Reporting North Central PA & Southern Tier NY News As It Happens
CLICK ABOVE TO SEE OUR FACEBOOK EDITION.
The Potter-Tioga Maple weekend is celebrating their 21st year of hosting the art of maple syrup creation. There are 17 participating farms and educational experiences throughout the two counties on March 15 and 16 from 10 AM - 4 PM. Photo by Andy Lychalk, Jr.
List your Yard Sale FREE on our Auction & Yard Sale page: Send to shurfine40@gmail.com
Secretary Redding testified at the Agriculture Budget Hearing with the PA House of Representatives. During the hearing, various topics were discussed, including: animal healthfood insecurityagriculture educationworkforce developmentSee MoreWatch the hearing
Test Results Show Soil Is Safe At Pennsylvania Farms After Train Derailment The initial soil test results taken from 15 farms in Beaver and Lawrence counties show no signs of contamination from the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment.Read MorePEMA Train Derailment Dashboard
Shapiro Administration Reminds Older Adults Assistance Is Available After Major Federal Changes To SNAP Benefits The Pennsylvania Department of Aging reminded older adults facing a reduction in their Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that help with meals and other food assistance programs is available.Read More
As Federal SNAP Benefits Change, Shapiro Administration Steps Up To Provide Resources And State Investments To Fight Food Insecurity Governor Josh Shapiro and Acting Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Val Arkoosh are reminding Pennsylvanians of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are taking effect this month that will affect all SNAP recipient households. SNAP Emergency Allotments – which were usually paid in the second half of each month – ended after February due to changes by the federal government. Read More
Today, nearly 1 in every 10 jobs is supported by agriculture. However, Pennsylvania has a predicted deficit of 75,000 workers. Central Regional Director and Special Assistant for Workforce Development, Sara Gligora, is working to help fill that gap through workforce development opportunities.Read More
Secretary Redding attended Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill’s Farmer’s Breakfast in York County. This breakfast was a wonderful opportunity to share a meal and say thank you to those that provide for the Commonwealth and fuel PA agriculture.See More
Stephon Fitzpatrick, the Executive Director for the Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence Commission spent this past week traveling between six different schools in the city of Philadelphia. He met with over 900 students to share the opportunities in agriculture that are available for students. This includes topics such as urban agriculture, and starting MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) chapters.Read More
The Plant Industry inspection staff at the PA Department of Agriculture attended their annual spring meeting to continue their education and prepare for the upcoming growing season. The topics covered this year included in-house program training on sampling and inspections for animal food, seed, fertilizers, pesticide products, pesticide misuse, industrial hemp, ornamental plants, insects and other industry threats.See MoreLearn about the bureau
Happy National Ag Week! We pause to applaud PA agriculture and highlight how the industry strengthens our communities and economy each and every day. Agriculture is the number one industry in Pennsylvania, and that’s thanks to the dedication of those farmers and producers who work hard to provide an abundance of food, fiber, and resources for us all.See More
Secretary Redding attended the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Spring Conference for a panel discussion with other Commonwealth Secretaries, highlighting the partnership between departments. Governor Shapiro also stopped in to give his remarks. See More
Recently, while in Lackawanna County, Secretary Redding stopped by theAmerican Dairy Association North East Board Meeting to share key updates for the dairy industry. Discussions highlighted the PA Farm Bill, workforce and apprenticeship, conservation and preservations, and the work being done to support charitable food programs and mental health.See More
Penn State Extension to Hold “Agronomy Scout School” Penn State Extension will hold an in-person workshop titled “Agronomy Scout School,” aimed at providing crop scouts with an overview of the fundamentals necessary for scouting in corn, soybeans, forages and small grains. The workshop will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building on Penn State’s University Park campus. Deadline: Register by March 29, 2023Learn More
High School Students Invited to Learn About Dairy Technology on April 27 High school students in 11thand 12th grades who are interested in technology and dairy farming are invited to this year’s Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Exploration Experience. Students will learn about various technologies and advancements in the dairy industry and see how Oakleigh Dairy Farm uses robotics on a daily basis. Deadline: Apply by April 20, 2023Learn More
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Recovery Reimbursement Grant Applications are open for the fourth round of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) recovery support for poultry farmers and integrators who suffered losses in HPAI Control Zones (the 10-kilometer perimeter around an infected, quarantined farm). Deadline: Apply by April 30, 2023Apply Now
National Hardwood Lumber Association Training School The Inspector Training School will host a FULL summer class in Oil City, PA. The summer class is made possible by a grant awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s “Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program“. A 50% reimbursement of tuition paid by or on behalf of Pennsylvania-based participants will be issued upon successful completion of the program.Learn MoreRegister
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 3/23/2023 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Tuscarora Twp, Bradford county. CSL 402(b) – POTENTIAL POLLUTION – Conducting an activity regulated by a permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of The Clean Streams Law to prevent the potential of pollution to waters of the Commonwealth without a permit or contrary to a permit issued under that authority by the Department.
Marienville, PA—Joe Ewing Reporting–The second annual Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast was held in the Shamrock Room at the Kelly Hotel in historic downtown Marienville, PA. on March 18th, 2023. Hare hunters from as far away as Tampa, FL, and Buffalo, NY, were in attendance. Fellowship and camaraderie over good food and good conversation were enjoyed by the 26 members attending. After breakfast, the group moved to a secret location on the Allegheny High Plateau known for harboring the elusive varying hare or snowshoe hare.
A long convoy of pickup trucks conveyed the hunters to hare habitat in the Allegheny National Forest. Before launching the pack of beagles, the hunters gathered to listen to two special guest speakers who spoke to the members about game lands and game animals.
Mr. Lane Potts, a wildlife health technician from the Wildlife Futures Program, spoke of the health of Pennsylvania’s game animals, including snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbits, Appalachian cottontails, and ruffed grouse. Lane, an honorary member, discussed Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) and the proactive measures the PGC is taking to mitigate that threat. In September 2022, the Game Commission established Pennsylvania’s first RHD – Disease Management Area (DMA) that covers roughly a 5-mile radius around where RHD was detected in a domestic rabbit facility.
The Wildlife Futures Program, started in 2019, is a science-based wildlife health partnership between the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, designed to strengthen the resilience of Pennsylvania’s 480 species of birds and mammals.
Mr. Scott Wolbert, Northwest Regional Forester for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, spoke on the health of Pennsylvania’s forests and the programs the PGC is undertaking to keep our forests healthy. Managing Pennsylvania’s Game Land forests for the benefit of game animals, namely snowshoe hare, was discussed. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny understand that grouse and hare habitats go hand in hand. The Grouse Priority Area Siting Tool (G-PAST), which identifies locations where ruffed grouse can quickly take advantage of habitat creation based on landscape variables and nearby source populations, was discussed, and a question and answer period followed each presentation.
The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny, headquartered in Lucinda, PA, is Pennsylvania’s premier snowshoe hare conservation organization. The members meet annually to advance their knowledge concerning snowshoe hare, rabbit habitat, and beagling by hearing from the experts. The members take the opportunity to renew friendships and promote fellowship. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny remain dedicated to preserving snowshoe hare and beagling on the Allegheny Plateau and throughout Pennsylvania.
At 7:09 PM on Saturday, Whitesville Fire Dept. & Independence Rescue have been dispatched to 782 Rt. 248 for a vehicle into the embankment with heavy damage. Unknown injuries.
The Winter Outings Series ends next Friday, March 31 with the Telescopes and Planetarium Open House from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On the 31st will be a free, short program suitable for all ages in the planetarium. Explore the winter night sky, Orion’s belt, and distant galaxies, all from the comfort of the Strait Planetarium, which is part of Grant Science Center at the Mansfield campus of Commonwealth University (formerly Mansfield University).
If skies are clear before or after the program, look through telescopes provided outdoors by the Pennsylvania Wilds Astronomy Club to take a closer look at the planetary lineup of Saturn, Venus and Mars.
Leaders are Mansfield University’s Dr. Elaine Farkas, a physics professor with the MU Department of Chemistry and Physics, and Tim Morey of the Hills Creek State Park Complex. Registration is not required. See Mansfield.edu for a campus map to locate the building and parking options. To learn more about Winter Outings series events or for updates on trail conditions, directions and other information visit http://www.stepoutdoors.org
At 10:18 AM on Saturday, Derrick City Fire Dept. dispatched for possible house fire at 317 Derrick Road. Chief 11 on scene reporting light smoke in the residence. Believed to be electrical in nature.
All fire units can return per Chief 11. Otto Twp. RECALLED. Power surge, no fire.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Parsippany. New Jersey. Ascend Laboratories LLC. is voluntarily recalling Dabigatran Etcxilate Capsules. USP 75 mg and 150 mg to the consumer/user level due to the presence of a nitrosamine. N-nitroso-dabigatran, above the established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) level. To date, Ascend Laboratories LLC., has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.
Second Nature Brands of Madison Heights, MI, is recalling its 4-ounce packages of Gluten Free Reese’s Pieces Brownie Brittle because they may contain undeclared wheat.
People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
The recalled Gluten Free Reese’s Pieces Brownie Brittle were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through online orders.
Wind Advisory issued March 25 at 3:46AM EDT until March 26 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo
DESCRIPTION: …WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM EDT SUNDAY… * WHAT…Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. In addition, expect southerly winds to gust over 45 mph at times today. * WHERE…Livingston, Ontario, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties. * WHEN…From 6 PM this evening to 5 AM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
INSTRUCTIONS: Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
At 8:20 AM on Saturday, Wellsboro Fire Dept. has been called to Park Hill Manor at 21 Grant Street for a fire alarm. Evacuation is in progress. Police have been requested to scene.