KILE Starts Monday

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Next week the Farm Show Complex will host the 53rd edition of the Keystone International Livestock Exposition (KILE).

Coined the largest livestock show in the eastern United States, it will begin on Monday, Sept. 28 and run through Oct.

Snickerdoodle Stands Supreme at All-American

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Returning to the top of the show, Old Mill E Snickerdoodle, an 11-year-old Brown Swiss, was crowned the supreme champion of the 2009 All-American Dairy Show on Thursday.

Breed champions, from left, are Milking Shorthorn, Clayside FST Valroa 8A22 exhibited by Nick Wright; Ayrshire Val Destrie Special K Lolly exhibited by Denise Peila; Holstein, SLM Know July Lindsay exhibited by Chris Hill; Supreme and Brown Swiss, Old Mill E Snickerdoodle exhibited by Deanna Bendig; Red and White, Windsor Manor Romance-Red-ET exhibited by Claire Burdette; Guernsey, Littlefields Dollar Sandler exhibited by Beth Littlefield; and Jersey, Pleasant Valley Pride Heather exhibited by Wayne Stiles.

Dairy Farmers, Task Force Grapple With Policy Reform

Dave Lefever
Editor

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Dean Jackson's dad told him that a roomful of farmers would never agree on a solution to a problem.

But the Bradford County dairyman showed up at a special meeting Tuesday hoping to make a case for proving his father wrong on that particular point.

"There's got to be unity," Jackson said during the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence Task Force, called to solidify the state's plan of action for addressing dairy policy reform.

Jackson's call for solidarity was echoed by others at the meeting, including Gordon Hoover, director of eastern milk supply for Land O' Lakes.

"If the industry ever got unified, legislators would breathe a sigh of relief," Hoover said.

Jackson and Hoover were among about 40 attendees, including a number of dairy farmers and industry support  people at the meeting, scheduled by Acting Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to coincide with the All-American Dairy Show.

"This is a collective challenge, no question about it," said Redding on the difficulties of milk marketing and dairy policy reform.

The need for more market transparency is one point in which all dairy farmers seem to agree.

USDA Economist Addresses Milk Pricing at Dairy Hearing

Steve Taylor
New England Correspondent

ST. ALBANS, Vt. — The top economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture sees gradual improvement in the current dreary national farm milk price picture, with 2010 posting an all-milk price of around $15 a hundredweight.

Dr.

Pilgrim’s, JBS Say No Operational Changes Expected

Andrew Jenner
Virginia Correspondent

HARRISONBURG, Va. — After last week’s confirmation that Brazilian meat company JBS S.A. plans to acquire Pilgrim’s Pride, local growers reacted with concern over how the change could affect them, and optimism that the move would strengthen the financially-troubled poultry company.

The sale — which awaits shareholder, bankruptcy court and regulatory approval — is part of Pilgrim’s Pride’s restructuring plan, which the company says will allow it to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the end of December.

Mike Weaver, a Pilgrim’s Pride grower from Fort Seybert, W.Va.

‘Keep Local Farms’ Program Launched

Initiative Will Provide Funds Directly to Dairy Farmers in the Northeast

Steve Taylor
New England Correspondent

LANDAFF, N.H. — An idea hatched five years ago to try to capitalize on consumer interest in locally produced foods in order to gain some extra income for New England dairy farmers has finally gotten off the ground.

“Keep Local Farms” is the name of the initiative, and its ultimate goal is to build a brand identification for New England-produced milk that will motivate consumers to pay a little extra at the supermarket that will end up putting some money in the pockets of the region’s hard-pressed dairy farmers.

Debra Erb, a Landaff, N.H., dairy farmer, cheese producer and milk cooperative director, explains that Keep Local Farms aims to be an umbrella that will have both an educational and a financial dimension.

Solanco Fair Celebrates 60th Birthday, Posts Sale Results

Fair Holds True to Its Ag Roots

Michelle Kunjappu
Reporter

QUARRYVILLE, Pa. — The Solanco Fair celebrated its 60th birthday in fine style this year, doing what it does best — putting on a rural celebration that draws the community out to celebrate and learn about agriculture.

From the beginning, the officers and directors decided, and included in the bylaws, that no gambling or concessionaires would be allowed nor would carnival-type activities be permitted so that the fair would always maintain its agricultural and family roots.

The three-day fair boasts a celebrity milking contest, parade, and a double tractor pull track for antique and classic pulls.

Energy Festival Proves Eye Opening, Educational

Chris Torres
Staff Writer

KEMPTON, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival is unlike any other event around.

Where else can you find samples of raw goat cheese, toothbrushes made out of cellulose and people talking about how to reuse human urine as a good fertilizer, all in the same place?

“We’re fanatics about the environment and we want other people to learn about things they can do to help,” said Bill Hennessey, festival organizer and executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association (MAREA).

This was the fifth festival organized by the association and the largest one yet.

Expert Shares Poultry Trend Insights

Charlene M. Shupp
Espenshade
Special Sections Editor

GRANTVILLE, Pa. — Across all types of poultry production, the take-home message from Stacey Edwards of Agri Stats is that feed costs have been taking an increasing portion of the poultry production pie.

Edwards spoke at the Pennsylvania Poultry Sales and Service Conference/Northeastern Conference on Avian Diseases here last week.