Ag Week

A publication by

OCT. 9-15

THE NEXT

CROP
Todays farmers depend on
business savvy and education

and

CELEBRATING LANCASTER COUNTY AGRICULTURE

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

Ag Week Schedule

Contents

MONDAY, OCT. 10

n Event: Legislative/VIP Breakfast.

Where: Clipper Stadium.
When: 7:30-9:30 a.m.

BLAINE SHAHAN | LNP PHOTOGRAPHER

ON THE COVER: BUCKHILL FARM HARVEST MANAGER DAN YODER
HARVESTS RADISHES IN SEPTEMBER.

Cover story

Todays crop of Lancaster County

farmers is committed to building
businesses through technology, planning
and education | PAGE 17

4 TOURS
Spend time exploring the areas
farms and fields

Details: Kickoff breakfast will highlight local

projects providing agricultural economic
development opportunities in the county.
Results from a recent research project
will be discussed, paired with strategic
plans of the Lancaster County Ag Council.
Discussion of current legislative issues will
round out the breakfast. Seating is limited.
More: Reservations required by Oct. 5.
Contact Shelly Dehoff at 880-0848 or
shellydehoff@lancasterconservation.org.

TUESDAY, OCT. 11

consumers happy, farmers suffer

MARKET
8 EGG
Consumers are craving fresh
eggs, and Lancaster delivers

OF FARMING
9 FACES
Meet Lancaster Countys new
crop of agricultural mavens

GRAYBEAL
14 LISA
Agriculture Week showcases
diversity of area farmers

CHANGING TRADITIONS
Historic barns are pretty but not
very practical for todays farmers

Research, technology keep

farmers on the cutting edge

DESIGN BY ABBY RHOAD, LNP

n Lancaster County Ag Week runs

Oct. 9-15 with daily activities; details

at lancastercountyagweek.com.

More: Gov. Tom Wolf declared this week

Ag and Food Related Careers Week. Event
will showcase successful Ag/FFA program
in Lancaster County. Future jobs and
careers in ag- and food-related arenas will
require workers knowledgeable in science,
public relations, skilled trades, English,
law, finances, business management, logic,
problem solving, communications, GIS,
mechanics, electronics, engineering and
other areas of study.

Where: Brubaker Farms Tour, 493 Musser

Road, Mount Joy, or Roger Rohrer Farm,
22 Girvin Road, Strasburg.

n Event: Why Winter Squash and

When: Time to be announced.

Details: Available farm tours and a
discussion of the Chesapeake Bay reboot
strategy will highlight what farmers can
do to improve water quality and how local
leaders are coordinating efforts.
More: Contact Shelly Dehoff at 880-0848 or
shellydehoff@lancasterconservation.org.

n Event: Open house with Central

Pennsylvania Food Bank.

Where: Lancaster Council of Churches

Food Hub.
When: 2-4 p.m.
Details: The Central Pennsylvania Food
Bank and the Lancaster Council of Churches
have been partnering with the Hunger Free
Lancaster County Coalition to offer free
meals three times a day, seven days a week.
Representatives will be available.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12

Pumpkins are Great Fall Food.

Where: Lancaster Farm and Home Center,

1383 Arcadia Road.
When: 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Details: Varieties of squash, nutritional
differences, sample recipes.
More: Reservations requested, but not
required. Contact PSU Extension office at
394-6851.

n Event: Preparing and Preserving Squash.

Where: Lancaster Farm and Home Center,
1383 Arcadia Road.
When: 11 a.m.-noon or 2-3 p.m.
Details: Cooking, freezing and canning
pumpkin; cooking squash; freezing winter
squash, cooking with pumpkin products.
More: Reservations requested, but not
required. Contact PSU Extension office at
394-6851.

n Event: Denim & Pearls.

Where: Pheasant Run Farm B&B,
200 Marticville Road.

agriculture and FFA program.

When: 6-9 p.m.

Where: Lampeter-Strasburg High School

Ag Department, 1600 Book Road.

Details: Put away the suits and stilettos,

and break out the denim and pearls for a

Fresh Homemade Baked

Goods made daily in
our own bakery...
Pies, Whoopies, cookies,
breads & cakes

n Event: Tree Planting Event.

Where: 411 S. Groffdale Road, Gordonville.
When: Noon-3 p.m.
Details: Plant a tree along a stream in the
Gordonville area (between New Holland
and Intercourse). After a short educational
introduction to the benefits of buffers,
plan to get a little dirty while helping
plant hundreds of trees. Wear weatherappropriate attire, and bring shovels if
available. Water bottles and cookies will be
provided.
More: Reservations requested, but
not required. Contact Shelly Dehoff
at 880-0848 or shellydehoff@
lancasterconservation.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 15
n Event: Pumpkin Decorating Contest.
Where: Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.
When: Noon-5 p.m.
Details: The Ag Council provided
pumpkin seeds in the summer. Bring your
homegrown pumpkin, and decorate it at
Cherry Crest. Cash prizes will be awarded
for the top three decorated pumpkins.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29
n Event: Pumpkin Chucking Contest.
Where: Oregon Dairy Corn Maize area.
Details: The Ag Council provided pumpkin
seeds in the summer. Bring your homegrown
pumpkin and see how far you can chuck
your pumpkin with Oregon Dairys Punkin
Chuckr. Cash prizes for three pumpkins
landing closest to the target.
More: Rain date is Sunday, Oct 30.

Nothing beats a day at the farm!

Over 60 Farm Fun activities,
games and rides, plus
Americas longest-running
Amazing Maize Maze

Home Grown Home Baked Goodness!

Beautiful Mums, Pumpkins & Crafts!

In season...
Homemade Pumpkin
Roll, Pumpkin Whoopies,
Pumpkin Pecan Bars all made with our own
homegrown pumpkins

FRIDAY, OCT. 14

When: 3-5 p.m.

n Event: Showcase event of successful

HORST
FARM MARKET
In Season Homegrown
Apples, Broccoli, Cabbage,
Cauliflower & Tomatoes

five-star dinner on the farm. Fundraising

dinner for the Lancaster County Ag Council
will feature the best of Lancaster County
foods. Guests receive a gift bag filled with
Lancaster County-made products and can
enter to win Lancaster County prizes.
More: Tickets required; purchase at
oregondairy.com/denim-and-pearls-dinner.

When: 10 a.m. to noon

THURSDAY, OCT. 13

More: lcchurches.org/#!food-hub/nwizp

22 NEW KNOWLEDGE

IF YOU GO

n Event: Highlighting environmental and

water quality benefits of agriculture.

FARMS
6 DAIRY
While the low cost of milk makes

20

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

~ Sale Dates
October 3 - October 8 ~
Special of the week...
Pumpkin Pie 8 $3.99 /
Peanut Butter Cookies $2.99 dozen
Deli Specials
J.F.M. Smoked Turkey Breast $4.99
lb. / Cooper Sharp $4.25 lb.

640 Reading Road, East Earl, Pa 17519 | 717-445-9514

Open Thurs 10-5 Fri-Sat 10-10

Flashlight Mazes every Fri-Sat
Live Shows
U-Pick Farm Market

TICKETS
ON-LINE.
AVAILABLE

866.546.1799 V ISIT C HERRY C REST FARM . COM FOR DETAILS .

FARM
MARKETS

 
 







OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP


   
 






From Field
To Table

   

 
 
   
    
  
 


Baked Goods, Canned Goods, Drinks, Pies, Flowers, and Much More!

Hours:
 
  
   

 

 
 

  



 
 




  

   

     

 
 
 

Winner of the LNP Readers Choice Awards

for best Farm Market

TUESDAYS
All Year !

717-336-1661

A Lancaster County Tradition Since 1925

     

 

MUMS

Hay Maze
Hay Tunnel
Open Saturdays in October, 11am-6pm
       
  




(717)768-7119

Harvest Lane Farm

Dogwood
Farm Market

1124 Dogwood Drive, Reinholds PA 17569

Zooks
Roadside Stand
      
 

GOURDS

$5 OFF YOU
UR PURC
C ASE
1955 Beaver Valley Pike, Near New Providence
Mon. Fri. 8am to 6pm * Sat. 8am to 4pm
www.mecksproduce.com
Also at The Lancaster Central Market
Also Like us on Facebook!

Our own produce, bakery,

natural beef, pork and more!
harvestlanefarmmarket@gmail.com

717-560-6219

n n
w
O row
r
G
Oume
Ho

Crisp & Juicy

Gala, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Jonathan, Cortland,

Crimson Crisp, Fuji, Golden Del, and Jonagold

$4.95/5lbs

(Excludes Honeycrisp)

Chicken BBQ
Every Sat. 10-?

Fresh Homemade BAKED GOODS (Fri. & Sat.)

       

  717-626-7115

        
     

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

Ag Week Tours

BRUBAKER FARMS
493 Musser Road, Mount Joy
When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11; 10:30 a.m.
and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12; 9:30 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 14.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 35 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Main entrance.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: Closed-toed shoes; dress
according to weather.

n Tours at ag-related businesses will be featured throughout

October. To RSVP for tours, call Susan Kauffman at the Lancaster
Chamber of Commerce & Industry at 397-3531.

CASE NEW HOLLAND

300 Diller Ave., New Holland
When: 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 40 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Building No. 30,
southside tour entrance.
Photography: Not permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: Closed-toed shoes; no children
younger than 12.

BINKLEY & HURST

133 Rothsville Station Road, Lititz
When: 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 10 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Front entrance.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: Visit Outback Toys during tour.

WENGER FEEDS
101 W. Harrisburg Pike, Rheems
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 30 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Main entrance.
Photography: Not permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Participants must
sign biosecurity waiver.
Special info: Participants should not have
been near live poultry in the past 72 hours.

FILE PHOTO

Climb the silo observation tower during a tour of Kreider Farms in Manheim.

KREIDER FARMS
1461 Lancaster Road, Manheim
When: 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13;
28 per trolley. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday,
Oct. 18; 24 per trolley.
Tour length: 90 minutes, climb silo

observation tower.
Parking/meeting: Welcome Center at
Kreider Farms.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Waivers must be
signed by guests to climb the tower.

SAUDERS EGGS
570 Furnace Hill Pike, Lititz
When: 7:30-8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10, includes
omelettes.
Tour length: 45 minutes.
Number of guests: Unlimited.
Parking/meeting: Front office entrance.
CONTINUED, page 5

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AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

Ag Week Tours
Continued from page 4

Photography: Not permitted.

Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: Closed-toed shoes; no jewelry.

GRAYWOOD FARMS
225 Mason Dixon Road, Peach Bottom
When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 15 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Drive to the big red barn
on top of the hill.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: Tour will go through dairy farm
barn; boot/shoe covers will be provided.

KAUFFMANS
FRUIT FARM & MARKET
3097 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Tour length: Hourlong orchard tour.
Number of guests: 12 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Main entrance,
east end of market.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Sign waiver at tour.
Special info: Dress according to weather.

additional parking at Twin Ponds East, 3904

Corey Road, Harrisburg.
Photography: Permitted.

GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE

AEROPONIC GREENHOUSE

Tour declaration/waiver: May ask guests to

sign photo release.

433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland

When: 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 20 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Parking lot and along grass.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: None.

Special info: Closed-toed shoes.

LANCASTER COUNTY
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
812 N. Queen St., Lancaster
When: 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.

HOOBER INC.
3452 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse
When: 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.
Tour length: Two hours.
Number of guests: 20 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Main entrance.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special info: Closed-toed shoes.

Tour Length: Two hours.

LANCASTER FARMING

Number of guests: 20 maximum.

1 E. Main St., Ephrata

When: 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.

Parking/meeting: Parking lot, off-street

parking on North Queen Street.

KEGELS PRODUCE

OCTOBER 2, 2016

Tour length: One hour.

2851 Old Tree Drive, Lancaster

When: 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Tour length: One hour.
Number of guests: 40 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Second entrance, OK to
park along grass across from loading area.
Photography: Permitted.
Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.
Special Info: Cold climate, closed-toed shoes.

Photography: Permitted.

Number of guests: No limit.

Tour declaration/waiver: May ask guests to

sign photo release.

Parking/meeting: Parking lot.

CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK

Number of guests: 25 max per wagon.

Tour length: One hour.

Parking/meeting: Southern entrance, by

playgroup.

Number of guests: 10 maximum.

Parking/meeting: First farm on the right.

Photography: Permitted.

Photography: Permitted.

Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.

Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.

Special info: Dress according to weather.

Special info: Closed-toed shoes.

3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg

When: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Tour length: Two hours.
Number of guests: 20 maximum.
Parking/meeting: Main entrance

Special info: Closed-toed shoes.

OREGON DAIRY
2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18; noon Wednesday, Oct. 19; 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.
Tour length: Two-hour maximum.

New Addition To Our

LANCASTER COUNTY
DAIRY FARM TOUR
Attraction!

Tour declaration/waiver: Not required.

Special info: Closed-toed shoes.

FLINTROCK STABLES
16 E. Brubaker Valley Road, Lititz
When: Noon Thursday, Oct. 20.

OPENED

MAY
2016!

This silo is over 100 high.

It was moved into position
from a distance of over 3
football fields. Click here
to watch the move:

Public tours Monday through Saturday on a

real working dairy farm. Reservations required.
Make your reservations
to visit our Farm Tour and
Silo Observation Tower at
farmtours@kreiderfarms.com
or call: 717-665-5039

1461 Lancaster Road, Manheim, PA 17545 kreiderfarms.com 717-665-6614

Photography: Permitted.

Our dairy products are

truly "Farm to Fork.

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

SHOPPERS SAVE,
FARMERS SUFFER

CHARLENE M. SHUPP ESPENSHADE

Mike Brubaker and his brother Tony milk and feed about 950 cows in Mount Joy.

A drop in milk prices has translated

to a 40 percent pay cut for dairy farmers

CHARLENE M. SHUPP ESPENSHADE

LANCASTER FARMING SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

he past year has been rough on Lancaster County

dairy farmers, as astute shoppers might have deduced at the supermarket. The price for a gallon of
milk has dropped 60 cents since reaching record levels in
2014, according to the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board.
In recent months, the drop in price
has translated into a 40 percent pay cut
for dairy farmers, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture reports.
For many farmers, sales have not paid
for the cost of producing milk, forcing
them to draw down savings, extend lines
of credit or go out of business.
Thats a big deal in Lancaster County,
the eighth-largest dairy producer in the
United States, with all of the other top
10 milk-producing counties in the West.
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, there were 110,805 milk cows
on 1,878 farms in Lancaster County,
producing about $400 million in wholesale milk sales.

Lower farm incomes are felt by the

larger community, as about 85 percent
of farm income goes to support local
businesses and the community tax base,
according to the Pennsylvania Center
for Dairy Excellence.

Costs remain
Mike Brubaker, in partnership with
his brother Tony at Brubaker Farms in
Mount Joy, has been on the front line of
those price shifts.
The general rule of thumb is our dairy
has 60 to 65 percent of our income as it
was two years ago, he said.
CONTINUED, page 7

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

Continued from page 6

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The farms bills for feeding its herd

of Holsteins have dropped some, and
equipment upgrades have been delayed,
Brubaker said, but our costs are not
one-third less.
Still, its business as usual for Mike and
Tony Brubaker. They and their employees have 950 cows to milk and feed, along
with crops to tend. They also raise broiler
chickens as another source of income.

Supply and demand

About half of what grocery shoppers
pay for the Brubakers milk returns to
them. The other half pays for transporting, processing, packaging and
selling the milk, according to Chuck
Nicholson, a professor of supply chain
management at Penn States Smeal

College of Business.
Overall supply and demand, both domestically and in the export market,
determine what prices farmers are paid.
Store prices follow that trend, with
slight delays in increases or decreases. Wholesalers and retailers also will
smooth prices to avoid sudden, dramatic changes, Nicholson said.
Their profit margins are the largest
when the prices paid to farmers are the
lowest, he said, which is one reason the
topic is popular among farmers this year.
In addition to producing milk, Mike
Brubaker is on the governing board of
the 325-member Mount Joy Farmers
Cooperative.
Anything we can do to return more
to the farmer, we try to do, he said. Its
not easy. ... At times like this, you look
under every rock to save some money.

LANCASTER COUNTY: 2012 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE

110,805

1,878

MILK COWS

$400M

FARMS

MILK SALES

Agricultural Engineers
and Consultants
Building Relationships That Build
Your Business

Manure Management System Designs

Erosion Control and Stormwater Plans/

NPDES Permits

Land Development Plans/

Municipal Approvals

Facilities Planning and Design for

Nutrient/Odor Management Plans

CAFO Permits

New and Expanding Dairies

Soil Conservation Plans

Comprehensive Nutrient
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Ph# 717-445-6432 fax# 717-445-6467

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Crop Consulting/Soil Sampling

Precision Agriculture

120 Lake Street Ephrata, PA 17522

Email: TeamAg@TeamAgInc.com www.TeamAgInc.com
Consultants Licensed in PA, NY, DE, MD, VA
Lancaster County: (717) 721-6795
York County: (717) 405-2147

Centre County: (570) 541-3287

Western New York: (716) 353-3390

Bradford County: (570) 888-0538

Northumberland County: (570) 764-7003

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

County cracks
huge egg market
An egg laid in Lancaster County today
can be in New York by tomorrow
DICK WANNER

LANCASTER FARMING REPORTER

Lititz farmer Darren Good sells his

eggs for a premium price because he
produces exactly what a niche market
is clamoring for brown, organic eggs
from cage-free, free-range chickens.
Goods eggs are marketed through Heritage Poultry Management Services in
Annville, which supplies Pete and Gerrys brand organic eggs. Pete and Gerrys
processes, packs and delivers the eggs to
stores, where consumers are willing to
pay $2 to $3 more per dozen for its eggs.
Goods 40,000 hens have unlimited
access to a spacious, grassy outdoor
area. His eggs go to a processing plant in

Greencastle, and they are sold in Giant,

Weis, Costco and Whole Foods stores.
Goods farm is one of more than 1,220
egg-producing operations in Lancaster
County, which has at least 10.6 million
laying hens, the largest concentration of
any county in the U.S.
But numbers are not the only reason
Lancaster County is a dominant force in
the egg industry, according to Gregory
Martin, who has a doctorate in poultry
science and works out of the Penn State
Extension office at the Lancaster Farm
and Home Center.
The countys egg farmers are supported by a close-knit infrastructure that
includes feed manufacturers, truckers,

DICK WANNER | LNP CORRESPONDENT

Darren Goods organic brown eggs are from

free-range chickens. The eggs are sold locally
under the Pete and Gerrys label.

processors, marketers, technicians, service people, equipment vendors, hatcheries and scientists like Martin.
Martin said he expects layer-hen
numbers to exceed the 10.6 million figure taken from the 2012 census, when
the next census is conducted by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture next year.

The number of layers in the county

jumped by a third between the 2007 and
2012 censuses, while the number of egg
farms rose from 983 to 1,220.
Lancaster Countys egg production is
a dominant force in the food industry,
in part because its close to the major
markets of New York City, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington.
People want their eggs to be fresh, Martin said: An egg laid in Lancaster County
today can be in New York by tomorrow.
Eggs are conveyed from the hens to a
packing room on the farm where they are
placed into flats. The flats go onto carts,
which are trucked to processing plants,
where the eggs are washed, weighed, graded, inspected and packed into cartons for
grocery sales or flats.
Consumers take all of that for granted.
What theyre becoming more concerned
about these days is how the chickens are
raised, another key to Lancaster Countys growing egg industry.
Weve got everything here, from small
flocks raised on pasture to multitiered
houses with 100,000 or more caged
birds, Martin said. Our farmers produce
brown eggs, white eggs, nutritionally enhanced eggs, organic eggs, free-range eggs
whatever the market calls for.

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14 Herrville Rd., Willow Street, PA 17584
Mon.-Fri., 6:30 am-8:00 pm, Sat., 7:30 am-6:00 pm

In Columbia Shopping Center

1786 Columbia Ave., Columbia
Mon.-Fri., 7:30 am-8:00 pm, Sat., 7:30 am-6:00 pm Sun.
10:00 am-5:00pm

464-3321 or 800-732-0053

717-684-8515

FACES
LANCASTER, PA | LNP

AG WEEK

OCTOBER 2, 2016

WORTH-THE-WAIT FARM

of

FARMING
Known for its rich history and vibrant farming community, Lancaster
County leads the country in many agricultural categories. Here are
the stories of the hardworking people who cultivate its success.

DAN MARSCHKA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

From left, Laura, Leslie and Christian Landis stand in one of the new chicken barns being
constructed at their farm.

Farmers: Christian and Laura Landis,

both 28.
Years Farming: Six.
Location: Clay Township.
Operation: 100-acre dairy farm with 60
acres in feed corn; adding 60,000 broiler
chickens this fall.
Previous experience: Christian earned
a degree in dairy science from Delaware
Valley College in 2010; Laura studied
Spanish at Oglethorpe University, then
worked in a vet clinic and a forage lab

before joining Christian on the farm.

Customers: They provide about 1 million
pounds of milk annually to the Maryland
& Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative
Association, which sells milk under the
Marva Maid brand, and to chains including
Starbucks and Wal-Mart. They will be
raising organic broiler chickens for Perdues
Coleman Natural brand.
Employees: One part-time farm hand,
15 hours per week.
CONTINUED, pages 10 and 11

10

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

REGIONAL LEADER
As an industry cluster,
the agriculture and food
industry contributed
the following to the
regional economy:

23,841

Agriculture jobs, which make

up 8 percent of the countys
workforce.

$1,088,057,016
In earnings, or 8 percent
of all regional earnings.

$6,699,582,779
In sales, or 16 percent
of sales in the region.

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

BUCKHILL FARMS
Farmer: Andrew Buckwalter, 39.
Years Farming: 10.
Location: Warwick Township.
Operation: Two family-owned farms
include more than 15 acres dedicated
to Buckhill Farm Community Supported
Agriculture, an organic operation that
offers more than 100 crops, in addition to
flowers and herbs. The remainder of the
land is dedicated to cash crops such as
corn, soy and wheat.
Previous experience: Buckwalter attended
Muhlenberg College, then performed
film work in New York for the Discovery
Channel. His love for the slow-food
movement grew while teaching English
and coaching soccer at a private boys
school. He worked with the Collaborative
Regional Alliance for Farmer Training to
study irrigation, greens production and
weed control before launching community
supported agriculture in 2008.
Customers: Community supported
agriculture customers make up the bulk
of organic sales. The farm also operates
a stand along Lititz Pike and sells to local
restaurants ranging from Dosie Dough
in Lititz to The Fridge in Lancaster.
Cash crops typically are sold as feed to
neighboring farmers.
Employees: Buckwalters wife, Coral
Hotte, is a certified horticulturist and

BLAINE SHAHAN | LNP PHOTOGRAPHER

Andrew Buckwalter owns the farm in Warwick Township, which has been in his
family for 60 years.
flower farmer and is increasing her
farm work now that their son is 5 years
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AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

11

EASTLAND ALPACAS

DAN MARSCHKA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOS

Kevin and Sue Zurin spend time with two of their Eastland Alpacas, Jasper, left, and Blue
Belle. On their farm, the couple sell apparel made out of alpaca fleece.

Farmers: Kevin and Sue Zurin, both 60.

Years farming: 13.
Location: Mount Joy Township.
Operation: The Zurins have 99 alpacas
and two llamas on 13 acres, complete
with barn and a garage turned into farm
store.
Previous experience: Kevin Zurin started
his own construction business in 1981. Sue

Zurin keeps the books. Both were raised

on farms but didnt return to agriculture
until 2002. Construction still accounts for
more than half their income.
Customers: They sell animals at farm
shows, offer breeding services, host
tourists, sell alpaca fleece to a co-op,
and run a store with apparel and alpaca
supplies.
Employees: Three part-time.

LANCASTER FARMACY

Casey and Elisabeth Spacht with their son,

Quehanna, in a Lancaster Farmacy plot.

Farmers: Casey Spacht, 41,

and Elisabeth Weaver, 36.

Operation: 5-acre organic farm with

herbs, produce, flowers and bees.

Customers: They sell directly to chefs

and herbalists but make most of their
income by providing produce, flowers
and herbs to the Lancaster Farm Fresh
Cooperative. Most of their products end
up in community supported agriculture
boxes that go straight to local consumers.

Previous experience: Elisabeth has an art

degree and worked with nonprofits as a
muralist. Casey managed natural food coops and a nonprofit farm-animal rescue.

Employees: One full-time apprentice,

part-time labor as needed. Some
customers trade work for an herbal
immersion course.

Years farming: Seven.

Location: East Lampeter Township.

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AG WEEK

OCTOBER 2, 2016

OCTOBER 2, 2016 13

THIS LAND IS
OUR LAND

72 percent
of the county is farmland

350,920

Acres of land used for

animal and crop farming

TOP 5
CROPS

nown for its vibrant agricultural community, Lancaster

County is almost 72 percent farmland. This graphic
shows a breakdown of that farmland and its uses, acres
and monetary value. Among all farmland, 24 percent 106,417
acres is preserved from development.

Corn for grain:

101,005 ACRES

439,481

BY THE NUMBERS
373,758: Acres of land zoned for agricultural use.
106,417: Acres of farmland preserved from development
by the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board
and Lancaster Farmland Trust.
1,362: Number of farms protected from development.

Downtown
Lancaster

Total acres of farmland

Forage-land for hay

and grass silage,
and greenchop:
81,560 ACRES

609,181

Countys total land mass in acreage

ANNUAL VALUE OF
TOP 3 CROPS PRODUCED

MAP KEY

The map at right shows the

different types of farms across
Lancaster County, by color.

$469 MILLION

Beef, cattle, hogs,

sheep and dairy products

Poultry and eggs

$425 MILLION
Milk from cows

$159MILLION
Cattle and calves

TOP 5 LIVESTOCK
Chickens make up the top 3 livestock categories in
Lancaster County. Egg-producing chickens: 11 MILLION;
Broilers and other chickens raised for meat: 10 MILLION;
Pullet hens for flock replacement: 3 MILLION
Hogs and pigs come in fourth at 360,000
and cattle and calves at 277,000

Fruit, vegetable
and grain crops

Corn for silage:

72,539 ACRES

Soybeans:
34,657 ACRES

Poultry and poultry products

Other farmland including
vineyards, beekeeping
operations, orchards,
nurseries and specialty farms

Wheat:
12,466 ACRES

Sources: Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board; Lancaster Farmland Trust; Lancaster County Planning Commission; Lancaster County Agricultural Council; Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2012 Census of Agriculture

14

OCTOBER 2, 2016

LISA GRAYBEAL
LANCASTER COUNTY
AGRICULTURE COUNCIL

Its the day before the entries are due

for the Solanco Fair, and Peach Bottom
native Jaylene Brinton is facing shelves
that hold an impressive inventory of
canned fruits, vegetables, pie fillings,
jams, soups, sauces and juices, contemplating which ones display her best
work.
She reaches up and chooses a quart
jar of kosher dill pickle spears that are
lined up end to end from lid to base.
Next, she moves to the rows of
golden-yellow peaches and selects a
fine specimen of uniformly sliced fruit
with not a brown spot in sight.
All told, Brinton selects nearly 30 jars
of canned goods to enter in the fair.
She grew most of the preserved vegetables in her large garden, and the tree
fruit came from a nearby Fulton Township orchard.

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AG WEEK

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LNP | LANCASTER, PA

During fair time in Lancaster County,

one doesnt have to look any farther than
inside those tents and buildings to discover the diversity of our agriculture.
There youll find prize-winning cattle
and hogs, well-groomed market goats and
sheep, and vast displays of canned goods,
gigantic pumpkins and ears of corn.
From farm stands and backyard
gardens such as Brintons, to big-name
processors like Turkey Hill and Kunzler, Lancaster County boasts a remarkable lineup of farm products grown
within its nearly 1,000 square miles.
If you didnt get a chance to attend a
fair this year, theres still time to celebrate this industry during Agriculture
Week, from Oct. 9-15.
Organized by the Lancaster County
Agriculture Council, Steinman Communications and LNP, its a time set
aside to bring attention to the farmers
who put food on our tables every day.

Our bounty
A variety of events, contests and tours
that are open to the public are scheduled throughout the week.
Often called the Garden Spot of
CONTINUED, page 16

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OCTOBER 2, 2016 15

AG WEEK

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Please check if you have the symptoms listed below:

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Stiffness of the joints or
Fatigue, tiredness,
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Tingling, numbness,
Unexplained swollen
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glands?
sensations?
Chronic sore throat or sinus Facial paralysis - Bells
infections
Palsy?
Testicular/pelvic pain?
Double or blurry vision,
Unexplained menstrual
floaters, pain, light
irregularity?
sensitivity?
Irritable bladder or bladder Buzzing or ringing in ears,
dysfunction?
ear pain, sensitivity to
Sexual dysfunction or loss
sound?
of libido?
Dizziness, poor balance,
Stomach problems?
increased motion sickness?
Change in bowel function,
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Difficulty with
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OCTOBER 2, 2016

Continued from page 14

America, Lancaster County boasts some of

the most fertile, nonirrigated soil in the nation.
Though fields of corn are what people see
the most as they drive through the countryside, the variety of foodstuffs grown here is
remarkable.
It starts early in the spring with the green
tips of onions poking through the earth and
finishes in late fall when fields are dotted
with orange pumpkins and signs advertising
broccoli and cauliflower, and pick-your-own
apples point down long farm lanes.
Then theres all of that good stuff in between. Maybe cows come to mind when you
think of Lancaster County. Thats fair because
milk from cows accounts for about $425 million of Pennsylvanias agricultural output,
ranking it No. 1 out of the states 67 counties.
Poultry and eggs contribute about $469
million more, and swine an additional $148
million, making the county tops in the state in
both those categories, as well.
But what many dont realize is that Lancaster County also ranked first in the 2012
Census of Agriculture in the states production of tobacco, grains and dry beans, sheep,
goats and wool.
Corn for grain and corn for silage also hold

AG WEEK

the top spot in the state.

And lets not forget the countys nurseries,
greenhouses and floriculture, which rank
third in Pennsylvania. The number of cutChristmas-tree farms comes in eighth.
Did you know there also are quite a few Lancaster County farmers who raise ducks? A lot
of turkeys can be added to the numbers, and
aquaculture is becoming more popular with
the county, ranking 18th in the state.
Did I cover it all? Not even close. The diversity of agriculture here includes not only the
products but also the methods used to grow
them and the people who raise them.
So please join us during Agriculture Week
to learn even more about Lancaster Countys
bounty. Maybe thank a farmer along the way
for providing us with the farm-to-table experiences that easily can be taken for granted.
Find out about some of the issues facing the
agriculture industry in the county and learn
how those top rankings can be maintained.
Agriculture is important to all of us. Lets
celebrate all that Lancaster County has to
offer.

n Lisa Graybeal is the chairwoman of the Lancaster

County Agriculture Council. She was a journalist for
10 years before returning to her familys 1,200-acre
dairy farm in southern Lancaster County. She writes
a column called Agri-tude for Lancaster Farming
newspaper.

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

LEADING THE WAY

In the production of agricultural products alone,
Lancaster County is a powerhouse:

$1.47 billion

Total market value of products sold

in 2012, with 18 percent in crop
sales and 82 percent in livestock sales.

n Within Pennsylvania, Lancaster County leads in many

agricultural categories, including grains, vegetables, milk from

cows, poultry and eggs, hogs and pigs, sheep and goats, corn
for grain and silage.

No. 1

Lancaster Countys ranking in the U.S. in layers and

second in pullets as well as third in corn for silage
and fourth in poultry and eggs (out of 3,079 counties in the U.S.)

n Lancaster County also leads the state in two important

parts of the agriculture distribution chain: food processing and

forest and wood products. Processing
includes industries
that process and package eggs, milk, iced tea, ice cream, hot
dogs, cookies and crackers, candy and many food products
employs more than 5,000 workers, which is more than two
times more concentrated than the national average. Forest and
wood products have a high concentration of cabinetmakers,
employing more than 7,800 workers, which is nearly three times
the national average.

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OCTOBER 2, 2016 17

AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

CULTIVATING

THE
NEXT

GENERATION

Todays farmers are college-educated and eager to use technology to build their businesses

KIMBERLY MARSELAS
LNP CORRESPONDENT

Its nearing 11 a.m. when Laura Landis

slides a fried-egg sandwich across the table
to her husband, Christian, whos just getting
his first break on a sweltering September
day that will be consumed by chopping and
siloing 60 acres of feed corn.
In many ways, the scene is a typical one in
Lancaster County. The farmhouse dates to
1833, its kitchen decorated with a stack of
plump, red tomatoes and barn cats lounging
just outside the screen door.
Beyond the New Holland hay elevator
parked in the gravel drive, 44 Jersey, Holstein
and Swiss Brown cows are inside a renovated
barn, dining on a blend of corn, alfalfa and supplements that improve health and milk production. Once a month, they get a visit from
a vet, a nutritionist and a herd evaluator who
charts everything from peak lactation periods
to infection control on color-coded graphs.

A few steps beyond, on ground that started its journey to USDA organic certification three years ago, construction crews are
framing out two 63-by-500-foot chicken
houses. Combined, theyll soon be home to
60,000 roasters destined for Perdues Coleman Natural Line.
Its the familys second major investment
in the farm in the six years theyve owned it,
a sign of success but also a symbol of commitment to a demanding and sometimesdraining industry.
The Landises are part of a new crop of
farm owners and managers in Lancaster
County, often college-educated, committed
to the well-being of animals and Earth over
higher profit margins and eager to use modern technology even social media to
build their businesses.
Its a different industry than it used to be,
DAN MARSCHKA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
but still a very rewarding one, says Maria Laura Landis tends to cows in the milking barn at Worth-the-Wait Farm. In addition to
CONTINUED, page 18

44 cows, the Landis farm soon will be home to 60,000 roasters.

is pleased to participate in the

Lancaster County AG Week!

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OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

Continued from page 17

Gallo, president of Delaware Valley College. You have to be a sophisticated

business person who can manage the
agronomics piece of it, the science part
of it and manage that with the agribusiness side.

Startup costs
John Wodehouse is an agriculture business educator with Penn State Extension.
He encourages would-be farmers to explore with intent and certainty.
I would ask myself, Why farming?
he says. Its a risk-intense and seasonal
industry.
He says setting clear and specific goals
for the first lean years is a priority that
can lead to a quick return on investment, followed by longer-term goals.
Finding capital has to be part of the
process. Even though he took over land
that had been in his family for three
generations, Christian Landis needed a
substantial loan. And knowing the risks,
his father didnt want to co-sign.
In 2010, Landis took out a $125,000 lowinterest loan from the USDAs Farm Service Agency. Most of that went to buying
his first cows, replacing 1960s-era milking
equipment and making improvements

DAN MARSCHKA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Sue Zurin, with her husband, Kevin, owns an alpaca farm that includes a store that sells items
made by an alpaca co-op.

left unaddressed by a previous tenant.

I spent every penny I had saved,
he says. When the cows came off the
truck, I had $52 to my name.
Federal partners remain an important
resource for new farmers in Lancaster
County, especially well-educated ones
who have passion and a business plan
but a short track record. Despite more
than 20 years as owner of a construction business and a one-third down
payment, Kevin Zurin was turned down
by his bank when he applied for a loan

to buy his first 17 alpacas. He said bank

officials understood the economics of
sheep, pigs and cows, but couldnt envision how hed make his money back.
Zurin and his wife, Sue, found a more
cooperative bank. Fourteen years later,
they have a thriving breeding business,
a tourism operation and a store to sell
clothing made by an alpaca co-op.
When it comes to farming, even
banks are a little hesitant to finance new
ventures, says Doug Kilgore, county
executive director for Farm Service

Agency. The organization offers direct

federal loans to farmers and acts as a cosigner on private bank loans to higherrisk agricultural customers.
Last year, the agency made $3 million
to $4 million in new loans in Lancaster
County, some to cover operating costs
of new farmers with just a year of farm
management experience.
Farm loan manager Tiffany Lutz says
most first-generation farmers will qualify for an operating loan before they can
get a farm ownership loan. A farm ownership loan pays for land and improvements; the operating loan covers the
cost of livestock, equipment and other
daily essentials.
Those who want to buy land, Lutz says,
need to show three years of farm management experience. Special exceptions
apply for those with related college degrees or military service, but some farm
management is still expected.
Every applicant should arrive with a detailed business plan showing production
data and cash flow, even family expenses.
Contracts like the ones the Landises
got with Perdue also bode well because
theres less risk of market volatility.
This county is really the garden spot,
Kilgore says. You have great soils; for
CONTINUED, page 19

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OCTOBER 2, 2016 19

AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

Continued from page 18

the most part, we dont have drought very

often; and compared to a lot of commodities, we usually yield pretty well.

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Casey Spacht is manager of the Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative. In 2009,

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continues to grow because he and Weaver have a passion (and outside income
from Spachts job) to reinvest and help
support their family and community.
That philosophy might sound New Age,
but it reflects their willingness to partner
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Much of the Farmacys profits come
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a year since 2006, when there were just
six farmers supplying produce direct
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This year, there are 116 member farmers, almost all of them Amish or Mennonite, and 100 percent of them organic and
free-range. Most depend on this partnership and the co-ops infrastructure refrigerated delivery trucks, marketing and
bulk packing to make ends meet. Gallo
notes that sharing physical resources can
help limit costs.
In todays farming world, physical and
social networks can be equally valuable. A
course, a co-op or network of fellow farmers might lead to a buyer for surplus or a
peer who knows how to get rid of insects.
Marketing is also an important factor, Gallo adds. Social media is the new
way of doing. It provides an educational
piece, to help the public understand the
constraints and challenges of farming,
and show them that farmers are excellent stewards of the land.
With an extensive website, the co-op
helps its farmers talk directly to consumers, a job farmers didnt think of much
in the past. Laura Landis has blogged
about balancing farm and family on
Dairy Spot and posts regular updates to
@WorthTheWaitFarm on Facebook.
Weaver updates Instagram with images of herbs in bloom or classes being held
at the Farmacy to promote a connection
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OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

PICTURESQUE, NOT PRACTICAL

Bank barns design better served

yesteryears multipurpose farms

DICK WANNER

LANCASTER FARMING REPORTER

DICK WANNER | LANCASTER FARMING

Traditional bank barns, like this one near Ephrata, were built into hillsides or with ramped banks leading to
upper levels that usually contained hay mows and granaries.

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The classic bank barn is still

a picturesque part of the Lancaster County landscape, but
it is ill-suited for most types of
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Although many are still standing after two centuries or more,
and some are being renovated,
few new barns are being built.
The bank barns multipurpose design was perfect for
the farm that did everything,
says Chris Stoltzfus, who owns
White Horse Construction in
Parkesburg.
Stoltzfus grew up on a family
farm with a bank barn, and his
company specializes in agricultural construction.

800-352-3785
www.charvinfarm.net

Contact

Jennifer L.
Berkis-Kemmerer,

AG PLASTICS

1-800-743-3009

Email: Jennifer.Berkis-Kemmerer@businessleaseconsultants.com
Email: jennifer.blc@comcast.net
WWW.BUSINESSLEASECONSULTANTS.COM
WWW.BUSINESSLEASECONSULTANTS.COM

Poultry Feeders & Waterers

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Dog Food &
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Animal Vaccines
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Temporary & High Tensile
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CONTINUED, page 21

CONGRATULATIONS
To The Lancaster County Ag Industry

Business Lease Consultants, Inc.

Daniels Farm Store

Along Route 772,
Leola, PA

These barns were either built

into hillsides or with ramped
banks leading to the upper level, which traditionally housed
central threshing floor flanked
by hay mows and granaries.
The lower level featured stables
and stalls for the livestock.
Bank barns mostly face south
to capture the heat of the winter sun. But they also usually
have forebays overhanging the
foundation to shade the interior
stalls from the summers rays.
If a barn doesnt face south,
it often faces water so the animals dont have far to walk for
a drink. In contrast, todays
barns, because of environmental regulations, are built as far

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Leola, PA 17540
717-656-6982

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OCTOBER 2, 2016 21

AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

Continued from page A20

away from streams and ponds as possible.

Whats lacking, needed

Stoltzfus said there are many other
reasons the bank barn doesnt work well
for todays specialized farming operations. It takes more animals to make a
farm profitable, and even a small herd
of 20 to 30 dairy cows is ill-housed in a
traditional bank barn.
For their health and comfort, cows
need fresh air, so modern dairy barns are
built with fans, side curtains that can be
raised and lowered, or tunnel ventilation
systems designed to keep air moving.
Those features are difficult to retrofit into an existing bank barn, Stoltzfus
said. And today, feed is often stored in
separate buildings away from the livestock.
Dan McFarland, a Penn State agricultural engineer and extension educator,

said modern barns whether for dairy,

beef cattle, chickens or hogs are designed to meet an array of criteria.
That includes whats best for the animals health, manure handling, farmers
safety and accommodation of specialized
mechanical and computerized systems.
The result can be seen in the long, lowslung poultry barns, often ranked like
barracks, where Lancaster County eggs
are produced.
As barns have changed, so have their
inhabitants, McFarland said, recalling
his grandfathers dairy farm.
Back then, they had a Jersey herd,
and the cows produced maybe 5,000
pounds of milk per year, he said. Now,
here in southeast Pennsylvania, weve
got Holstein herds averaging 30,000
pounds of milk per cow.
Although todays barns might not be
as charming to the eye as traditional
bank barns, the modern barns are more
efficient and healthful for the livestock
on todays farms.

Above, a calf barn is an

example of modern dairy
housing. Built by Parkesburgs
White Horse Construction, it is
well-ventilated, clean and built
specifically for the animals
living there.
PHOTO COURTESY
OF WHITE HORSE CONSTRUCTION

Back then, they had a Jersey herd, and the cows produced maybe
5,000 pounds of milk per year. Now, here in southeast Pennsylvania,
weve got Holstein herds averaging 30,000 pounds of milk per cow.

Left, a bank barn on a farm on

Pleasant View Road in Ephrata
Township has been in use for
almost two centuries.

Dan McFarland, Penn State agricultural engineer and extension educator

STAN HALL | LANCASTER FARMING

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22

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

CUTTING EDGE
of
RESEARCH

SEED SOPHISTICATION

Farms offer ability to experiment

with crop varieties, insects and flowers

PHILIP GRUBER

LANCASTER FARMING STAFF WRITER

PHILIP GRUBER | LNP CORRESPONDENT

Behind the Lancaster County farmers who put food on your

table are dozens of local scientists working to improve crop
varieties and growing practices.
Farmers do a lot of experimenting on their own farms, but
they dont always have the resources, the land and the time
to play with like we do, said Alyssa Collins, a plant pathologist
and director of Penn States Southeast Agricultural Research
and Extension Center.
The 155-acre farm in Rapho Township is one of several crop
research sites in the county. At Penn States farm, researchers
study everything from new pumpkin varieties to corn herbicides. Much of the research is spurred by questions farmers
ask, Collins said. The research is funded by grants, donations
from agribusinesses and farmers, and from sales of the grain
grown in experiments.
Its self-supporting except for our salaries, which come
from the college, Collins said.

Penn States Landisville research farm is home to one of the nations

largest flower variety trials.

The produce is given to harvesters and local food pantries,

she said. To cram in as much research as possible, the farm is
broken into many small fields, which are then subdivided into
even smaller plots, often 10 by 50 feet. Most of the farming is
done with compact, specialized equipment designed for research, Collins said. The Landisville farm also evaluates 800
to 1,400 varieties of flowers each year.
Its definitely one of the largest (flower trials) in the U.S.,
she said. The flower section of the farm is open to the public
daily during the summer.
With the exception of the farms open house in July, the field
crop areas are off-limits to maintain the safety of visitors and
the integrity of the experiments, Collins said.
Penn State also has a research farm near State College,
where the climate is a little different from Lancasters.

Celebrating Ag Week & Saving the Land We Love!

Seed company DuPont Pioneers New

Holland research farm is one of more
than a dozen in the Mid-Atlantic.
The farm produced Pioneers first
brown midrib corn variety, a silagetype that is easier for cows to digest
than standard corn varieties.
Meanwhile, Holtwood farmer Steve
Groff has made his name researching
cover crops.
Groff worked with the University of
Maryland to develop the tillage radish
a huge, white, carrotlike root that
breaks up compacted soil.
Cover crops are planted to grow at
times the fields would otherwise be
bare, such as winter.
These plantings support soil
microorganisms and keep nutrients
from washing away and polluting the
Chesapeake Bay.
I think that is a powerful tool, Groff
said.
He also has worked with seed
companies, and he runs a consulting
business helping farmers improve the
way they grow cover crops.
In one of his current research projects,
Groff is studying early-maturing corn
varieties.
Harvesting corn earlier gives farmers
more time to establish their cover
crops before cold weather sets in, he
said.

Now hiring for the following positions:

EQUIPMENT OPERATORS
Positions open for Dozer, Hyd. Excavator, Track Loader, Scraper
and Loader Backhoe operators Minimum 5 years experience.
(On the job training offered for experienced large farm
equipment operators), Heavy Equipment Road Technician.

Lancaster Farmland Trust

125 Lancaster Avenue, Strasburg, PA 17579
www.lancasterfarmlandtrust.org

717-687-8484

agriculture

1965.

Apply in person or on our website.

Females, Minorities, Veterans and individuals with
disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Serving

since

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Medical/Dental, Short term disability, Life Insurance,
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ABEL CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

PO Box 476
Mountville, PA. 17554

witmermotorservice.com

Electric Motor Division

717.336.2949

Power Tool Division

717.354.6141

www.abelconst.com
Phone 717-285-3103
Fax 717-285-2321
EOE

OCTOBER 2, 2016 23

AG WEEK

LANCASTER, PA | LNP

Not your fathers farming

PHILIP GRUBER AND KIM MARSELAS
LNP CORRESPONDENTS

No matter where you look, technology is changing

the way farmers work. GPS has made big inroads in
Jeff Freys Willow Street fields.
Its very helpful in tracking where we have planted
and the yield data off of that, he said.
Freys planter and sprayer automatically shut off
as they pass over an area thats already been covered.
That saves a lot of money on seed and spray, he said.
While harvesting corn or soybeans, his GPSequipped combine records each step of the process
and creates a colorful map showing the crops yield at
every point in the field. When Frey plants two varieties
of corn in the field, its easy to see which one performed
better.
Some farmers have self-steering machinery that
plants or harvests within the boundaries plugged into
the GPS. Frey does not yet have that feature, but he said
his machinery does streamline record keeping and
produces data he can access on his office computer.
Because of regulatory changes, Lancaster County
farmers soon might be using drones to check for weeds
and diseases. In August, the Federal Aviation Administration dropped its requirement that people using
drones for commercial purposes must have pilot li-

DAN MARSCHKA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeff Frey harvests corn by using a GPS guidance system. The

GPS sensor is mounted on top of the tractor and creates a
colorful map that shows the crops yield.

censes. Operators must only pass knowledge tests.

Milking cows with a robot

Data and high-tech machines are changing livestock
management, too. Lititz dairy farmer Jeff Balmer
milks his cows with a robot. When the cow walks into
the milking stall, an ID collar identifies the animal, and
a laser-guided arm attaches to the teats.
For us, it came down to flexibility and our daily
schedule, Balmer said in April while showing FFA

We hope you had

as much fun
raising pumpkins
as Gavin did!
Celebra

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students around the farm.

The robot frees Balmer from having to milk at set
times throughout the day, so he and his wife, Jesslyn,
can accompany their children to more activities.
The cows are enticed to the robot by a snack of grain.
The robots computer tracks the cows milk production and health indicators, which then can be used to
fine-tune its diet.
At Christian and Laura Landis Worth-the-Wait
Farm in New Holland, sensors in water bowls detect
when a cow is drinking and send in fresh water. That
means, the Landises and their toddler daughter, Leslie, can make fewer trips to the barn, an important
time-saver.
At Buckhill Farms in Warwick Township, farmer Andrew Buckwalter and his team enter each seed planted, then track everything from the number of days in
the greenhouse to the plants estimated pick date and
profit on FARMDATA. The program was developed by
computer scientists for an organic farm at Dickinson
College.
Because of more rigorous inspection standards, organic farmers are beholden to record-keeping. When
Elisabeth Weaver had an inspector at Lancaster
Farmacy in September, she pulled up the Farmacys
AgSquared records and let him review them on-screen.
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24

OCTOBER 2, 2016

AG WEEK

LNP | LANCASTER, PA

M
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RE SAVINGS.
C
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C
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O
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0% FINANCING

OR

CHOOSE CASH BACK!

This years Value Bonanza sales event gives you more ways to save! Choose 0% FINANCING or CASH BACK
on a huge selection of New Holland equipment. You can save on select tractors, hay and forage products and
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Ask us for details today. Offer ends on October 31, 2016!
Stop by your local New Holland dealer for a quote or learn more at nhvaluebonanza.com. Locate a dealer at
newholland.com/na.
*For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility
requirements. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through October 31, 2016, at participating New Holland dealers
in the United States. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions will apply. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or
attachments not included in price. 2016 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed
to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.