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On February 17, 2018

Forage producers have two opportunities to expand their knowledge of production at two conferences sponsored by the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council and Penn State Extension. The first meeting will be held in at the Park Inn by Radisson, 1395 Wayne Avenue, Indiana, PA On Tuesday February 27, 2018. The second meeting will follow on Wednesday February 28, 2018 and will be held at Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, 604 Station Road, Grantville, PA.

Program topics will be of interest to hay and silage producers as well as grazers!

Our keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Dan Undersander, Forage Specialist at the University of Wisconsin.  Undersander will be discussing the use of low-lignin alfalfa in beef and dairy rations, as well as minimizing drying rate through swath width and machinery adjustments. Other topics include Weeds in Forages (Dwight Lingenfelter, Penn State Extension), Soil Fertility in Forages (Dr. Doug Beegle, retired Penn State Extension), Does Hay Pay? (Andrew Frankenfield, Penn State Extension), and Forage-Based Beef Production (Dr. Scott Barao, retired Univ. of Maryland Beef Extension Specialist).

Visit with industry professionals and farmers and enjoy the day listening and learning about educational topics pertaining to forage production!

If you have questions regarding registration, please contact Terri Breon at: 814-355-2467 or PAForageGrassland@gmail.com. For additional information regarding the content of the program, commercial sponsorship, or exhibit space, please contact Jessica Williamson at: 814-865- 9552 or jaw67@psu.edu.

To Learn About USDA Funding To Combat The Spotted Lanternfly

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced $17.5 million in emergency funding to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The spotted lanternfly feeds on more than 70 types of plants and secretes a sticky residue on leaves that can lead to the growth of sooty mold fungus affecting overall plant health. With its distinctive and colorful wings, the spotted lanternfly was first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014. The affected area expanded from 174 square miles in fiscal year (FY) 2016 to approximately 3,000 square miles by the end of FY 2017.

This emergency funding, which was made available through existing Commodity Credit Corporation balances, will allow for a two-pronged approach with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) managing the outer perimeter of the infestation and PDA focusing on a 3-mile perimeter surrounding the core infested area. The goal of this expanded surveillance and control program is to stop the leading edge of the infestation and start pushing it inward while at the same time reducing the density of spotted lanternfly populations in the core-infested area.

In addition to emergency activities in Pennsylvania, APHIS is planning to use existing resources to conduct surveys, and control measures if necessary, in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, where there is growing concern about the potential spread of SLF.

USDA and PDA’s cooperative efforts will help protect Pennsylvania’s agricultural and forested lands from the damaging effects of the spotted lanternfly. For more information on the spotted lanternfly, please visit USDA’s Hungry Pests website

Are you planning to hire youth to work at your farm operation? If so, are you aware of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture (Ag HO)? Since 1969, the U.S. Department of Labor has declared many agricultural tasks to be hazardous to youth younger than 16. With certain exemptions, employment of youth under 16 for tasks that require operation of a tractor and machinery is illegal unless the youth are certified. By successfully completing a certification program, 14 and 15 year old youth may legally operate farm tractors and powered machinery for hire which they otherwise would not be allowed to operate under the U.S. Department of Labor’s AgHO. More information about certification through the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program is available at this link: https://extension.psu.edu/national-safe-tractor-and-machinery-operation-program .

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) is a project of the United State Department of Agriculture Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service’s Hazardous Occupations Safety Training for Agriculture (HOSTA) Program. It was developed to respond to the need for resources to inform and support the Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Regulation which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Training is designed to consistently cover core content areas including safety basics, agricultural hazards, tractors, connecting and using implements with tractors and materials

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) was developed through a collaborative effort involving Penn State University, Ohio State University, and the agricultural division of the National Safety Council.

Before you embark on a busy spring, take time to provide your workers with training on all aspects of the farm operation. Some suggested training topics to cover include location of first aid kits and emergency contact information, safety protocols around equipment (e.g., turn off the tractor before doing any maintenance, etc.), proper clothing for specific jobs (e.g., no flip flops, no loose fitting clothing around PTO, etc.) and daily pre-operational checks for tractors and equipment. Consider organizing a safe tractor operation workshop for your workers. If you need an outline for a workshop for your employees, our guide to teaching safe tractor operation will help you with the process.  https://extension.psu.edu/the-teaching-safe-tractor-operation-guide .

Special precautions need to be taken when moving tractors and equipment on public roadways. Most agricultural equipment travels at less than 25 mph while other motor vehicles travel at much greater speeds and they underestimate the amount of braking time needed to avoid a collision. Most states require a slow moving emblem (SMV) on the back of all tractors, towed implements and self-propelled implements. Guidelines and recommendations were developed for lighting and marking of farm equipment that travel on public roadways. For a complete breakdown of lighting and marking requirements in Pennsylvania, visit the Rx for SMV Highway Safety article by Penn State Ag Safety and Health: https://extension.psu.edu/rx-for-smv-highway-safety-be-conspicuous .

Winter and early spring is the perfect time to be doing maintenance on your equipment, but there are several things that you should do on a daily basis prior to using your tractor. By doing a pre-operational check on your tractor, you may prevent costly repairs, down time for repairs and frustrations. Check out the Top 10 Pre-Operational Checks for Tractors https://extension.psu.edu/pre-operational-checks-for-tractors

The Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft transfers mechanical power from the tractor to an implement. This transfer of power is efficient but also presents a potential entanglement hazard that could result in serious injury or death. Preventative steps in reducing a PTO entanglement incident include the following:

Keep all components of PTO systems shielded and guarded. – PTO shields can be purchased from the Northeast Center: http://www.nycamh.org/programs/ppeonlinecatalog/ Regularly test driveline guards by spinning them to make sure that they are not stuck to the shaft. Disengage the PTO and shut off the tractor before dismounting to clean, repair, service, or adjust machinery. Always walk around tractors and machinery instead of stepping over a rotating shaft. Always use the driveline recommended for your machine. Never switch drivelines among different machines. Position the tractor’s drawbar properly for each machine used to help prevent driveline stress and separation on uneven terrain and during tight turns. Reduce PTO shaft abuse by observing the following: avoid tight turns that pinch rotating shafts between the tractor and machine; keep excessive telescoping to a minimum; engage power to the shaft gradually; and avoid over tightening of slip clutches on PTO-driven machines. Be sure PTO driveline is securely locked onto the tractor PTO stub shaft. Keep universal joints in phase. (If unfamiliar with this term, check the operator manual or talk with a farm implement dealer.) It is important to reduce the risk of injury and death on the farm because agricultural owners, operators, and workers are so vital to our communities. Have a safe and successful spring season at your farm operation!

Quote Of The Week: “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” Booker T Washington