Ag Awareness Week has new look this year
By LYDIA COTTRELL lcottrell@timesobserver.comAg Awareness Week 2010 will look a little different this year.
According to George Wilcox, Warren County Penn State Cooperative Extension director, this year's edition, slated for March 15-20, is chock full of programming for grow-business development ideas.
"We're trying to do more than just production meetings," he said. "I think it's a good time to explore other business ventures or expand the business outside of just adding more cows."
The reason behind the extra focus on business development is the large role farmers play in the county.
"Farms currently produce about $20 million a year of product and account for 30 percent of the real estate tax," he said.
The week kicks off on Monday with Agronomy Day with a focus on home-grown fuel, specifically machinery modification and equipment needed to use home-grown fuel. Other programs for the day will cover self-protection by limiting exposure to pesticides and seed treatments and stocked traits which make sense for Warren County.
Tuesday will be Vegetable Day. Alice Sjolander, manager of the Meadville Market House, will talk about how the Meadville Market evolved into a year-round operation.
Asked if Warren County could sustain a year-round farmers' market, Wilcox said, "I think so. You would have to be innovative."
Also on Tuesday there is an evening program for backyard gardens. Part of the program will focus on home herb and vegetable garden disease and pest management.
Wednesday is dedicated to dairy farmers. Some of the topics that will be covered include how milk is priced, electricity deregulation and energy conservation and grain marketing.
No programs are scheduled for Thursday.
Friday is designated as Business Development Day and will cover developing the entrepreneurial spirit, product pricing and applying for a business loan.
The final day, Saturday, is an introduction to forest management.
There is a fee for each day of programming to cover refreshments, food and materials.
For registration information, call the Penn State Cooperative Extension office at 563-9388.
