Progress 10/01/06 to 12/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience: Participants served in events and education include agronomic and horticultural producers, service providers and industry representatives, students, extension professionals, scientists, legislators and the general public. Many visitors and attendees at events are members of plain-sect communities. Those attending educational events at the Center also included out-of-state and international visitors, at-risk youth. Changes/Problems:This project has been in existence for more than 5 years, final is being submitted to resolvethe issue. Projectwill terminate retroactively 09/30/14. The final report was sent via email in 2014 because we were unable to submit at an earlier date. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts various field days and tours attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. The events are advertised through agricultural newspapers, e-mail list-servs, websites, social media, direct mailings, and/or notices in agricultural business and count extension offices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Experiment results are disseminated at field days, winter grower meetings and on the College of Ag website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, nutrient management, safe pesticide use, food safety, and increase home horticulture skills. The general public and local and state legislators gained a better understanding of agricultural practices and the industry in Pennsylvania. Growers continue to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic conditions.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Participants served in events and education include agronomic and horticultural producers, service providers and industry representatives, students, extension professionals, scientists, legislators and the general public. Many visitors and attendees at events are members of plain-sect communities. Those attending educational events at the Center also included out-of-state and international visitors, at-risk youth. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts various field days and tours attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. The events are advertised through agricultural newspapers, e-mail list-servs, websites, social media, direct mailings, and/or notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Experimental results are disseminated at field days, winter grower meetings and on the College of Ag website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Ongoing and new research and demonstration projects and eventsare planned for 2015.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, nutrient management, safe pesticide use, food safety, and increase home horticulture skills. The general public and local and state legislators gained a better understanding of agricultural practices and the industry in Pennsylvania. Growers continue to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic conditions.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Participants served in events and education include agronomic and horticultural producers, service providers and industry representatives, students, extension professionals, scientists, legislators and the general public. Many visitors and attendees at events are members of plain-sect communities. Those attending educational events at the Center also included out-of-state and international visitors, at-risk youth. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts various field days and tours attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. The events are advertised through agricultural newspapers, e-mail list-servs, websites, social media, direct mailings, and/or notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Experimental results are disseminated at field days, winter grower meetings and on the College of Ag website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? New and ongoing projects will take place in 2014 in collaboration with Penn State faculty and staff, Penn State Extension, members of the agricultural industry and other non-Penn State personnel (USDA-ARS, Lancaster Co. Conservation District, Chesapeake Bay Foundation). SEAREC will host field days to educate farmers, consumers, industry representatives, Extension professionals and other groups. Tours will allow individuals to have access to the experiments and demonstrations as well as the expertise of researchers. We will continue to collaborate with specific industry partners to conduct studies, field days and tours.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, nutrient management, safe pesticide use, food safety, and increase home horticulture skills. The general public and local and state legislators gained a better understanding of agricultural practices and the industry in Pennsylvania. Growers continue to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic conditions.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts various field days and tours attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. The events are advertised through agricultural newspapers, e-mail list-servs, websites, social media, direct mailings, and/or notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. The Farming for Success field day was attended by 150 people consisting of farmers, seed and pesticide industry representatives, farm equipment manufacturers, cooperative extension individuals, NRCS, and county conservation district personnel. Topics included no-till equipment innovations, biofuel production, plant disease management, herbicide use, nutrient management, cover crops, and no-till transition. The Penn State Flower Trial Field Day was attended by 185 people including greenhouse growers, plant breeders, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, master gardeners and plant wholesalers. Topics included evaluation of flower varieties, potting mixes, fertilizers, irrigation optimization, sanitization, pest management, pesticide safety, and plant breeding. The Summer Garden Experience, a public open house, was attended by 475 people who learned about flower performance, weed identification and control, use of herbs, turf grass management, climate change, container vegetable gardening, and tomato variety testing. The third annual Soybean Field Research Day drew an audience of approximately 150 to learn about improved production practices. Smaller tours and field days were also conducted throughout the season to look at ongoing research at the Center and combined these reached an audience of over 400 individuals. The Southeast Center hosted a legislative research tour for lawmakers and media outlets to showcase the research at the University that benefits the not only the citizens of PA, but impacts the population of the United States, as well. In addition, the Center was the location for a Master Gardener Meeting, a Penn State Extension Pest walk, a Pollinator Week event, a meeting of the Lancaster Honey Producers and a Custom Applicator School for the continuing education of agrichemical applicators. Various groups were hosted for tours of the farm and gardens including students, staff and faculty from Longwood Gardens, Harrisburg Area Community College and a horticulture program for at-risk youth, Lancaster Garden Club, the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension Board, as well as local community members. Approximately 500 individuals have been received at the farm for self-guided tours of the Flower Trial and Idea Gardens. Lastly, various field days were held for specific industry partners such as Syngenta, Griffin, Hubner, and Ball, to view their varieties and products. Results of projects and demonstrations at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center (SEAREC) are disseminated in refereed journal articles, extension publications, trade journals, popular press, and are communicated during field days, workshops, presentations, displays, tours and meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Any publications resulting from any of the variety trials, field days, or tours are reported in the accomplishment report for the respective faculty member. The Center Director (Dr. Alyssa Collins) facilitates the planning and implementation of the projects at the Center. Over 50 new and ongoing experiments took place at the Center during 2012. Collaborators include other Penn State faculty and staff (Mark Antle, Jim Breining, Bill Curran, Cory Dillon, Sjoerd Duiker, Beth Gugino, Shelby Fleischer, Marvin Hall, Chris Hauser, Ron Hoover, Greg Krawczyk, Dwight Lingenfelter, Don Rill, Greg Roth, John Schaffer and John Tooker), Cooperative Extension (Tim Abbey, Steve Bogash, John Bray, Tim Elkner, Jeff Graybill, Anne Hawk, Annette Macoy, Ginger Pryor, John Rowehl, Connie Schmotzer, Alex Surcica, Delbert Voight, Warren Wolf), members of agricultural industry (Don Ganske (DuPont), Fred Lepley (Hubner Seed), Jordan Martin (Timac Agro), Matthew Olinger (Bayer)), and other non-Penn State personnel (Thomas Devine (retired USDA-ARS), Dennis Eby (Lancaster Co. Conservation District), Ashley Spotts (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)). TARGET AUDIENCES: Participants served in events and education include agronomic and horticultural producers, service providers and industry representatives, students, extension professionals, scientists, legislators and the general public. Many visitors and attendees at events are members of plain-sect communities. Those attending educational events at the Center also included out-of-state and international visitors, at-risk youth. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, nutrient management, safe pesticide use, and increase home horticulture skills. The general public and local and state legislators gained a better understanding of agricultural practices and the industry in Pennsylvania. Growers continue to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic conditions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Results of projects and demonstrations at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center (SEAREC) are disseminated in refereed journal articles, extension publications, trade journals and popular press. They are also communicated during field days, workshops, presentations, displays, tours and meetings, both hosted at SEAREC and at other venues. Over a dozen outreach or extension events were held at SEAREC in the past year. Any publications resulting from any of the variety trials, field days, or tours are reported in the accomplishment report for the respective faculty member. PARTICIPANTS: The Center Director (Dr. Alyssa Collins) facilitates the planning and implementation of the projects at the Center. Over 50 new and ongoing experiments took place at the Center during 2011. Collaborators include other Penn State faculty and staff (Mark Antle, Paul Backman, Jim Breining, Bill Curran, Cory Dillon, Sjoerd Duiker, Beth Gugino, Marvin Hall, Chris Hauser, Ron Hoover, Dwight Lingenfelter, Don Rill, Greg Roth, John Schaffer and John Tooker), Cooperative Extension (Tim Abbey, Steve Bogash, John Bray, Paul Craig, Tim Elkner, Jeff Graybill, Anne Hawk, Annette Macoy, Alan Michael, Ginger Pryor, John Rowehl, Connie Schmotzer, Alex Surcica, Delbert Voight, Shirley Wagner, Warren Wolf), members of agricultural industry (Don Ganske (DuPont), Gary Kirfman (Valent), Fred Lepley (Hubner Seed), Jordan Martin (Timac Agro), Matthew Olinger (Bayer)), and other non-Penn State personnel (Thomas Devine (retired USDA-ARS), Dennis Eby (Lancaster Co. Conservation District), Ashley Spotts (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)). TARGET AUDIENCES: Participants served in events and education include agronomic and horticultural producers, service providers and industry representatives, students, extension professionals, scientists, legislators and the general public. Many visitors and attendees at events are members of plain-sect communities. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The SEAREC hosts field days and tours attended by farmers, industry reps, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic (e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops) and are advertised through ag newspapers, e-mail list-servs, websites, direct mailings, and/or notices in ag business and county ext offices. The Farming for Success field day (175 participants) was attended by farmers, seed & pesticide industry reps, farm equipment manufacturers, coop ext individuals, NRCS, and county conservation district personnel. Topics included no-till equipment innovations, plant disease management, herbicide use, nutrient management, cover crops, and no-till transition. The Penn State Flower Trial Field Day (240 participants) was attended by greenhouse growers, plant breeders, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, master gardeners and plant wholesalers. Topics included evaluation of flower varieties, potting mixes, fertilizers, irrigation optimization, sanitization, greenhouse equipment, pesticide safety, and plant breeding. The Summer Garden Experience, a public open house (554 attendees), demonstrated flower performance, weed identification and control, use of herbs, turfgrass mgmt, unique fruit selections, container vegetable gardening, and tomato variety testing. The Vegetable & Small Fruit Field Day (~74 participants) addressed tomato, pepper, and pumpkin variety trials, container vegetable trials, onion production, disease management, and examined the high tunnel production system. The Soybean Field Research Day participants (~ 100) learned about improved production practices. Smaller tours & field days were conducted to look at ongoing research at the Center and combined reached an audience of ~ 75 individuals. We hosted a Discovery Day for legislators and media outlets to showcase the research at the Center that benefits the not only the citizens of PA, but impacts the population of the US as well. The Center was the site for various meetings - Master Gardener Meeting (80 participants), Lancaster Honey Producers (40 participants), and Custom Applicator School (80 participants). Various groups were hosted for tours of the farm and gardens including higher education professionals from Towson Univ, the Cochran Fellows, students and faculty from Dickinson College and Longwood Gardens, visiting scientists from the Univ of DE and Ireland, as well as local community members. Hundreds of individuals come to the farm for self-guided tours of the Flower Trial. Various field days were held for specific industry partners to view their varieties and products. Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn info they could use to improve their crop production, nutrient mgmt, safe pesticide use, and increase home hort skills. The general public and local/state legislators gained a better understanding of ag practices and the industry in PA. Growers continue to transition to no-till techniques and are using info learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry reps use the info generated on the projects to help optimize their products for PA and Mid-Atlantic conditions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts various field days and tours attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. The events are advertised through agricultural newspapers, web list serves, direct mailings, and/or notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. The Farming for Success field day was attended by 220 people consisting of farmers, seed and pesticide industry representatives, farm equipment manufacturers, cooperative extension individuals, NRCS, and county conservation district personnel. Topics included no-till equipment innovations, herbicide use, nutrient management, cover crops, and no-till transition. The Penn State Flower Trial Field Day was attended by 281 people including greenhouse growers, plant breeders, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, master gardeners and plant wholesalers. Topics included evaluation of flower varieties, potting mixes, fertilizers, irrigation optimization, sanitization, greenhouse equipment, pesticide safety, and plant breeding. The Summer Garden Experience, a public open house, was attended by approximately 640 people who learned about flower performance, weed identification and control, decorative apple tree pruning, turf grass management, unique fruit selections, container vegetable gardening, and tomato variety testing. The Vegetable and Small Fruit Twilight Meeting at the Center and had an audience of approximately 50 individuals and addressed tomato and pepper variety trials, pumpkin variety trials, and container vegetable trials, and examined the high tunnel production system. The first annual Soybean Field Research Day drew an audience of 60 to learn about improved production practices. Smaller tours and field days were also conducted to look at ongoing research at the Center including cover crop performance (15 attendees), small grains production (40 attendees), weed management in corn and soybeans (45 attendees), flowers and vegetables (70 attendees), and nitrogen management in field corn (35 attendees). The Southeast Center hosted a Discovery Day for legislators and media outlets to showcase the research at the Center that benefits the not only the citizens of PA, but impacts the population of the United States, as well. In addition, the Center was the location for a Master Gardener Meeting (80 participants) and a Custom Applicator School for the continuing education of agrichemical applicators (80 participants). Various groups were hosted for tours of the farm and gardens including a group of North Carolina farmers, a delegation from China Agricultural University, as well as local community members. Hundreds of individuals have been received at the farm for self-guided tours of the Flower Trial. Lastly, various field days were held for specific industry partners such as Syngenta, Griffin, Hubner, and Ball, to view their varieties and products. PARTICIPANTS: Any publications resulting from any of the variety trials, field days, or tours are reported in the accomplishment report for the respective faculty member. The Center Director (John Stepanchak through December 2009, Dr. Alyssa Collins since then) facilitates the planning and implementation of the projects at the Center. Over 50 new and ongoing experiments took place at the Center during 2010. Collaborators include other Penn State faculty and staff (Mark Antle, Doug Beegle, Jim Breining, Bill Curran, Justin Dillon, Sjoerd Duiker, Shelby Fleischer, Beth Gugino, Marvin Hall, Chris Hauser, Ron Hoover, Dwight Lingenfelter, Don Rill, Greg Roth, John Schaffer, Dick Todd, and John Tooker), Cooperative Extension (Tim Abbey, Steve Bogash, Paul Craig, Tim Elkner, Jeff Graybill, Anne Hawk, Annette Macoy, Alan Michael, Ginger Pryor, John Rowehl, Connie Schmotzer, Alex Surcica, Del Voight, Shirley Wagner), and non-Penn State personnel (Tony Buda (USDA-ARS), Joel Myers (NRCS), John Schmidt (USDA-ARS)). TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Center Director, David Johnson, resigned from Penn State. Interim Directorship provided by John Stepanchak until Alyssa Collins started January 4, 2010.
Impacts
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, nutrient management, safe pesticide use, and increase home horticulture skills. Growers continue to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic conditions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center hosts various field days and tours attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days are usually focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. The field days and tours are advertised through agricultural newspapers, web list serves, direct mailings, and/or notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. The Farming for Success field day was attended by 235 people consisting of farmers, seed and pesticide industry representatives, farm equipment manufacturers, cooperative extension individuals, NRCS, and county conservation district personnel. Topics included looking at no-till equipment, road safety, herbicide use, nitrogen management, cover crops, and no-till transition. The Flower Field Day was attended by 365 people including greenhouse growers, plant breeders, greenhouse equipment manufacturers, suppliers, master gardeners and plant wholesalers. Topics included evaluation of flower varieties, potting mixes, fertilizers, greenhouse equipment, pesticide safety, and plant breeding. The Summer Gardener Experience, a public open house, was attended by approximately 400 people. Topics such as flower performance, native plants in the landscape, weed identification and control, decorative apple tree pruning, turf grass management, plant health diagnostics, cut flowers, tomato variety testing, and gardening tips were addressed. The Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association held their Vegetable and Small Fruit Field Day at the Center and had an audience of approximately 130 individuals. This field day discussed and displayed the tomato and pepper variety trials, pumpkin variety trials, nitrogen trials, and examined the high tunnels. We also conducted smaller tours and field days to look at weed management in corn and soybeans (25 attendees), flowers and vegetables (47 attendees), different amounts of nitrogen on field corn (27 attendees), and soybean research (24 attendees) that is ongoing at the Center. The Southeast Center conducted a Federal Legislative Aides Tour (attended by 25 people) to showcase the research that is going on at the Center that benefits the not only the citizens of Pennsylvania, but a large portion of the population of the United States as well. In addition, the Center was the location for the Master Gardener Social (40 participants) and the Commercial Applicator School that trains applicators to pesticide safety (80 participants). Lastly, we held various field days for specific vendors such as Syngenta, Hubner, and Ball, to look at their respective varieties. Any publications resulting from any of the variety trials, field days, or tours would be reported in the accomplishment report for the respective faculty member. PARTICIPANTS: The Center Director (Dr. David H. Johnson until mid-December, John Stepanchak since then) facilitates the planning and implementation of the projects at the Center. Collaborators include other Penn State faculty and staff (Mark Antle, Doug Beegle, Bill Curran, Justin Dillon, Sjoerd Duiker, Shelby Fleischer, Marvin Hall, Chris Hauser, Ron Hoover, Dwight Lingenfelter, Jeff McClellan, Don Rill, Greg Roth, and Rick Stehouwer), Penn State graduate students (Amanda Bachman, Steve Conaway, Bryan Dillehay, Mary Carol Frier, Ruth Mick, and Grant Stokke), Cooperative Extension (Tim Abbey, Tara Baugher, Steve Bogash, Paul Craig, Tim Elkner, Jeff Graybill, Wayne Haas, Anne Hawk, Axel Linde, Annette Macoy, Greg Martin, Alan Michael, Ginger Pryor, Mary Ann Ryan, John Rowehl, Connie Schmotzer, Grant Troop, Del Voight, Shirley Wagner, and Jere Wingert), and non-Penn State personnel (Mark Goodson (NRCS), Joel Myers (NRCS), Kevin Seibert (Lancaster County Conservation District, and Rob Stout (USDA Pasture Lab). TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Center Director, David Johnson, resigned from Penn State. Interim Directorship provided by John Stepanchak. New Center Director to start January 4, 2010.
Impacts
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, manure management, safe pesticide use, and gardening tips. Growers are continuing to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania conditions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The primary output from the Center is field days attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days usually are focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. These field days are advertised through agricultural newspapers, web list serves, direct mailings, and notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. In 2008 we had six major field days, and several small field days. The Agronomy field day was attended by 230 people, including farmers, seed and pesticide industry representatives, farm equipment manufacturers, cooperative extension, NRCS, and county conservation district personnel. Topics included biofuels for PA, nitrogen management in no till, operation of no-till drills, weed control in sweet corn, new corn pest management trails, no-till forage establishment, and performance of new pesticides in field crops. The Flower field day was attended by about 370 people, including greenhouse growers, plant breeders, greenhouse equipment manufacturers, suppliers, master gardeners and plant wholesalers. Topics included evaluation of flower varieties, potting mixes, greenhouse equipment, pesticide safety, and plant breeding. The Summer Garden Experience field day was a public open house attended by about 300 people from the general public, and topics included flower performance, native plants in the landscape, establishment of a native meadow, weed identification, decorative apple tree pruning, turfgrass management, plant health diagnostics, cut flowers, blackberry tasting, and gardening tips. A vegetable meeting for growers was attended by about 60 people and included topics on sweet corn insect management, pumpkin disease management, and tomato variety production. A small grains field day was attended by about 40 seedsmen, agronomists, and growers. Topics included wheat, barley, and canola variety performance, weed control, foliar disease management, economics, and marketing. Other outputs include information for growers that is used to update the Penn State Agronomy Guide, newsletters, and fact sheets. PARTICIPANTS: The project PI (Dr. David H. Johnson) facilitates the planning and implementation of the projects at the Center. Collaborators include other Penn State faculty and staff (Mark Antle, Doug Beegle, Jim Breining, Bill Curran, Justin Dillon, Sjoerd Duiker, Shelby Fleischer, Marvin Hall, Chris Hauser, Ron Hoover, Dwight Lingenfelter, Jeff McClellan, Don Rill, Greg Roth, John Shaffer, John Tooker), Penn State graduate students (Amanda Bachman, Steve Conaway, Nelson DeBarros, Mary Carol Frier, and Ruth Mick), Cooperative Extension (Tim Abbey, Tara Baugher, Steve Bogash, Paul Craig, Tim Elkner, Jeff Graybill, Anne Hawk, Axel Linde, Annette Macoy, Greg Martin, Alan Michael, Ginger Pryor, Jonathan Rotz, John Rowehl, Mary Ann Ryan, Connie Schmotzer, Grant Troop, Del Voight, Shirley Wagner), and non-Penn State personnel (Mark Goodson (NRCS), Joel Myers (PA No-till Alliance), and John Schmidt (USDA Pasture Lab)). TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences vary with the program, but include farmers, cooperative extension, certified crop advisors, greenhouse operators, farm equipment manufacturers, nutrient management planners, conservation district planners, industry representatives, and the general public. Many women and Anabaptist groups participate, especially in the greenhouse and open house programs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, nitrogen management, planter and drill set-up for no till, safe pesticide use, and gardening tips. Growers are continuing to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania conditions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The primary output from the Center is field days attended by farmers, industry representatives, certified crop advisors, and the general public. The field days usually are focused on a general topic, e.g. agronomy, flowers, or vegetable crops. These field days are advertised through agricultural newspapers, web list serves, direct mailings, and notices in agricultural business and county extension offices. In 2007 we had six major field days, and several small field days. The Agronomy field day was attended by 270 people, including farmers, seed and pesticide industry representatives, farm equipment manufacturers, cooperative extension, NRCS, and county conservation district personnel. Topics included manure handling and equipment in no till, disposal of animal carcasses by composting, cover crop management, new seed traits, and performance of new pesticides in field crops. The Flower field day was attended by about 370 people, including greenhouse growers, plant breeders,
greenhouse equipment manufacturers, suppliers, master gardeners and plant wholesalers. Topics included evaluation of flower varieties, potting mixes, fertilizers, greenhouse equipment, pesticide safety, and plant breeding. The Summer Garden Experience field day was a public open house attended by about 300 people from the general public, and topics included flower performance, native plants in the landscape, weed identification and control, decorative apple tree pruning, turfgrass management, plant health diagnostics, cut flowers, tomato variety tasting, and gardening tips. A vegetable meeting for growers was attended by about 20 people and included topics on sweet corn insect management, vegetable disease management, and tomato variety production. A custom pesticide applicator field day was attended by 80 commercial pesticide applicators. Topics included weed control, insect management with seed treatments, pesticide safety, proper choice and use of spray nozzles, sprayer operation
and cleanout, and cover crop management. A no-till training program and field day was held for personnel from NRCS and county conservation district conservation planners, and was attended by 50 people. Topics included soil quality, no-till planting equipment, cover crop planting and termination, weed, insect, and disease control, and manure management. Other outputs include information for growers that is used to update the Penn State Agronomy Guide and fact sheets.
PARTICIPANTS: The project PI (Dr. David H. Johnson) facilitates the planning and implementation of the projects at the Center. Collaborators include other Penn State faculty and staff (Mark Antle, Doug Beegle, Bill Curran, Justin Dillon, Sjoerd Duiker, Shelby Fleischer, Marvin Hall, Chris Hauser, Ron Hoover, Dwight Lingenfelter, Jeff McClellan, Don Rill, Greg Roth, and Rick Stehouwer), Penn State graduate students (Amanda Bachman, Steve Conaway, Bryan Dillehay, Mary Carol Frier, Ruth Mick, and Grant Stokke), Cooperative Extension (Tim Abbey, Tara Baugher, Steve Bogash, Paul Craig, Tim Elkner, Jeff Graybill, Wayne Haas, Anne Hawk, Axel Linde, Annette Macoy, Greg Martin, Alan Michael, Ginger Pryor, Mary Ann Ryan, John Rowehl, Connie Schmotzer, Grant Troop, Del Voight, Shirley Wagner, and Jere Wingert), and non-Penn State personnel (Mark Goodson (NRCS), Joel Myers (NRCS), Kevin Seibert (Lancaster County Conservation District, and Rob Stout (USDA Pasture Lab)).
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences vary with the program, but include farmers, cooperative extension, certified crop advisors, greenhouse operators, farm equipment manufacturers, nutrient management planners, conservation district planners, industry representatives, and the general public. Many women and Anabaptist groups participate, especially in the greenhouse and open house programs.
Impacts
Surveys and comments from attendees indicated that they were able to learn information they could use to improve their crop production, manure management, safe pesticide use, and gardening tips. Growers are continuing to transition to no-till techniques, and are using information learned to help adopt these production practices. Industry representatives use the information generated on the projects to help optimize their products for Pennsylvania conditions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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