a space.
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William Lesher Shares How Making Ice Cream and Investing in Value-Added Business Drives Growth | |
“To me, value-added is one of the few areas of growth.” “Ice cream is a fun thing.” If you want your kids to dig in, you have to allow them to run.” In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations (and to cap off National Ice Cream Month this July), William Lesher of Way-Har Farms in Berks County, Pa. shares these thoughts and more about his family’s dairy operation and retail store – which started out as a small jug store in 1970 and now sells ice cream, bottled milk, baked goods and more. He opens up about an evolving marketplace with new customers and demographics, advice for getting started in the value-added business, and how to begin the transition process when your kids want to be involved in the business. | |
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Farmers can use USDA farm ownership microloans to buy and improve property. These microloans are especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations. Microloans have helped farmers and ranchers with operating costs, such as feed, fertilizer, tools, fencing, equipment, and living expenses since 2013.
Microloans can also help with farmland and building purchases and soil and water conservation improvements. FSA designed the expanded program to simplify the application process, expand eligibility requirements and expedite smaller real estate loans to help farmers strengthen their operations. Microloans provide up to $50,000 to qualified producers and can be issued to the applicant directly from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
To learn more about the FSA microloan program, contact your Berks County USDA Service Center at 610-478-7158 ext 2 or visit fsa.usda.gov/microloans.
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Filing CCC-941 Adjusted Gross Income Certifications | |
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If you have experienced delays in receiving Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments, Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) and Market Gains on Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs), it may be because you have not filed form CCC-941, Adjusted Gross Income Certification.
If you don’t have a valid CCC-941 on file for the applicable crop year you will not receive payments. All farm operator/tenants/owners who have not filed a CCC-941 and have pending payments should IMMEDIATELY file the form with their recording county FSA office. Farm operators and tenants are encouraged to ensure that their landowners have filed the form.
FSA can accept the CCC-941 for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Unlike the past, you must have the CCC-941 certifying your AGI compliance before any payments can be issued.
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New Fertilizer Industry Foundation Is Formed | The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced the consolidation of industry-supported organizations into the FERT Foundation, which will be dedicated to ensuring that education, research and training is conducted under a single umbrella. | | | |
Does More Urban Ag Land Equal More Food Justice? | MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- In response to surging interest in urban agriculture, many cities across the country have developed policies that provide access to publicly owned... | | | |
Pennsylvania Invests $8.6 Million to Ensure 35 Farms, 2,645 Acres in 18 Counties Will Remain Farms Forever
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The Shapiro Administration announced that Pennsylvania preserved 2,645 acres on 35 farms in 18 counties, forever protecting them from future residential or commercial development. The investment of $8.64 million in state, county, and local dollars preserves prime farmland, so that Pennsylvania farms can continue feeding our families and our economy in the future.
In Berks:
- Alice A Deanin Farm, North Heidelberg Township, 31-acre crop &and livestock farm
- Roy and Ruthann Kunkel Farm #1, Albany Township, 32-acre crop farm
- Skyline Acres, Inc. Farm, Upper Bern Township, 65-acre crop farm
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Preserving Food at Home Resource Guide | Compilation of "Let's Preserve" fact sheets; research-based guidelines for safely canning, freezing, and drying food at home; and nutrition and storage information. | | | |
Farmers on the Rise Awards | Are you a young, beginning, or small (YBS) farmer working hard to be outstanding in your field? Apply for a Farmers on the Rise Award! | | | |
Whether you’re looking for local gift ideas, tips and recipes to use in your own home, or Berks County farm news, you can find it all on our blog and more. There’s something for everyone to read and enjoy. | | | |
Earn Income Tax Credits by Implementing Conservation Practices | |
REAP is a first-come, first-served program that enables farmers, businesses and landowners to earn PA income tax credits to offset the cost of implementing conservation practices. Tax credits provided by the REAP program help farmers offset the costs of implementing best management practices (BMPs) that benefit their farms and work to protect water quality at the same time. The 2023-24 REAP Application packet is now available and the commission will be accepting 2023-24 REAP Applications from Aug. 7 through Oct. 31, 2023. | |
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Recovery Reimbursement Grant for Implementation of Biosecurity Enhancement administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide reimbursement to farms, integrators, and allied industries, directly impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) for the implementation of biosecurity enhancements. Reimbursements will be capped at $25,000.00 per premises. Funds allocated to this initiative are $2 million. All reimbursements are contingent on availability of funding.
Open for 90 days. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, October 5th, 2023.
If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact Morgan Sheffield at 717-787-3568 or by email at msheffield@pa.gov.
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List of conservation-related positions throughout Pennsylvania. | | | |
Jobs, internships & contracting opportunities - Pasa Sustainable Agriculture | These positions are full time and primarily remote, unless otherwise noted. If you are interested in a position but don't feel like you meet all listed qualifications, please consider applying anyway! We value a wide range of skills and experience, and we care most about how your passion can support Pasa's mission. | | | |
2023 BARN Farm to Fork Event | |
Ticket sales are open for B.A.R.N.'s 2023 Farm-to-Fork Fundraising Event!
We will be back again at the beautiful Barn at Reinhart's Tree Farm on Tuesday, October 10th 2023 from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Please join us to support and celebrate our wonderful local farmers, food producers, and Ag-related business owners.
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Renewable Energy Academy: Energy Policies and Programs | Participants of Renewable Energy Academy: Energy Policies and Programs will be able to identify policies and programs relevant to farm and rural energy projects, develop a strategy for utilizing the opportunities represented by those policies and programs, and identify the next steps for taking action. | | | |
Farm Sense is a four-session workshop that teaches farmers how to understand financial statements such as the cash flow statement, the balance sheet, and the income statement. All agricultural businesses, business owners/operators, and managers, including Livestock, Dairy, Crops, all Horticulture (including Orchards, Greenhouses, and Vegetable Operations), Diversified Farms, Urban Farms, and Hydroponic farms will benefit from Farm Sense. | | | |
PA Farm Link Academy, Now Available | HARRISBURG, Pa. -- PA Farm Link is pleased to announce their newest educational tool available to the public for free: The PA Farm Link Academy.... | | | |
Passing the Torch: Interactive Transition Planning Workshop | Center for Dairy Excellence | The Center for Dairy Excellence assists dairy farm families in the decision-making process and serves as a catalyst for collaboration to strengthen the broader industry. The Dairy Excellence Foundation supports programs that cultivate and inspire that next generation of Pennsylvania dairy. | | | |
High School Students Invited to Tour Two Berks County Dairy Farms on Oct. 19 | High school students are invited to learn about multiple career opportunities in the dairy industry during the annual Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow... | | | |
Archived Newsletter and Grow Together Blog | |
Did you know we archive all of the newsletters? | |
The Grow Together blog features seasonal topics! | |
A cooperative effort between the GRCA and the Berks County Department of Agriculture through the support of the Berks County Commissioners. | | | | |
