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Reaching out...
	Drought resources for Pennsylvanians   As drought conditions worsened in Pennsylvania last summer, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences mobilized resources to help farmers and residents affected by the drier than normal weather.   The college organized a special satellite conference—Drought Emergency Uplink—which was broadcast to Cooperative Extension offices and other sites on Aug. 10. College faculty members and extension agents answered questions from Pennsylvania farmers and residents about the drought and offered solutions for coping with the dry conditions. The Pennsylvania Cable Network also aired the broadcast. This network is carried on about 95 cable systems statewide and reaches some 2.5 million households.   The college also made a computer-based clearinghouse of information available on the World Wide Web to help Pennsylvania residents deal with drought-related concerns. A special section of the site, called HayNet, is designed to help drought-stricken agricultural producers find sources of forage for feeding their livestock.   “With Pennsylvania and the Northeast suffering through one of the worst droughts in decades, we wanted to give the public quick and easy access to information they can use to help them through this difficult situation,” Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, said. “We’re offering information on topics ranging from managing drought-stressed livestock to home water conservation and caring for gardens and landscapes.”   To access drought-related information, visit the college’s Web homepage at www.cas.psu.edu and click on “Drought Information.” The site includes fact sheets, news releases and other information in eight categories: dairy and livestock; landscape, lawn and garden; farm safety; forestry and wildlife; crops, soils and turf; ornamental and fruit trees; family, consumer and health; and public policy and reducing water use. There also are links to other drought resources, including state and federal government Web sites and forage-for-sale sites, such as HayNet.   When drought causes significant crop losses, agricultural producers may run out of forages to feed animals, such as dairy cows. With more than 10,000 commercial dairy farms housing more than 600,000 cattle, the dairy industry is Pennsylvania’s largest agricultural sector.   To help producers find off-farm sources of forage, the College of Agricultural Sciences, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Farm Services Agency, has launched HayNet, which was last activated during the drought of 1997.   “HayNet is a listing of hay dealers throughout Pennsylvania and beyond,” Jack Watson, Penn State Cooperative Extension state program leader for agriculture and natural resources, said. “The list contains names, addresses, telephone numbers and types of hay available. We just provide the contact information. The farmer then has to contact the dealer to negotiate a price for the hay.”   The service is free for buyers and sellers. Farmers without Web access can call or visit their local Penn State Cooperative Extension office. Extension staff will access the Web site for information on forage dealers in their area. Farmers with forage and grain for sale can be added to the HayNet dealer list by contacting any Cooperative Extension county office or by calling (814) 863-3449.
Cutting the ribbon to open the new Penn State Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension in Lewistown, Pa., were, from left, Dr. Harold Ott, regional director, south central region, Cooperative Extension and Outreach; Dr. Patricia A. Book, associate vice president for outreach and executive director, Division of Continuing Education at Penn State; David Filson, director, Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension; Gerry Hummell, president, Greater Lewistown Corporation; Dr. Diane Brown, assistant director, Cooperative Extension; and Ron Avillion, director, State College Office of Continuing Education. photos by Dick Ackley University Photo/Graphics	Outreach and Cooperative Extension Center opens in Juniata Valley   Residents of Mifflin, Juniata and surrounding counties got their first glimpse of the new Penn State Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension in Lewistown, Pa., during grand opening ceremonies in October. The center, located in the former Danks building, is the product of a partnership involving Penn State, Mifflin County and Juniata County governments and the Greater Lewistown Corporation.   The center is designed to improve lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Juniata Valley by bringing the resources of Penn State directly to the community.   David Filson, county extension director for Mifflin County, is directing the center.   During the open house, local and state government officials, community leaders and Penn State administrators outlined plans for the center. There also were displays by the Small Business Administration, Penn State Outreach and Cooperative Extension, the Penn State World Campus, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Management Development Programs and Services, and Penn State Public Broadcasting’s WPSX-TV. Juniata Valley residents had an opportunity to talk with center representatives and tour the facilities. Residents from the Juniata Valley check out the computer facilities at the Penn State Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension. During the open house for the Penn State Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension, residents of the Juniata Valley, county and state government representatives and Penn State officials had an opportunity to tour the facilities and learn more about Penn State education and training opportunities.